USPA Monthly Newsletter

 

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Kris Bowman

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

 

 Leaving a Legacy

 

Team USPA is leaving a legacy that so many of you have helped to create. We now have 7 young Team USPA players who will represent the USA in the World Championships, March 24-29th: Jesse Bray, Felipe Viana, Mason Wroe, Patrick Uretz, Will Tankard, Cody Ellis and Remy Muller. They would not be where they are today, without the support and opportunities that many of you have provided them along the way. Seven players received coaching, playing jobs, horses, hard knocks, stabling, salaries, housing, encouragement, training tips, tournament opportunities, moral support, free dues, the list goes on and on.

 

They have arrived and they could not have gotten here without your assistance!

 

Help us in the count down to Chile. Twenty days of grueling training coached by Joel Baker and Captained by Mason Wroe, these players will be tested over and over as a team in tournament situations in South Florida to give them the winning edge. This team has what it takes to take home the FIP World Championship Title in Chile and put USA back on the map. Follow their training and follow them to victory!

 

Our Team USPA program has reached so many of its goals this year. We proudly have our first 5 goal player, Jesse Bray and an FIP team entirely made up of Team USPA players who organically grew through the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic and youth programs supported by your USPA home clubs. We have announced 4 new Team 2015 USPA Players, Jared Zenni, Wes Bryan, Connor Deal, and Johnny Lavine, who now can look forward to competing in the next FIP Championships and have role models who are paving the way for American Polo! We now have numerous players who have entered the work force but are adding to polo in ways of coaching, teaching, umpiring and raising the level of polo at their home clubs around the country, a benefit for all to enjoy.

 

Join me in congratulating each other for what we have achieved together. Join me in having pride in our American home grown polo talent that you all have played a vital role in cultivating! GO USA!

Draw results for FIP schedule of play listed below.

 

All My Best,

 

Kris

 

Kris Bowman

Executive Director, USPA Polo Development LLC

 

 

Lucas Reid

$10,000 Lucas Reid Wins Team USPA Equus & Co. Award 

 

They umpire, mentor, compete and teach – giving back to the sport of polo and demonstrating leadership qualities is what the Team USPA Equus & Co. award is all about. This year’s recipient was 26 year old, Lucas Reid from Mount Vernon. Washington. Chosen out of a larger field of 60, Lucas took the initiative during his sophomore year to start a polo program at his alma mater the University of Idaho. He later went on to be selected as Northwest Collegiate All-Star for 3 years in a row. 

 

Congratulations to Lucas Reid and runner-up candidates: CB Scherer, Zach Grob, Stephanie Massey. Thank you Jim Whisenand for co-sponsoring this prestigious award. (photo: Charles Smith, Lucas Reid, Jim Whisenand and Amanda Snow) READ MORE 

 

 

Welcome Team USPA Members 2015

 

Connor Deal 

 Jared Zenni

 Jonni Lavine

 Wes Bryan

 Connor Deal

 Jared Zenni

 Jonni Lavine

 Wesley Bryan

 

 

FIP World Championship Team USPA

Jesse Bray

Jesse Bray – 5 goals

 

A native Californian with a handicap of 5, 21 year old Jesse Bray has fond memories of playing polo at the San Diego Polo Club as a Junior player. 

 

When asked, where is your favorite polo field Jesse responded… 

 

“San Diego Polo Club’s #1 field, that is where I have the most memories. I started playing Junior polo at that club when I was only 5 years old and will never forget winning the Spreckles Cup on their #1 field with my Dad when I was 17 yrs old.” 

 

Jesse went on to name his dream team: former 9 goaler Stuart Mackenzie, former Australian 10 goaler Sinclair Hill and his dad Graham Bray, former 7 goaler.

Felipe Viana

Felipe Viana – 4 goals

 

Born and raised in Uruguay, 4 goal polo player Felipe Viana attended the University of Virginia where he won several I/I National Championships. During his senior year in 2012, he balanced playing for Crab Orchard, winning the Joe Barry Cup and making straight “A’s” in school.

 

At 24 Felipe’s impressive polo resume includes playing for playing for White Birch, Crab Orchard and his current position, playing for SD Farms in Wellington, Florida. 

 

Mason Wroe

Mason Wroe – 4 goals

 

Cat Springs, Texas is where Mason calls home and at 29 years old Mason holds a 4 goal handicap and is currently playing for Coca-Cola. He recently won the Ylivsaker Cup on the #1 field at IPC in an amazing game against Valiente. he attended A&M, played I/I polo and follows in his fathers footsteps as a second generation polo player.

 

Mason recently commented,

 

“I love it all. I enjoy having my own farm where I can ride and train my horses as I see fit. And the friends you make in polo are unlike any other friends in any other walks of life. ” 
 

Patrick Uretz

Patrick Uretz – 3 goals

 

Patrick is a 3 goal player from Malibu who attended Westmont College and won 2 I/I National Collegiate Finals. He got into the sport via his parents who played as well as his 3 brothers. Patrick is 23 and has been playing for 18 years.

 

When asked who is his favorite horse, Patrick had this to say,

 

“Hilita, my brothers and I trained her, and we bought her mother without knowing she was pregnant.” 

 

Will Tankard

Will Tankard – 3 goals

 

Born and raised in the world of polo, Will has always had a great passion for the sport. Playing his first Chukker at the the age of 5, he showed his interest early on and found himself attending Texas Tech on a polo scholarship where he lead his team to 3 national titles.  

 

As a 3 goal player, Will currently lives in Aiken, South Carolina where he mentors with former 10 goal player Adam Snow and wins tournaments frequently.

 

One of his most recent favorite wins however, took place when he traveled to Argentina to take the 12 goal Copa Garzaron Tournament played in La Pampa at the famous Chapaleufú Polo Club with fellow Team USPA members Zach Grob and Jorge Estrada. 

Cody Ellis

 

Cody Ellis – 2 goals

 

Meet Cody Ellis a 3rd generation polo player who calls Wellington, Florida home. At 2 goals Cody had this to say when asked what was his biggest accomplishment in polo: 

 

“Playing the Cope De Oro at Ellerstina in Argentina (22goal) with Tincho and Sebastian Merlos.”

 

When asked how does he prepare for a polo match, Cody replied:

 

“I like to get to the game before everyone else, then I sit with my headphones on and try to play a mental video of myself on the field. It’s something my coach taught me when I played rugby in high school.”

 

 

Remy Muller

Remy Muller – 2 goals

 

At 22 Remy ventures from his hometown of Lockeford, CA, playing in I/I for the University of California Santa Barbara/Blinn College. He has a 2 goal handicap and is the son of Noel Muller, who is an equine veterinarian and 1 goal player.  Remy says his most recent proud moment was winning the Pacific Coast Open playing for ERG this past summer.

 

When asked what he loved most about he sport, Remy remarked,

 

“The horses. I admire how willing they are to work so hard for us. I love taking good care of them and feeling them play well.”

 

 

Spotlight

FIP – Schedule Announced

 

The official 2015 FIP World Polo Championship Schedule has just been announced and is as follows: 

 

Tuesday, March 24th Argentina vs Brazil (3pm)

Tuesday, March 24th Chile vs England (5pm)

Wednesday, March 25th USA vs Argentina (3pm)

Wednesday, March 25th England vs Pakistan (5pm)

Thursday, March 26th USA vs Brazil (3pm)

Thursday, March 26th Chile vs Pakistan (5pm)

Friday, March 27th Free Day

Saturday March 28th Semi Finals (Time TBA)

Sunday March 29th Finals (Time TBA)

 

For more information go to www.fippolo.com and for travel arrangements contact agent Pablo Banfi D. pbanfi@mundotour.cl

 

 

The Team – USPA Polo Development LLC

 

Kris Bowman Head Shot     

Amanda Snow Head Shot

Justin Powers Head Shot

Amy Fraser Head Shot

Kris Bowman

Executive Director

PDLLC

kbowman@uspolo.org

Amanda Snow

Director of Player

Development

snow@uspolo.org

Justin Powers

Director of Club

Development

jpowers@uspolo.org

Amy Fraser

Director of 

I/I

afraser@uspolo.org 

 

 EHolson

JDowney 

EHedley 

ADavidge 

EDewey 

Elizabeth Holson

Head Polo

Instructor

eholson@uspolo.org 

Jess Downey

Exec Assistant

CPI Admin

jdowney@uspolo.org

 Elizabeth Hedley

Coordinator

OTB

ehedley@uspolo.org

Ali Davidge

I/I Program

Coordinator

adavidge@uspolo.org 

Emily Dewey

I/I Tournament

Director

edewey@uspolo.org