COLLEGIATE POLO TEAMS COME TO KENTUCKY FOR THE
U.S. POLO ASSOCIATION® NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
LEXINGTON, KY- The United States Polo Association® (USPA) will hold the National Intercollegiate Championships (NIC) at the Kentucky Horse Park next week. Quarterfinal games start on Monday, April 2nd. The finals are scheduled for Saturday, April 7th with the women at 5:00 p.m. and the men at 7:00 p.m.
Fifty men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams from across the country competed for the right to represent their respective regions at the National Intercollegiate Championships. Thirteen teams have advanced.
Teams that will be competing in the 2007 NIC are:
Men
Cornell University
Oregon State University
New Mexico State University
Texas A&M University
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
Westmont College
Women
California Polytechnical University
Cornell University
Eastern Oregon University
Texas Christian University
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
This year’s event is expected to draw polo enthusiasts from around the country and will be an event the entire family can enjoy. According to Ed Armstrong, USPA Tournament Director, “This will be an entertaining evening for anyone who loves horses. There will be plenty of action in the arena, entertainment betweengames and food available throughout the event.”
Last year’s National Intercollegiate Championships were hosted by Cornell University. Cornell has one of the oldest established collegiate polo programs, as well as one of the best collegiate records of all time. This year, Cornell is bringing both a men’s and women’s team to vie for the coveted title. Texas Tech University took home the 2006 trophy for the men’s division, but was unable to advance this year, leaving the door open for another school. The University of Connecticut women’s team prevailed in 2005 and 2006 making this year’s advance a chance for a “three-peat” performance, if they can get by a very competitive field.
Tournament coverage will be provided by the Triple Crown of Polo Productions® to later air on ESPN2®. The event is being sponsored by two Lexington based Thoroughbred farms, Mt. Brilliant and Warhorse Place along with other polo entities including the Polo Training Foundation, the North American Polo League, Equisure Insurance, U.S.P.A. Properties, International Polo Club Palm Beach, Eques, Ltd., and La Martina Saddlery.
Admission to the all polo games is free. For information about the event, please contact Ed Armstrong, USPA Tournament Director at (800) 232-USPA (8772) ext. 15 or via e-mail at earmstrong@uspolo.org.