I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E / I N T E R S C H O L A S T I C
Senior living High schoolers qualifier for NIC in their last year By Haley Heatley
Meet the seniors of the Interscholastic Championship:
2020
National
Matteo Chaux Gardnertown Polo Club Team Coaches Bill Dencker and Danny Scott Chaux expressed interest in riding and tried his hand at polo for the first time at Gardnertown Farms. His first passion was for horses, but as time went on his love for the sport began to grow. After his first year playing, Chaux traveled to Estancia Don Manual in Cañuelas, Argentina. After a few days in the saddle, polo quickly became the only thing he wanted to do. Chaux plans on attending Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City to study fashion design. Though there is no polo at FIT, Chaux will continue to play club chukkers at Gardnertown and travel to Florida to play when he is able. Joanie Jackson Houston Polo Club Girls’ Team Coach Mark Prinsloo Jackson’s journey to polo began in the saddle. After riding for many years at the Houston Polo Club, Jackson quickly became a polo player through the well-developed step-up program created by Prinsloo. Jackson has been a member of the Houston Polo Club Girls’ Team for six years. She intends on attending Texas A&M University and continuing to play polo.
Matteo Chaux
For high school seniors across the country, the United States Polo Association National Interscholastic Championship marks the culmination of months and years of hard work and practice. With a mix of the players planning to play at college in the fall and others taking a pause in their polo, the national games are fueled by excitement, tough competition and an unrivaled camaraderie. The 2020 United States Polo Association National Interscholastic Championship is currently postponed, but the accomplishments of the six graduating seniors who made it to the final tournament must not be overlooked. 20 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Cara Kennedy Houston Polo Club Girls’ Team Coach Mark Prinsloo Kennedy grew up riding but began to lose interest as she approached middle school. A lucky meeting between Joanie Jackson and Kennedy at summer camp turned the tables. A persuasive Jackson convinced her newly-found friend to join her at polo school in the fall. Kennedy went on to play for the Houston Polo Club Girls’ Team for six years. She plans on playing with the intercollegiate team at Texas A&M where she will attend college in the fall.
