NATIONAL ARENA AMATEUR CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The National Arena Amateur Cup (NAAC) is a national arena tournament that was first played in 1987. In 2019 the Tournament and Arena committees launched the new NAAC format, a brand-new initiative aimed to inject excitement into the sport for present and future members. The idea grew out of discussions concerning how to attract and incentivize present players to play more, play longer and invest more time into the sport. The aspiration of the program is to extend local players’ investments into their home clubs and tournament structure and encourage inter-circuit and national play. The innovative 2019 NAAC format created an opportunity to showcase the accessibility of amateur polo and to motivate amateur players to participate longer and more frequently in USPA tournaments, at their home clubs, home circuits and nationally.
All amateur players rated -1 through 3 goals are eligible. In accordance with National Arena Amateur Cup rules, no player may have a handicap higher than the upper limit of the event. Eligibility to play in the National Arena Amateur Cup is based on a point system. Points are given to individuals playing in all USPA Arena Events – Circuit, Sanctioned and National. Points are based on the number of teams and team standing in each tournament. All points are awarded to each team member, not the team as a whole. The more USPA arena tournaments a player competes in the more points he or she will accrue. Once players commit to participate, the National Host Tournament Committee forms teams to compete at the 0- to 3-goal level of the tournament.
Revived by Orange County Polo Club in Silverado, California, in 2019, The National Arena Amateur relocated in 2020 to Legends Polo Club in Kaufman, Texas. In 2020 Polo InterActive (Don Gruntmeir, Jose Velez, Wyatt Myr) and Legends Polo Club (Nacho Estrada, Dan Faherty, Kim Buttram) rose from a field of six to go head-to-head in the National Arena Amateur Cup Final. Holding the advantage in the first after an initial goal on handicap, Polo InterActive quickly created a decisive lead with strong offensive drives to win the trophy 15-11 and $1,500 in prize money.
The 2021 edition features a growing field of eight talented teams vying for the NAAC title with players participating from clubs nationwide. Point leader in the NAAC with 24 points, David Brooks joins defending champion Don Gruntmeir with Kathleen Reagan on DDK Reagan Law, while Jose Velez, also in search of his second consecutive title, will play alongside Megan Rahlfs and Sydney Morris on Polo InterActive. Participating in his third year in the NAAC, Mark Osburn (MNM) will also be searching for his second title since 2019. Near the top of the season-long NAAC standings, young Rehan Kumble (JD Boss Polo), Nicole Romach (MNM), Don English Jr. (DReaM Team) and Nacho Estrada (The Rest of The World) lead their respective teams, as I Want My MTV and GET It Done, comprised of newcomers to the competition will also battle for the coveted title.
As the country continues to emerge out of the COVID-19 crisis, USPA established opportunities such as the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package support eligible USPA Member Club events by providing waived tournament fees, trophies or reimbursements, one professional umpire and $2,500 in prize money per tournament at no extra cost. Offered to each club for the first two USPA tournaments of 2020 following the COVID-19 USPA Tournaments and Events suspension, Legends Polo Club will be taking advantage of the program for this tournament.
Photo: 2020 National Arena Amateur Cup Champions: Polo Interactive - Don Gruntmeir, Jose Velez, Wyatt Myr. ©David Murrell
