NEWS

On Sunday, March 24, Bush League (Jesus “Pelon” Escapite II, Ulysses Escapite, Virgil Kyle IV, Virgil “Quinn” Kyle V) battled Highwood (Ron Mathison, Santiago von Wernich, Marcelo Rodriguez Abbiati, Agustin Bottaro, sub. Tomas Alberdi*) in the Rossmore Cup final at Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, California. After a back-and-forth rally, the end result was ultimately decided from the penalty line, with Bush League converting four times in the sixth chukker to defeat Highwood, 9-6.

Last played in 2022, the national 12-goal event returned to Eldorado Polo Club for the sixth time in the competition’s history. The Rossmore Cup is one of the few polo tournaments in the country to offer a cash incentive played under the polo skins format during the final match. Each chukker is played as an individual game. The winner of each chukker receives the designated $5,000 funds for each period. If there is a tie at the end of the chukker, the prize money is carried over into the following chukker. This year’s competition offered up to $32,500 in prize money.

The final matchup was a family affair, with brothers Pelon and Ulysses Escapite and father-son duo Virgil and Quinn Kyle rounding out the Bush League collective. “This win is great,” said Pelon. “Playing with my brother, Virgil and Quinn, father and son…makes it so special. It’s been a while since I played with my brother.” The final was the last time Virgil and Quinn would be competing together for some time, as Quinn will play for Southern Methodist University (Cross Roads, Texas) next year. “This was the third final in a row that we had made and we lost the previous two,” said Quinn. “It was all of our first time playing in this final, which makes it all the more special. We really wanted to get this done.”

Their opponent, Rossmore Cup finalist Highwood, was returning to the competition in search of redemption after being bested by BenSoleimani.com in the 2022 edition.

Bush League started the game with the advantage, up one goal off handicap. Pelon Escapite scored the only goal of the first period, on the last play of the chukker, to win the opening skin for Bush League. In a low-scoring first half, Pelon and Quinn posted two goals for Bush League which were countered by one each from von Wernich and Bottaro. Bush League held the lead at halftime 3-2, however Highwood won prize money from two of the first three chukkers. “Our strategy was to play chukker by chukker,” said Pelon. “Being the skins tournament, we didn’t want to get sidetracked with the money that was on the table. We figured if we were going to win the game, we were going to have to win a few chukkers.”

Highwood returned from the break with renewed energy, converting twice from the penalty line, plus a field goal from Mathison to lead by two. Adding a fourth unanswered goal, Chukker five began with a Penalty 2 conversion from Bottaro. Caught flat footed, a goal from Pelon brought Bush League back into game. “I think the most impactful moment of the game was when Pelon made one from probably 100-plus yards out with maybe two minutes left in the fifth chukker,” said Quinn. “We had been going through a scoring drought.” Pelon was able to connect once more off a Penalty 2 conversion, closing the goal gap and winning Bush League the fifth chukker.

Down by one, the final chukker was ultimately decided from the penalty line with Tomas Alberdi substituting for von Wernich in the final two minutes of play. In an epic comeback, Bush League converted four times to take back the lead, defeating Highwood 9-6 at the final horn.

“When we lost the fourth chukker 3-0 in the prize money, we decided to stop worrying about the prize money and concentrate on making smart plays,” said Ulysses. “The rest would follow.” Bush League ended up taking home $15,000 in prize money for winning the first, fifth and sixth chukkers, while Highwood earned a check for the same amount after winning the second, third and fourth chukkers.

Pelon Escapite was awarded Most Valuable Player with a $1,500 bonus. “MVP is a prize that can’t be won without your teammates,” said Pelon. “They opened the field and made some holes so I could finish the goals. This team is family—very grateful for the chance to play alongside my brother.”

Oriental Disney (Daisy x Chelo), played by Santiago von Wernich and owned by the La Dolfina/Valiente organization, was selected as Best Playing Pony and was presented with an additional $1,000 bonus. Wernich played the 10-year-old in the second and sixth chukkers. Ron Mathison’s 16-year-old Argentine gelding Euro was awarded Best Playing Amateur Pony. Mathison played Euro in the third chukker.

Both Bush League families celebrated the win together, heading straight from the podium to a fieldside tailgate. “We celebrated with our families, grooms and friends,” said Ulysses. “They always picked us up and didn’t lose faith. This was a total team effort, a great win for all of us.”

The Rossmore Cup final is now available On-Demand.

*Tomas Alberdi is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©Kerri Kerley.