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USPA NORTH AMERICAN CUP BEGINS HIGH-GOAL SEASON AT GRAND CHAMPIONS ON WEDNESDAY

Nov 15, 2016 9:06 PM

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Tim Dutta. Photo by ChukkerTV.

The much-anticipated high goal fall season kicks off Wednesday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

The USPA North American Cup features four teams and stellar field of top players including Nic Roldan, brothers Julio and Carlucho Arellano, Jeff Blake, Team USPA member Jared Sheldon and Kris Kampsen.

In opening day action on Wednesday, Audi plays Dutta Corp at 1:00pm ET, and Casablanca faces Flexjet at 4:00pm ET.

The winners advance into Friday's championship final at 3:30pm ET. The runners-up will meet in the subsidiary final at 10:00am ET.

The team rosters are:

Audi: (17) Marc Ganzi, 1, Team USPA member Jesse Bray, 5, Carlucho Arellano, 5, Jeff Blake, 6.

Casablanca: (16) Grant Ganzi, 1, Juancito Bollini, 3, Julio Arellano, 8, JJ Celis, 4.

Dutta Corp: (16) Timmy Dutta, A, Kris Kampsen, 6, Guille Aguero, 6, Carlitos Gracida, 4.

Flexjet: (18) Melissa/Riley Ganzi, A, Jason Crowder, 6, Nic Roldan, 8, Team USPA member Jared Sheldon, 4.

Dutta Corp will make their high-goal debut with teenager Timmy Dutta Jr., who made his Grand Champions fall debut last weekend after playing and training in Argentina with former 10-goaler Pike Alberdi.

St. Andrew's School junior Riley Ganzi will make her high-goal debut. At 16, she is the youngest female in the Florida Circuit to compete in high-goal polo.

Riley Ganzi. Photo by ChukkerTV.
Riley Ganzi. Photo by ChukkerTV.

Julio Arellano will make his fall debut at Grand Champions. The Florida Atlantic University alum is one of America's top-ranked players and has competed in every major tournament in the sport. The Nicaragua-born Arellano has also represented the U.S. in the International Cup at Grand Champions.

Travieso (Tony Calle, JJ Celis, Facundo Obregon, Jesse Bray) captured last year's coveted USPA North American 20-Goal Cup with a 12-6 victory over Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan). Bray was named MVP.

Grand Champions, the only club in the nation to stage USPA-sanctioned 20-goal tournaments during the fall, is hosting the USPA North American Cup Wednesday and Friday and USPA National 20-Goal that kicks off on Sunday.

It is the busiest time of the fall season for the nation's most innovative club. In addition to the 20-goal tournaments, the Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo game and fifth annual International Cup featuring Team USA against Uruguay will close out the season on Nov. 26.

Julio Arellano. Photo by ChukkerTV.
Julio Arellano. Photo by ChukkerTV.

The club has already hosted eight successful medium goal tournaments.

The 2016 fall medium goal champions were: Flexjet (MVP Riley Ganzi, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Jason Crowder) won the season-opening Tackeria Invitational with a 7-6 victory over Casablanca.

U.S. Trust (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, MVP Jared Shelton, Nic Roldan) won the U.S. Trust Cup with a 5.5-3 win over Flexjet.

Casablanca (Jared Sheldon, Grant Ganzi, Tony Calle, MVP Jesse Bray) won the Fall Classic with an 11-9 victory over Flexjet.

Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, MVP Marc Ganzi, JJ Celis, Nic Roldan) won the Palm Restaurant Invitational with a 10-9 win over Flexjet.

Palm Beach Polo (MVP Glenn Straub, Martin Estrada, Carlitos Gracida, Carlucho Arellano) won the Mt. Sopris Cup with a 7-4 win over Santa Rita

Flexjet (Riley Ganzi, MVP Juan Bollini, Juancito Bollini, JJ Celis) defeated Audi, 7-6, in overtime to win the Pedro Morrison Memorial.

Travieso (Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Jared Sheldon, Carlucho Arellano) defeated Palm Beach Polo, 7-3, to win the Fall Plates

Audi (Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini, MVP Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi), 5-3 winners over Travieso in the Polo Gear Challenge Cup.

The United States Polo Association® was organized and exists for the purpose of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its member clubs and registered players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.

Wellington-based ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting, is livestreaming the entire fall season worldwide.

ChukkerTV's state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

Grand Champions, with eleven well-manicured fields, is enjoying its finest fall season in the ten-year history of the club.

Grand Champions caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.

The Polo School, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera, 561-644-5050, juan.olivera @gcpolo.com; hotline 561-373-0073.

2016 FALL SCHEDULE

USPA North American Cup
Wednesday, November 16
1:00pm ET - Audi vs. Dutta Corp, Field 3
4:00pm ET - Casablanca vs. Flexjet, Field TBD

Friday, November 18
10:00am ET - Handicap Final, Field 4
3:30pm ET - Championship Final, Field 2

Nov. 20-23, USPA National 20-Goal

Nov. 26, Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo and fifth annual International Cup, Team USA vs. Uruguay.

INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere that includes a complimentary Argentine asado by Cilantro's during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events. For more infomraiton, visit gcpolo.com