NEWS

On Sunday, March 10, the Girls’ division of the National Interscholastic Championship concluded at Brookshire Polo Club in Brookshire, Texas. Several days of competition culminated inside the boards of Brookshire’s arena, with Maryland (Kylie Beard, Sierra Blevins, Aurora “Rory” Knox, Isabelle “Izzy” Brockett) and Hillside (Olivia Schmidt, Kendall Nackers, Kylie Lieven, Leilani “Lala” Biondich) going head-to-head in the final. In a stunning performance, Maryland dominanted, allowing Hillside only one penalty conversion in the final chukker to take home their tenth national title with a final score, 23-1.

The Girls’ competition kicked off with a quarterfinal match-up between Western Regional winners, Maui (Jade Hiltbrand, Emily Coflin, Leah Melzer, Elizabeth Miranda) and St. Louis (Holly Goen, Bryn Swope-Bell, Winifred Branscum, Lillian Wardlaw, Kelsey Bray), who earned their spot as a wildcard team. St. Louis opened the game with three consecutive goals and maintained a six-point lead by halftime. Matching eachother goal for goal in the third chukker, St. Louis galloped away with the lead in the fourth with three unanswered goals to advance to the semifinals.

The semifinals pitted Northeastern Regional winner Kingswood (Ava Croce, Finley Guenther, Brooke Henehan, Brynn Whitten) against Central Regional winner Hillside. A game decided on penalties, Hillside’s Schmidt maintained precision from the penalty line which ultimately secured the win and a trip to the final for the first time in the program’s history. In the second semifinal, St. Louis faced Southeastern Regional winner, Maryland. Maryland wasted no time with six unanswered goals in the first chukker and held the lead at halftime. In the second half, goals from Blevins, Brockett and Beard increased Maryland’s lead to eight, sending Maryland to the final with a final score 15-7.

“We have made great progress over the season,” said Blevins. “From the way we talk as a team on the field and work together, to the way we have progressed with our skills with the mallet and riding the horses.”

Ahead of Sunday’s final, Maryland finalized plans to execute specific team plays against newcomers Hillside. “We wanted to dominate every chukker and be supportive of one another,” said Brockett. The young ladies had also been preparing throughout the year, anticipating their appearance in the championship.

For the first time in Hillside’s history, the Midwesterners entered the arena for the Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship final—a proud moment for Hillside Coach Margie Paur. Maryland held Hillside scoreless until the last chukker when Schmidt took to the penalty line. Maryland’s Blevins ended the game as the top scorer with nine goals, helping to secure Maryland their first national title in five years.

Beard and Blevins have played together over the last four years and represented Maryland during interscholastic competitions throughout their high school careers. “This win means a lot because as a team we have lost in the finals three years in a row,” said Beard. “This was also Rory Knox's last year and I really wanted her to graduate with a national title.”

Sunday’s win marks another victory for Maryland Coach Kelly Wells, who now holds the record for most Girl’s National Interscholastic Championship wins with 14 total: 10 National Championships with Maryland and four with Garrison Forest School. Another highlight involved Brockett who now joins her mother Arabella Brockett (née Reed Knox), who won the title in 2001 with Garrison Forest School, also under the direction of Wells.

All-Stars were awarded to Sierra Blevins, Kylie Beard and Aurora “Rory” Knox, all of Maryland, and St. Louis' Winifred Branscum. Blevins, the top scorer in the final, credited her fellow teammates for her scoreboard success. “Even though I was the highest scorer in the final, my teammates were the ones to provide me the space and time I needed to succeed at scoring,” said Blevins. “I couldn’t do it without them, they sent up amazing passes, amazing backshots and we played as a team, not individually.”

The Sportsmanship Award was presented to St. Louis’ Kelsey Bray for her continued positive attitude, fairness and support for her peers in and out of the arena. Maryland’s Aurora “Rory” Knox received the Horsemanship Award for her outstanding and consistent demonstration of riding ability and attention to equine care throughout the competition. Best Playing string was presented to St. Louis, who also boasted the Best Playing Pony Vida, owned by Winifred Branscum.

While looking back on her interscholastic career, Knox noted the impact that interscholastic polo has had on her in recent years and how the I/I program has expanded her horizons. “My experience in I/I has been phenomenal,” said Knox. “The best part about being an I/I player and a member of the USPA is the bonds I have created, not just with my teammates, but also with my opponents. The I/I program has allowed me to travel across the United States and make friends at every stop along the way.”

Knox now looks ahead to the next phase of her I/I career and intends to continue her polo career and compete on the intercollegiate stage. “This win is the culmination of years of hard work and practice,” said Knox. “This win means everything to me for my high school polo career. It is the goal that I have been working towards ever since Kelly [Wells] put a mallet in my hand. Winning a title for her has been my goal since I became a varsity player. Kelly [Wells] provided me with the skills and drive to be a national champion and I am extremely lucky to have the opportunity to win a national championship under her tutelage.”

All photos courtesy of ©David Murrell.