Award Honors Team USPA Player for Commitment to Sport

The U.S. Polo Association, the national governing body for the sport of polo, has announced its top five finalists for the prestigious Equus & Co. Award honoring a standout member of the sport’s premier Team USPA development program.  The Equus & Co. Award winner, to be announced Feb. 19, 2012, will be selected based on who has shown the most commitment to the sport of polo and its growth in the United States

The Team USPA concept was established by the USPA to grow and sustain the sport by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities. As part of this training, players learn from and compete alongside current high-goal stars such as Julio Arellano, Tommy Biddle, Jr., Jeff Blake, Kris Kampsen, Luis Escobar, Sunny Hale, Hector Galindo, Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart and Jeff Hall.

Finalists for the Equus & Co. Award were selected out of the 32 members of Team USPA for their leadership and communication skills, sportsmanship on the field and participation in key Team USPA programs over the past year. Each will submit an essay on how winning the award and receiving the $10,000 prize – provided by Equus & Co.  – would significantly impact his or her own polo career. The five finalists are as follows:

• Jorge Estrada, a 23-year-old player based in Aiken, S.C.  Estrada is a dedicated member of Team USPA, having participated in the 2011 Team USPA Aiken Clinic during this past spring and fall.  In 2011, Estrada was also a winner in the Bradford Binton Cup, USPA Orlando Garrido Memorial Sportsmanship Cup and was named MVP of the Archie MacCarty Memorial.
• Ty MacCarty, a 20-year-old player based in Sheridan, Wyo.  In 2011, MacCarty was a winner and MVP of the USPA Hall of Fame Cup and also a winner in the USPA Officer’s Cup.  He has played in several national USPA polo tournaments and also trains horses, having sold a stallion prospect to standout professional player Jeff Hall.
• Meghan Shader, a 22-year-old player based in Lexington, Ky.  In 2011, Shader served as assistant polo instructor for Lexington Polo Club and attended the Team USPA Sheridan Clinic in Sheridan, Wyo.  Shader was an all-star and runner-up in the 2011 USPA Southeast Regional Intercollegiate Championship with the University of Kentucky. In 2010, Shader was part of the Wildcats’ polo team that won the USPA National Intercollegiate Women’s Championship.
• Nick Snow, a 26-year-old player based in Aiken, S.C.  In 2011, Snow was a winner in the USPA Regional Presidents Cup, USPA National President’s Cup and also a participant on the U.S. national team at the recent Federation of International Polo World Championships in Argentina.  Snow was a winner and MVP of the 2011 Mayland Cup as well.  In addition to his polo achievements, Snow was also awarded Best Playing Pony in the 2011 USPA Regional President’s Cup, USPA Chairman’s Cup, Cyril Harrison Memorial and Mayland Cup.  Snow is currently playing for the Pony Express team in the high-goal polo season in Wellington, Fla.
• Jesse Weaver, a 24-year-old player based in Houston, Texas.  Weaver attending Team USPA Sheridan Clinic this past year in Sheridan, Wyo.  He is a club pro and instructor at Houston Polo Club, where he’s also played and won tournaments.  Weaver is Houston Polo’s Interscholastic team coach.

“Equus & Co. have been extremely generous in their support for our program and the continued advancement of U.S. polo,” said Kris Bowman, Director of the Team USPA program.  “This prestigious award will benefit a great ambassador of polo whose passion and commitment for the sport go well beyond wins and losses on the field.”

“Team USPA is full of dedicated players, and these five finalists really exemplify the hard work of all these young men and women,” said Jim Whisenand, CEO and President of Equus & Co.  “We are excited to reward a special player for their devotion and provide resource for them to grow their talents and extend their enthusiasm to other young people.  Equus & Co. is proud to support and to be involved in the Team USPA Program, which is an exemplar of the USPA’s commitment to providing a platform for the growth and development of American professional polo players at all levels of play, especially entry to high-goal polo.”

Team USPA is intricately involved in encouraging USPA programs and events that will solicit, train and develop U.S. players and teams to the fullest measure of excellence and compete in national and circuit USPA tournaments as well as international events on behalf of the country.  Team USPA’s mission is also to work to enhance the handicap level of play at all levels.  Last year, the program sent several players to compete with the U.S. national team in the 2011 FIP World Championships in Argentina.