The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, with a rather huge crowd, the finals of the Willis Allen Memorial turned into a Willis-type of game … run and shoot. It was a Juan Ho type of day too, as Juan Gonzalez ,one of the many young guns in San Diego came through big for Casa Blanca. He brought to an end a monster winning streak for the Palomino (Jason Crowder), who had not lost a game since last March. But as with all good things winning streaks come to an end, so on we go.
It was a fun game to watch, unless you were Patron Tracy Brunetti , who could not play with some dislocated ribs. The team could have used her as she was aboard when they beat this team in the first game of bracket play, but that’s Polo. Juan Ho was all about making it happen with a huge 2nd 1/2 . Willis would have been proud of both Jason Crowder and Carlitos Galindo, who are both former winners of the Willis Allen Award for best young players of the year. Jason has won it twice, once when Willis was still with us. I know it was a very proud moment for him as well as us … his Parents . He scored 10 of 10 goals in the loss trying to keep that winning streak alive, but Casa Blanca was just as determined to end it and they did.
They were able to keep constant pressure on the boys in blue of La Passion/Kalypso and often the “Old Man” Carlos Galindio, Sr. found himself all alone on the road to the goal and made it happen. It all leads to the big one as the SPRECKLES CUP starts next Friday and talk about crowds it will be 2 weeks of party, Polo and perfect weather there is no place to be better.
Some of the U.S. Patrons should drop by and see the magic of some of the Young Guns down this way. You have a handful of them with … Chris Collins, Jr , Nick Morrision, Jesse Bray, Juan Gonzalez, Carlos Galindo 2 and Jason Crowder. These young guns are as good as they get anywhere! A big thanks for two of these boys to Owen Rinehart, who worked with Chris and Nick this summer and really did a great job with them! They are both playing lights out. Chris reminds me a little of Owen 35 years ago or maybe more, when Owen was 2 goals. Chris may go faster maybe than Owen did, but only because he has faster horses. Owen just played whatever was left in the barn, but he made it to 10 goals anyway. It takes the same attitude if you are going 90 you just have to swing faster and bump harder. Anyway you look at it, San Diego and the other clubs on the west coast are the places to see the young guns of America … because they still do play Polo on the WEST COAST.
Congratulations to the SAN DIEGO POLO CLUB and the Finalist and the Champions.
CASA BLANCA
Roni White/Alisha Wray
Juan Ho Gonzalez (MVP)
Carlos Galind 2
Carlos Galindo, Sr.
LA PASION/KALYPSO
TRACEE BRUNETI/JOSLYN PARKER
JUAN HO GONZALEZ (MVP)
ERIKA WOODS
DIEGO COSSIO
JASON CROWDER
see you at the SPRECKLES CUP
see ya