Poway polo team captures regional title
The Poway varsity polo team will be headed to Houston in March for the United States Polo Association Interscholastic National Championship Tournament.
Poway captured the Western Open Interscholastic Regional title in Santa Barbara over the weekend, defeating Eldorado in the championship match to earn a trip to Houston’s ERG Arena March 13.
That will be the site of the three-day national championships. Regional winners from across the country will converge in Houston for a chance to be earn the title of best team in the nation.
Poway was led by team captain Ali Mobtaker and Molly Agee, who were both named tournament all-stars for their excellent play at the regional. Teo Anastos and Skyler Dale also played well for Poway, who won the regional championship for the second year in a row.
Poway defeated Maui in their first match of the regional before going on to beat El Dorado in the final. The Poway junior varsity team also competed, going 1-1. The junior varsity squad lost its first game to Santa Barbara, but won the consolation match against Maui in what turned out to be the most exciting and evenly-matched game of the weekend.
The junior varsity took a one-point lead with a minute to go, but Maui sent the game to overtime with a game-tying goal in the final 10 seconds. Overtime polo is conducted by the two teams alternating taking shots from 25 yards away with no goalie until a victor is crowned.
The junior varsity’s Rexi Vicardo scored the only goal after two tries each by Maui and Poway. That gave Andrew Scott a chance to clinch it. He did, drilling his shot to the center of the goal.
The Poway Polo Club, located at 14336 Tierra Bonita Road, comprises 18 young riders from throughout San Diego and places them into four teams. Poway is one of the top youth polo programs in the country, and regularly graduates these young players to the intercollegiate level, with recent members currently competing for Texas Christian University, Oregon State University, Westmont College and Texas A&M.
Polo can be found in Poway three days a week, year around. The Poway Polo Club plays every Tuesday and Thursday night at 6 and Saturdays at 10 a.m. All are welcome to come watch and take a first lesson for free.