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98 SIDELINES MAY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE P O L O

Work to Ride Wins the Silver

The University of Virginia once again hosted the USPA’s National Interscholastic Championships March 11-13 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Six teams from California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Canada, Maryland and New York represented the top high school players in the nation through three days of hard play, and in the end it was Philadelphia’s Cowtown/ Work to Ride team that came out on top! Started in 1994, Work to Ride is a non-proft organization that allows disadvantaged urban youth from Philadelphia the chance to ride and play polo in exchange for work andmaintenance around the barn. The frst all African-American team in history to win the championship, they bested Midland’s team in the semi-fnals and in a hard fought fnals won 24-17 against Baltimore. Coach Lezlie Hiner was all smiles, as she celebrated her programs frst National Title.

National Interscholastic champs were Cowtown/Work To Ride’s Kareem Rosser, Brandon Rease, and Daymar Rosser, seen here with proud Coach Lezlie Hiner and WTR Alumn Richard Prather. They won the South East Regional Championship on their way to the Nationals

National Interscholastic All Stars Nick Steig ( Country Farms), Matt Collins (Baltimore), Kareem Rosser(Cowtown/ WTR), and Daymar Rosser ( Cowtown/WTR)

Poway’s Hollie Boggess, Miguel Questel, Harrison Samiengo, Austin Finch with Coach Billy Sheldon were Western Region Champs

The Midland team  Russel Stimmel, Loretto Natividad, Alonso Nunez, Luke Reddell, Mackenzie Watson, Steven Hagist, and Nick Watson won the Central Regionals for their spot in the fnals