NEWS

On November 11, 2017, Veteran’s Day, Farmington Polo Club in Farmington, Connecticut, hosted the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to honor and recognize military service personnel (all competitors had military affiliation, either directly or through family members). Additionally, the Corvette Club of Connecticut was in attendance with over 40 vintage and customized corvettes with their “Vettes for Vets” campaign, raising money and awareness for veterans in need. The day was unusually cold, with the high temperature of 34 degrees for the day– an anomaly for mid November. Nonetheless, a crowd of over 60 people gathered to support the players, honor veterans and watch a battle in the saddle in Farmington’s new regulation size arena.

Admiral Chester William Nimitz was Commander in Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas during WWII, taking over command of what remained of the U.S. Naval Fleet ten days after Pearl Harbor. It has been said that he “assumed command at the most critical period of the war in the Pacific,” and “successfully organized his forces to halt the Japanese advance despite the losses from the attack….” Nimitz was also the leading U.S. Navy authority on submarines, and in 1926, the first to establish a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps unit. He was eventually promoted to the rank of Fleet Admiral, and was the last surviving officer to hold that rank. Along with his rank came President Harry S. Truman’s official designation of October 5, 1945, as "Nimitz Day." After his death, the USS Nimitz, one of the largest warships in the world, was commissioned in his honor. The Nimitz still sails the waters today.

The game was officiated by Patrick Marinelli and Yaz Grotnik and announced by Jed Lavitt. At the onset of the game, Green received one goal on handicap. Green scored two and Yellow had three on the board for a tie coming out of the first chukker. It was the second chukker when Yellow went screaming ahead with a 4-1 lead, giving them the advantage by the end of the second 7-4. The third chukker was all about Green with five points on the board met by only one from Yellow. It was not enough however, as Yellow came out on top in the fourth chukker for a 13-10 victory. Most Valuable Player was awarded to Michael DiValentino and Best Playing Pony honors were presented to Marejada (Tidal Wave), owned and played in the third chukker by Jennifer Williams who scored five goals on her. The crowd was loud and energetic, trying to stay warm in the chilly temperatures, while sipping hot chocolate and coffee served by the American Cancer Society for donations.

Since several of the military branches were represented, players wore yellow and green jerseys. The following is a brief military bio for each player:

Military Services Team Yellow

Michael DiValentino #1

Lieutenant Colonel DiValentino is a reserve (IMA) assistant staff judge advocate assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), which is a major command of the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command. AFSOC provides Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to unified combatant commanders. The command has approximately 16,000 active-duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian professionals. Michael earned his Juris Doctorate at New York Law School and went on to serve on many assignments from 1999 to present and is a multiple awards and decorations recipient, including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Iraqi Campaign Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Romero Iral #2

Retired Commander Romero was born in Heidelberg, Germany, while his father, a Command Sergeant Major, was serving on assignment overseas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy upon graduating high school in Washington State, attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, and then attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, majoring in Aerospace Engineering and receiving a commission as a naval officer in 1982. He served on a variety of ships including an amphibious warfare ship that carried U.S. Marines and their assault vehicles, logistics ships, including the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was deployed all over the world including the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic, the Western Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf, conducting operations at Beirut, Lebanon; the Gulf of Sidra (north of Libya); Mogadishu, Somalia, and Operation Desert Storm/Southern Watch in the Arabian Gulf. While attending the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, he was introduced to the sport of polo in 1998 by a fellow seminar student, Major Laura Muhlenberg, U.S. Marine Corps, who was a member of the U.S. Naval War College Polo Club which was affiliated with the Newport Polo Club at Glen Farm.

Nick DiValentino #3

Nick is Michael DiValentino’s son, who played in his father’s honor. Nick had the largest fan club on the sidelines.

Military Services Team Green

Anton Hoffman #1

Anton was in the U.S. Marine Corps holding the rank of E-5/Sergeant. He served as Reconnaissance Man and Scout Sniper from 2006-2012. He participated in campaigns in Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2011. This was Anton’s first polo game. He began riding and playing polo simultaneously in mid-September and immediately set his sights on playing in the Veteran’s Day game. With only 10 lessons and only two practices under his belt, Anton managed to score two goals for Green. When Farmington Polo Club Manager and teammate, Jennifer Williams asked Anton what he thought after playing his first game, he responded, "my military experience continuously and holistically challenged my body, mind, and spirit. Today, I seek new challenges and draw on previous successes/failures to adapt and overcome. For me, polo is simply another challenge along that never-ending journey."

Grace Grotnik #2

Grace Grotnik played in honor of her two family members who were both in the United States Marine Corps, her aunt Alyssa Strader and her cousin Philip Strzelecki.

Jennifer Williams #3

Jennifer played to represent her father and both grandfathers. Her father, Luke Williams, served three years as an officer in the United States Air Force attaining the rank of Captain in the Air Force Reserves. He was on Active Duty for three years beginning in 1956. His last position was as Procurement and Production Officer assigned to jet engines for the B-52 bomber, the KC-135 strato-tanker and the early century series fighters, F-100, F101 and F-102.

Jennifer’s paternal grandfather, Percival H. Williams attained the rank of Second Lieutenant during his service in World War I and II aboard submarines. Jennifer’s maternal grandfather, Dr. Neil L. Crone, retired from the Army after World War II as a full Colonel. He was in charge of the First Army Medical Corp. and all medical staff on the landing at Omaha Beach where 85% of U.S. soldiers were killed. Dr. Crone was awarded the rare Medal of Honor as well as Purple Heart for wounded.