OPEN NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Established in 1928, the Open National Interscholastic Championship (ONIS) is part of the United States Polo Association's Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) polo program, which is dedicated to growing the sport by providing exposure, coordinating activities, recruiting collegiate and scholastic institutions and providing organized competition at regional and national levels with an emphasis on sportsmanship, fairness and safety.
Hoisting the George C. Sherman trophy eleven times between 1970 and 1989, Culver Military Academy (Culver, Indiana) holds the record for Open National Interscholastic Championship wins. Close behind with 10 titles, Lawrenceville School's (Lawrenceville, New Jersey) dominance includes eight straight Championships from 1934-1941. Contemporary winners include Toronto (2006, 2007, 2008), Midland (2009), Eldorado (2010) Cowtown/WTR (2011, 2012), Natania (2013, 2014), West Shore (2015), Prestonwood (2016, 2019), Maryland (2017, 2018), Gardnertown (2021) and most recently Houston (2022, 2023) with back-to-back victories for the first time since Maryland completed the feat in 2017 and 2018.
In 2023, defending champions Houston (Lily Lequerica, Joe Bob Lequerica, Will Mudra, alt. Judah Altic, alt. Tomas Tejera, alt. Asa Gangee) met California natives Lakeside (Faris Hanna, Oliver Wheatley, Elise Pardue, Allie Bushong). Accelerating from the first throw-in and never looking back, Houston’s high-powered offense proved unstoppable, guiding the hometown team to their second consecutive Open National Interscholastic Championship title in a commanding 21-6 victory. Read article here.
Returning to Brookshire Polo Club in Brookshire, Texas, for a third consecutive year, six teams will represent youth arena talent from across the country in the Open National Interscholastic Championship. Returning to defend their title, Central Regional champions Houston, from Houston, Texas, will attempt to capture an impressive three-peat for the first time since Toronto claimed the Championship from 2006 to 2008. Southeastern Regional Champion Maryland, based out of Jarrettsville, Maryland, will aim for a return to the podium for the first time since 2018.
Each vying for their first Championship, Regional winners Lakeside from Lakeside, California (Western) and Yale, hailing from Bethany, Connecticut (Northeastern), will be joined by Wildcard entries St. Croix, based out of Woodville, Wisconsin (Central) and Waiki'i, all the way from Waimea, Hawaii (Western Wildcard), to round out the talented competition.
2023 Open National Interscholastic Championship Champions: Houston - Tomas Tejera, Judah Altic, Joe Bob Lequerica, Coach Mark Prinsloo, Assistant Coach Shane Rice, Lily Lequerica, Will Mudra. ©David Murrell
