National Arena Commander-In-Chief Cup
Tournament History
Polo has a rich history in the military. In 1896 the U.S. Army based at Fort Riley, Kansas, took up the game. In addition to improving the riding skills of cavalrymen, polo taught leadership, teamwork and strategy. West Point next introduced polo in 1901. By 1914 there were 17 Army posts playing polo. In 1928, the U.S. Army team made it to the final of the U.S. Open, and there were Army polo teams across the U.S., as well as in the Philippines, Hawaii and Panama. The other military branches, Air Force, Marines and Navy soon followed suit, and today there are inter-service matches held all over the country and international military matches contested worldwide.
In 2018, the Central Texas Polo Association hosted the first USPA National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup at their Two Wishes facility in Lockhart, Texas, over Memorial Day Weekend. The National (outdoor and arena) Commander-in-Chief Cup tournaments were created in 2017 by the USPA Board of Governors and the USPA Armed Forces Committee to be awarded and played beginning in 2018.
Last year Army met the Marine Corps in the championship match. Claiming the win 11-6, Army will return in 2019 with two of the same team members, SGT Joe England and Paul Knapp, to reclaim the title. This year three teams will compete for the coveted trophy, including Army, Navy-Marine Corps and Air Force.
Photo: 2018 USPA National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup Champions: Army - (L to R) SGT Joe England, CPL Zach Grob, Paul Knapp. ©David Murrell
