Young guns Casablanca captures national titles Photos courtesy of ChukkerTV
Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi holds out an opponent while looking for a pass in 20-goal action at Grand Champions Polo Club last fall.
42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, hosted a pair of 20-goal events, highlighting its fall season. Casablanca, which fielded a team of three young up-and-coming players, guided by the experienced 8-goal Nic Roldan, captured both titles. The tremendous amount of rain that plagued South Florida throughout the summer continued into the fall, forcing the schedule to be moved back a few days. The North American Cup, which dates back to 1974, took place from Nov. 15-18. Four teams competed in the event, played in a single elimination. Grand Champions has hosted the event since 2011, with the exception of 2019 when it was played at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado. In the first semifinal, Newport (Gene Goldstein, Michel Dorignac, Sugar Erskine, Juan Bollini) advanced over Sebucan (Pablo Pulido, Pablo Spinacci, Horacio Heguy, Brandon Phillips), 13-10, while Casablanca (Henry Porter, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini) advanced over La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Nick Manifold, Jeff Hall, Kris Kampsen), 13-12. The final was held three days later under ominous skies. Roldan wasted no time, negating the handicap goal given to Newport within 30 seconds. Porter followed with a goal of his own before Roldan scored on a possession play after Newport knocked it over the boards. Dorignac scored for Newport early in the second but Juancito Bollini answered. Erskine brought Newport within a goal, 4-3, as the chukker ended. Roldan backed a ball into the goal just a minute into the third and Ganzi sunk a Penalty 3. Roldan added his fourth goal, this time on a breakaway to end the half with Casablanca ahead, 7-4. Casablanca held the momentum into the second half. Erskine and Juancito Bollini traded goals in the
