18 SIDELINES APRIL 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Sharon Robb
Grant Ganzi of the Wellington-based Grand Champions Polo
Club is following in his family’s polo footsteps.
At age 15, this third generation polo player is one of the top up-
and-coming polo players in the nation. “I really love the game and
I would love to win the U.S. Open someday like my dad did,” Grant
said. “I think that’s every polo player’s dream.”
Grant’s parents, Melissa and Marc Ganzi, owners of the Grand
Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Clubs, are both top amateurs
and year-round players. Marc won the 2009 U.S. Open and
Melissa has won several tournaments
including the Monty Waterbury and
Ylvisaker Cups.
Grant, a sophomore at St. Andrew’s
School in Boca Raton, is the youngest
team captain during the 2014 high goal
season at International Polo Club. He
was set to make his 20-goal season
debut with his Casablanca team in
the Feb. 22-March 8 Iglehart Cup in
Wellington with Lucas Lalor, Jeff Hall
and Nic Roldan.
Grant is coming off an outstanding
summer and fall polo seasons that
included winning the inaugural National
Youth Tournament Series title with the
Florida Zone All-Star team. “The more
you play, the more you improve,” Grant
said. “I have played with so many great
players and learned so much from all
of them.”
His Casablanca team that featured
Hall of Famer and mentor Mike Azzaro
also won the Pedro Morrison Cup,
U.S. Trust Cup and USPA Kay Colee
Memorial Cup.
Grant also qualified for the finals of the USPA North America
Cup 20-Goal Tournament before losing to his dad’s team,
defending champion Audi.
Starting at a young age has been an advantage for Grant,
whose younger sister Riley also plays. He started playing polo
at age five and competing seriously at age 12. He has honed his
skills playing not only with his parents, both pro team captains
for Audi and Flight Options, but also at every level from juniors to
20-goal.
“It’s a great advantage to play at a young age,” Grant said. “You
Growing
Up
Ganzi
Casablanca teammates, from the left, Wes Finlayson, Mike Azzaro, Juancito Bollini
and Grant Ganzi after winning the USPA Kay Colee Memorial Tournament at Grand
Champions.
All photos are by Scott Fisher
Grant Ganzi
e
Polo
