GIRLS' NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Established in 1991, the Girls' National Interscholastic Championship (GNIS) is part of the United States Polo Association's Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) polo program, which is dedicated to growing the sport by providing exposure, coordinating activities, recruiting collegiate and scholastic institutions and providing organized competition at regional and national levels with an emphasis on sportsmanship, fairness and safety.
Decorated winners include Garrison Forest School (GFS), located in Owings Mills, Maryland, leading the Girls' National Interscholastic Championship with 14 titles, including a dominant run of seven coveted victories from 1992 through 1998. GFS is followed by Maryland Polo Club located in Freeland, Maryland, accumulating an impressive 10 wins in just under a decade, spanning from 2005 through 2024. Aiken, from Aiken, South Carolina has also amassed an impressive run, earning the prestigious title in three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023.
In 2024, nine-time champion Maryland (Kylie Beard, Sierra Blevins, Aurora “Rory” Knox, Isabelle “Izzy” Brockett) met Hillside (Olivia Schmidt, Kendall Nackers, Kylie Lieven, Leilani “Lala” Biondich) in the final. In a stunning performance, Maryland dominated, allowing Hillside only one penalty conversion in the final chukker to take home their tenth national title with a final score, 23-1. Read article here.
Moving to the West Coast, four teams will represent youth arena talent from across the country in the Girls' National Interscholastic Championship, hosted by Empire Polo Club, in Coachella, California. A new champion will be crowned as reigning victors Kylie Beard, Sierra Blevins and Isabelle "Izzy" Brockett reunite for Marlan Farm (Southeastern) from Freeland, Maryland, in pursuit of back-to-back titles. Regional winners Kingswood from East Kingston, New Hampshire (Northeastern), Midland from Midland, Texas (Central) and Lakeside from Lakeside, California (Western) will each look to claim their first interscholastic national title.
Photo: 2024 Girls' National Interscholastic Championship Winners: Maryland - Kylie Beard, Sierra Blevins, Coach Kelly Wells, Aurora "Rory" Knox, Isabelle "Izzy" Brockett. ©David Murrell
