Jun 06, 2016 4:30 PM
The Maui Polo Qualifier is a fantastic annual event for youth polo in the Hawaiian Islands. Youth players from all clubs are invited to participate, with games for the youngest players on the days leading up to the NYTS. Players, regardless of teams, watch all the games and cheer for their friends and family. It is truly a fantastic experience for all involved.
This year, over 24 youth players came together for the weekend, with 12 playing a round robin as the NYTS qualifier. The teams faced off on Sunday, May 29 for a fun day of polo.
The first game of the round robin kicked off with the Hurricanes facing off against Safari Bloodstock. Out of the first bowl-in, Sunny Diller did not waste any time and put a quick goal on the scoreboard for the Hurricanes. Not to be outdone, the sibling teamwork of Keala and Maika Panzarini put two goals through the uprights to end the first chukker 2-1, with Safari Bloodstock in the lead. After a quick chukker break, both teams were back and playing with a vengeance, but due to excellent teamwork from both sides neither team could score and the first match-up of the day was over with Safari Bloodstock taking the win 2-1 over the Hurricanes.
The second match-up left the Hurricanes up, while Elite Physical Therapy took to the field. Elite Physical Therapy played strong and scored two strong goals in the first chukker, followed by two more in the second. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Elite Physical Therapy was just as strong defensively as offensively, and they were unable to make any goal scoring opportunities a reality. Elite Physical Therapy ended the match with a 4-0 score.
In the final leg of the round robin, Safari Bloodstock returned to play Elite Physical Therapy, in a game that would determine the winner of the 2016 Maui NYTS Qualifier. Both teams were ready to play for the win and were tied 1-1, but with quick thinking by Elite Physical Therapy they took the lead to win the qualifier.
Winners - Elite Physical Therapy - WHITE
John Kriton
Austin Hutto
Kaya Acker
Conner Jenkins
Runners Up - Safari Bloodstock - GREEN
Keala Panzarini
Carmen Sauer-Hale
Maika Panzarini
Hana Diller
Hurricanes - BLUE
Maya Miller
Sunny Diller
Alana Benz
Jaclyn Schmitt
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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