Victory Polo Captures Season-Opening Independence Cup At Aspen Valley Polo Club
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 6, 2023--On a perfect day for polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club, Victory Polo captured the Independence Cup on Wednesday.
By Sharon Robb
Victory Polo (Becky Schmeits, Grant Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Riley Ganzi/Santos Bollini, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Jimmy Seward), 4-3. Schmeits led scoring with two goals including the game-winner in the final two minutes of the nine-chukker round robin.
Alejandro Novillo Astrada, father of three sons ages 5, 3 and 3 months, was named Most Valuable Player. Petaca, a bay pony played by Schmeits, was Best Playing Pony.
"This is a very good way to start the season," said the Argentine 7-goaler. "The team was good. I have played with Grant and Juan before and we have good chemistry. I know them well and that's a good advantage. They are fun."
In the first game, Mountain Chevrolet (Riley Ganzi, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Jimmy Seward) won its first game against MAG Polo Jason Crowder, Dominic State, Fran Spinacci, Pablo Spinacci), 8-2, with Riley Ganzi scoring six goals. Victory Polo also defeated MAG Polo, 8-3, with Schmeits scoring six goals to advance into the final.
Last season in the season-opener Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres) won the Independence Cup with a round robin victory over Casablanca (Alejandra Foster, Grant Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Nic Roldan) and NetJets (Melissa Ganzi, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Aara, Juan Bollini).
On Wednesday, Schmeits played well throughout the two three round chukkers. "She helped spread the team," Astrada said. "I think we played very well with Granti and myself in the middle, Juan in the back and Becky in the front. Becky has improved a lot and we were releasing a lot of balls to her and she was scoring a lot of goals and that allowed us to keep the order on the team so we were always well in position."
Astrada expects many of the tournament competitive. "It's going to be a very good season," he said. "Everybody wants to win and it will be very competitive. Even though we are all having fun, they are all friends and it's nice to play together, but everybody wants to win."
Aspen has been Astrada's summer polo destination in past years.
"It's really nice," Astrada said. "It's a great place to be with your family. The polo is fun and competitive and that makes it a great combination. Everybody is really nice and the polo is a lot of fun."
Action continues Friday with the ChukkerTV Cup. Preliminary games are Friday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. On Saturday, the Just For The Love Of It Cup is Saturday at 11 a.m. On Sunday at 11 a.m. the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup opens action followed by the ChukkerTV Cup final.
Other summer tournaments are the Craig Sakin Memorial, Basalt Handicap, Emma Challenge Cup, High Alpine Cup, Mount Sopris Cup, Rocky Mountain Open, Carbondale Classic, Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational.
Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV (CTV sports) is live streaming the entire 2023 polo season (Mountain Standard Time) with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action.
The family-friendly club welcomes spectators. All matches, food and refreshments are free and open to the public.
Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Kidsz Wheely Polo, Gymkhana, the Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas.
The Polo School for all ages and ability levels operates in Carbondale. For more information on tournaments or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or club manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
Aspen Valley Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
When not playing or watching polo, there's all kinds of outdoor activities in a true adventurer's playground including hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, water rafting, swimming, fly fishing and golf.