Apr 21, 2021 2:27 PM
Story courtesy of International Polo Club Palm Beach
The newest addition to La Indiana’s GAUNTLET OF POLO® lineup, Nico Escobar* found immediate success helping La Indiana capture the 2020 USPA Gold Cup® with victories over Las Monjitas and Daily Racing Form after the tournament resumed at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida). Holding a 4-goal handicap, Escobar has seen that handicap steadily rise in recent years and is scheduled to be increased to a 5-goal handicap on June 1, 2021, evidence of his consistent play at both the medium-goal and high-goal level across the country.
An active Team USPA member, Escobar has been excelling in competition throughout the USA, competing in Florida and California, while also honing his skills in Argentina. Recently capturing the 2020 Silver Cup® at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Santa Barbara, California), Escobar has built a strong resume which includes back-to-back victories with the Florida Region in the 2016 and 2017 National Youth Tournament Series Championship®, the 2017 Pacific Coast Open and the 2019 Iglehart Cup at IPC. Escobar’s impact in each of those titles is shown by his collection of Most Valuable Player awards, receiving the honor in three of those five victories. At just 20 years old, Escobar is just at the beginning of his career recently adding the 2020 USPA Gold Cup®.
Last competing in the 2019 GAUNTLET OF POLO® with Santa Clara, Escobar has stepped up his game to another level in 2021 with La Indiana, more than doubling his goal total to 3.3 goals per game and providing a secondary scoring option behind 10-goaler Polito Pieres. Trailing only Pieres in both field goals and shot attempts, Escobar has driven the La Indiana attack forward, displaying an impressive ability to run with the ball and advance down the field, a major reason why he sports the number one jersey at the front of the game. Shooting nearly 50% from field, Escobar provides an offensive punch for a La Indiana team that led all teams with 13.3 goals per game. Escobar’s impact is also seen off the ball where he has displayed chemistry with Jeff Hall from their time together on Lucchese, helping to provide space for Pieres, while also pressuring higher-rated opponents to release the ball and cause turnovers.
*Nico and Lucas Escobar are Active Team USPA Members. 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 ©David Lominska.
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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