DIVISION I WOMEN'S NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The USPA Division I Women’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.
In 1976, the Women’s Intercollegiate Championship for the Katydid Farm Women's Intercollegiate Polo Trophy was introduced, and Yale University took home top honors. Today, the NIC provides an opportunity for collegiate players from all corners of the United States to come together and compete for the historic trophy.
Dominating the competition in the early 80s, University of California Davis (UC Davis) earned the championship five times, including an impressive run of four consecutive wins from 1980 to 1983. Cornell University currently holds the record for the most women's NIC victories, amassing 15 titles spanning five decades. Other notable champions include University of Virginia claiming 10 titles (1990, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022) and University of Connecticut with seven victories (1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
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, the women of Texas A&M University (TAMU) (Cara Kennedy, Josie Dorsey, Olivia Reynolds) faced-off against reigning champions University of Virginia (UVA) (Katie Define, Elizabeth “Liz” Owens, Alana Benz, Kellie Booth). Hosted by Virginia Polo Inc. (Charlottesville, Virginia), UVA came into the competition with the home advantage, however TAMU's calm under immense pressure led the Aggies back to the podium for the first time since 2019.
A young team, TAMU excelled from the penalty line. six conversions from Reynolds combined with a crucial two-pointer aided the Aggie’s second half comeback to force a shootout. Pushing both teams to the limits of their mental and physical strength, a nerve-wracking second round of overtime penalties finally broke the stalemate, with Reynolds hitting the golden goal for an electrifying 13-12 victory. Read article here.
Returning to Virginia Polo Inc., seven talented teams will compete for the Division I Women's National Intercollegiate Championship including defending victors Texas A&M University. Also coming off a successful 2023 season, Division II Women's National Intercollegiate Championship winners California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) are hoping to sustain their momentum and earn their first Division I title.
University of Virginia (UVA) will attempt to avenge their 2023 overtime loss, with University of California Davis (UC Davis) and University of Kentucky (UK) vying to return to the podium alongside University of South Carolina-Aiken (USC-Aiken) and Southern Methodist University (SMU), each aiming for their first NIC championship.
Photo: 2022 Division I Women's National Intercollegiate Championship Winners: Texas A&M University (TAMU) - Coach Mike McCleary, Olivia Reynolds, Cara Kennedy, Josie Dorsey. ©Oana Moore
