DIVISION I MEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP | U.S. POLO ASSN.

April 9 - 14, 2024

DIVISION I MEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship semifinals and final will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network.

DIVISION I MEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The USPA Division I Men’s National Intercollegiate Championship (NIC) is part of the United States Polo Association's Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) polo program, which is dedicated to growing the sport by providing maximum exposure, recruiting collegiate and scholastic institutions, coordinating activities, and organizing competition. Supporting this mission, the I/I program has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, including the development of Division I and Division II polo, which increases the number of emerging teams competing in competitive games at every level.

Division assignments are based on the strength of teams as determined by rosters, a team's regular season scores, and the strength of their schedule. Men's and women's teams from the same school are not required to play in the same division, allowing teams to participate at an appropriate level. Teams are able to move back and forth between the divisions from year to year to accommodate for student matriculation and annual roster changes.

A longstanding tradition, the first National Intercollegiate Championship for the John R. Townsend men's intercollegiate polo trophy was won by Princeton University in 1922. Celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2022, the NIC provides an opportunity for collegiate players from all corners of the United States to come together and compete for the historic trophy.

Spanning decades of excellence, Yale University currently holds the record for the most NIC victories, collecting 19 titles from 1923 to 1986. University of California (UC Davis) dominated competition in the 80s, earning nine victories in fifteen years, including five consecutive (1981-1985) championships. Notable titleholders also include University of Virginia (UVA), earning 12 victories spanning from 1987 to 2022, with Cornell University and Texas A&M University close behind with 11 wins each.

In 2019, the men and women of Texas A&M University (TAMU) became the second team in history since the University of California Davis (UC Davis) in the 80s to complete a rare "double-double" (back-to-back victories from both the Division I teams) in the world of intercollegiate polo. In 2022 the men and women of University of Virginia (UVA) also earned double awards on home turf at Virginia Polo Inc. in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In 2023, defending champions University of Virginia (UVA) (Vlad Tarashansky, Jim Deal, Parker Pearce, Makhdum “Mak” Mourad Shah) faced University of North Texas (UNT) (Vance Miller III, John Dencker, Andrew Scott, Vaughn Miller Jr., Niklaus Felhaber) in a championship rematch. Hungry for redemption, UNT created an early lead and used field goal accuracy and physicality to maintain the advantage. UNT ahead by six moving into the final chukker, UVA attempted to mount a comeback, but it was too little too late. As the final horn sounded, UNT held a comfortable 14-9 lead, securing their first Division I National Intercollegiate Championship. Read article here.

Returning to Virginia Polo Inc., six teams will compete for the Division I Men's National Intercollegiate title including defending champions UNT. UVA will vie for their thirteenth title, as Texas A&M University (TAMU) seeks a return to the podium for the first time since 2019. Grossmont College, Southern Methodist University (SMU) and University of Kentucky (UK) round out the talented competition, each aiming for their first John R. Townsend trophy.

Photo: 2022 Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship winners: University of North Texas - Niklaus Felhaber, Vaughn Miller Jr., Coach Vaughn Miller Sr., Vance Miller, Andrew Scott, John Dencker. ©Oana Moore

TEAMS AND ROSTERS

Bracket I

Bracket II

Bracket III

Bracket IV

Bracket V

Bracket VI

Bracket VII

Bracket VIII

Bracket IX

Bracket X

University of North Texas (UNT) (2-0)

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Niklaus Felhaber
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John Dencker
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Vance Miller III
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Mosiah Gravesande
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Coach Vaughn Miller Sr.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) (2-1)

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Landen Eckbo Daniels
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Clark Mayer
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Shane Metternick
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August Schneekloth
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Coach Russell Stimmel

Texas A&M University (TAMU) (1-1)

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Zak Coleman
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Will Mudra
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Aiden Meeker
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Hudson Hurtig
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Jose Solis Andres
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Coach Mike McCleary

University of Kentucky (UK) (0-1)

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Rehan Kumble
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Joseph Schwartz
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Alejandro Puyanan Boggio
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Coach Jorge Vasquez

Grossmont College (0-1)

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Christian Munteanu
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Ethan Bankhead
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Garrett Bankhead
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Coach Nicole Bankhead

University of Virginia (UVA) (0-1)

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Gaston Gomez
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Nick Paciorek
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Makhdum 'Mak' Mourad Shah
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Vlad Tarashansky
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James Grayken
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Coach Lou Lopez

DIVISION I MEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOURNAMENT GAMES

Tuesday, Apr 9, 2024

April 09

Final

Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship

Virginia Polo Inc.

University of Virginia (UVA) logo

University of Virginia (UVA) (0-1)

8

Texas A&M University (TAMU) logo

Texas A&M University (TAMU) (1-1)

29

April 09

Final

Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship

Virginia Polo Inc.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) logo

Southern Methodist University (SMU) (2-1)

28

Grossmont College logo

Grossmont College (0-1)

16

Thursday, Apr 11, 2024

April 11

Final

Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship

Virginia Polo Inc.

University of North Texas (UNT) logo

University of North Texas (UNT) (2-0)

17

Texas A&M University (TAMU) logo

Texas A&M University (TAMU) (1-1)

15

April 11

Final

Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship

Virginia Polo Inc.

University of Kentucky (UK) logo

University of Kentucky (UK) (0-1)

12

Southern Methodist University (SMU) logo

Southern Methodist University (SMU) (2-1)

14

Sunday, Apr 14, 2024

April 14

Final

Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship

Virginia Polo Inc.

University of North Texas (UNT) logo

University of North Texas (UNT) (2-0)

17

Southern Methodist University (SMU) logo

Southern Methodist University (SMU) (2-1)

8

DIVISION I MEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOURNAMENT NEWS

DIVISION I MEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

THE VENUE

Home of the distinguished University of Virginia (UVA) polo team, Virginia Polo’s training facility sits on 75 spacious acres just five miles away from the historic University’s main campus. Equipped to support play year round, top-notch facilities include a 300’ by 150’ indoor arena building, 400’ by 150’ outdoor arena, and a regulation outdoor polo field.

Led by current coach and general manager, Lou Lopez, the UVA polo team is widely regarded as a powerhouse in intercollegiate polo. Some of their many illustrious achievements include 12 Men’s National Championships, 10 Women’s National Championships and 17 Polo Training Foundation (PTF) Intercollegiate Player of the Year Awards.

The Virginia Polo Center is host to numerous USPA interscholastic and intercollegiate tournaments, including the 2024 Division I National Intercollegiate Championships.

Formed in the early 1950s, the polo club is a student-run organization which strives to instill core values including the merits of responsibility, hard work, dedication, rewards of fellowship, working as a team, and the ability to compete in an intercollegiate sport on the national level. Throughout the year, the facility continues to host USPA interscholastic and intercollegiate events for players of all ages and skill levels. Virginia Polo Inc. is a destination for everyone, developing high school and local area players through lessons, clinics, summer camps and other programs.


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