Amid the thrill of the Division 1 National Intercollegiate Championship tournament week the United States Polo Association held a celebration to honor the 50th anniversary of women’s intercollegiate competition. Held on Saturday, the off day for the tournament, the event featured alumni chukkers and reunions for past players, coaches, and officials.
Alumni women of intercollegiate polo programs.
It was a perfect day for reconnecting with old friends and catching up on each other’s lives since college polo. Janet Scheraga created a wonderful hour long slideshow of photos spanning from the beginning of women’s collegiate polo to present day that delighted viewers at the chukkers and later at the asado; players watched for themselves, their friends, and much-loved ponies among the many great pictures.
UVA alumni LJ Lopez, Leah Hall Lopez, and Cecilia Steel.
University of Virginia alumni Cecilia Steel and Leah Hall Lopez donned their polo boots and played in the alumni chukkers for the event. It was wonderful to see these players represent the Virginia Polo program in the arena! Along with alumni, current UVA player Kelsey Bray volunteered to umpire chukkers. The chukkers were great fun to watch and made even better by the entertaining witty banter between announcers Danny Scheraga and Bradley Biddle.
USC-Aiken’s Winnie Branscum and UVA’s Kelsey Bray umpired alumni chukkers.
Whether alumni played or simply came to reconnect and reminisce, it was a lovely day for celebrating the milestone anniversary, the many years of women’s intercollegiate polo competition, and the people who have been a part of it.
Women’s 50th Planning Committee: Lou Lopez, Amy Fraser, Danny & Janet Scheraga, Bonnie Magill, Tony Condo, Molly Baldridge, Morgan , Jenny Germroth, Liz Brayboy, Cindy Halle, and Emily Dewey.
Virginia Polo’s Jenny Germroth, Bill Matheson, and Lou Lopez were among the many who helped to plan the festivities for this significant milestone.
Brian Barquin, Virginia Polo’s first hired coach and general manager, and his family came to Prestonwood Polo Club to enjoy the festivities and visit with old friends among the intercollegiate polo crowd. Brian was featured in many of the slideshow photos, most notably with Virginia Polo’s first women’s team to win a national championship.
