NEWS

Jake Klentner* is no stranger to the pressure of high-stakes polo, particularly on the familiar grounds of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California. As a member of Klentner Ranch, Jake, alongside his father Justin, Jesse Bray* and Ignacio “Nachi” Viana, etched their names in the history books, earning the 2024 Whittier Trust Silver Cup. Klentner Ranch’s second title (2021) came after a tightly contested match against 90210 (Sarah Siegel-Magness, Geronimo Obregon*, Gonzalo Ferrari, Roberto Zedda Jr.) showcasing the team's skill, resilience and tactical prowess.

The finale was a roller coaster, with both teams trading the lead multiple times. Jake's role on the team, particularly his battle against Obregon, was crucial in keeping the momentum in Klentner Ranch's favor. This win, Jake notes, holds a special place, particularly because it was achieved alongside his father and long-time teammates, making it a family affair in the truest sense.

Congratulations on claiming the Whittier Trust Silver Cup! Can you walk us through the intense final match against 90210?
“Winning the Silver Cup again was amazing. It was a very intense game against 90210. My job was to go and pull the team forward, so I was battling against Geronimo [Obregon]. He is an incredible player. My job was to keep up with, and bug him enough so my teammates could do their job. The whole game was back and forth, and I didn’t know who would win. It was super intense, and I was along for the ride with everybody else, just trying to do my job and believing in my team.”

This is your second Silver Cup title. How does this win compare to your previous victory in 2021?
“This one is amazing. It was nice to win with Jesse, Nachi and my dad. I don’t think you can compare this to the first one, as the first one will always be the most special, but this was a good win for us. I’m very proud and happy to win it, especially since it’s my home club and we don’t know how long we are going to have the Silver Cup here. I will try and win it as many times as I can.”

Having already secured the Silver Cup, does this add extra pressure, or does it bring confidence?
"I would like to say it doesn’t, but in reality, it helps build confidence for the team. We went to the first [16-goal] final [Robert Skene Trophy], and we lost, then we won the Silver Cup, so we know we are one of the better teams here and deserve to be here. Just winning helps confirm what we already knew—that we deserve a spot here.”

Klentner Ranch has made two 16-goal finals this season. How has the dynamic within the team evolved?
“It has been an interesting dynamic as Jesse, my dad and I have played together for so long. It’s just trying to figure out one person, making it much easier. The dynamic from the beginning has been good. We recognize that Nachi has very good ball skills and he does a lot with the ball for the team, so we kind of play to his ability and his advantage. We all know Nachi is on his way up and so is Jesse. It’s been a great experience to be playing with both at the same time.”

How would you describe this year’s high-goal season in Santa Barbara?
“I would say that Santa Barbara is an unrivaled location in polo. I’m biased because I’m from here, but I’ve also been to all the other polo areas and spots around the world and it still holds up to any one of them, especially the polo. The level here is amazing. Considering that this is the highest polo in the area means that everybody is bringing their best horses and players to compete, whereas in other places, the 16 goal might not be the highest level of polo, so people might not be playing their top horses. Polo has always been very good and very competitive here.”

What are your plans after the season?
“I don’t have other plans with polo after the season, I’m just going back to work. I work in construction, looking for another successful winter working and then get back to Santa Barbara next season in the summer and have another successful season. Overall, it’s been a great experience.”

*Jake Klentner, Jesse Bray and Geronimo Obregon are Team USPA alumni. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.