The Japan Times - U.S. Polo Assn. Supports Division I National Intercollegiate Championship, Showcasing the Future of the Sport of Polo

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. / ACCESS Newswire / April 2, 2026 / U.S. Polo Assn., the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), proudly supported the Division I National Intercollegiate Championship (NIC), held March 19-22, 2026, near Dallas, Texas, at the Prestonwood Polo & Country Club. As the highest level of collegiate polo in the United States, the NIC brings together the nation's top student-athletes to compete for national titles.

As a proud supporter of the USPA's Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Program, U.S. Polo Assn. continues to invest in the next generation of polo players. For the 2026 NIC, the global sport brand provided custom event t-shirts for all participants, featuring special-edition designs honoring the 50^th Anniversary of the Division I Women's NIC, along with player prizes for all finalists and exclusive U.S. Polo Assn. Champions Caps to the winning teams. On-site, the sport brand also enhanced the fan experience with cap giveaways, adding to the energy of the championship atmosphere.

Division I Women's National Intercollegiate Championship at a Glance:

• Final Matchup: University of South Carolina - Aiken(Winifred Branscum, Brianna Jordan, Madison Jordan) vs. Texas A&M University(Josie Dorsey, Francesca Felhaber, Jordan Fikes, Alternates: Kylie Beard, Emily Coflin, Sophia DeAngelis)

• Date: March 22, 2026

• Location: Prestonwood Polo & Country Club, Oak Point, Texas

• Final Score: 15 (USC-Aiken) - 6 (Texas A&M)

• All-Stars: Madison Jordan (USC-Aiken), Josie Dorsey (TAMU), Kelsey Bray (UVA), and Winifred Branscum (USC-Aiken)

• Best Playing Pony: Fiscal, played and owned by Winifred Branscum (USC-Aiken)

Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship at a Glance:

• Final Matchup: University of North Texas(Alec Felhaber, Johann Felhaber, Niklaus Felhaber, Mosiah Gravesande, Alternate: Sebastian Celis Guerrero) vs. Cornell University(Benito Jarmillo, Malachi Light, Max Sponer, Alternates: Harrison Fredericks, Fin Maroney, Mihali Pinzon, Dylan Tung)

• Date: March 22, 2026

• Location: Prestonwood Polo & Country Club, Oak Point, Texas

• Final Score: 15 (UNT) -13 (Cornell)

• All-Stars: Will Mudra (TAMU), Malachi Light (Cornell), Benito Jarmillo (Cornell), Johann Felhaber (UNT)

• Best Playing Pony: Zury, owned by Texas A&M University

U.S. Polo Assn. supports more than 30 colleges and universities and approximately 70 teams nationwide through its Collegiate Partnership Program (CPP). During its eighth consecutive year, the brand supports the next generation of polo players through jerseys, custom-performance apparel, branded equipment, financial contributions, and more. The CPP is available to all colleges and universities, with its participating teams ranging from the East to the West Coast and including small private and large public institutions, as well as Ivy League and Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs).

"The Division I National Intercollegiate Championship represents the future of the sport, where dedication, teamwork, and passion for the sport of polo come together at the highest level of collegiate competition," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. "U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to support these exceptional student-athletes and to continue investing in the next generation of players and future leaders at every level."

"Congratulations to all of the participants in the Division I Women's and Men's Championships, and good luck to the Division II National Intercollegiate Championships participants next month," added Prince.

The Division I Women's and Men's Finals will be featured on Global Polo's award-winning show, "Breakaway: Polo in College," and distributed across ESPN and Global Polo platforms, extending the reach of collegiate championship polo to a global audience. Check local listings for airtimes.

"The 2026 National Intercollegiate Championship marks the 50^th Anniversary of the Division I Women's Intercollegiate Tournament, and it's inspiring to see the remarkable talent and commitment these student-athletes have shown throughout such a highly competitive and significant season," said Liz Brayboy, Chair of the USPA's Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Committee. "With the continued support of U.S. Polo Assn., collegiate polo continues to grow and reach new audiences and sports fans, which is incredibly exciting for us, and collegiate sports overall."

About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. The brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at NPC in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, and Star Sportsin India now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time.

U.S. Polo Assn. has consistently been named one of the top global sports licensors in the world alongside the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. In addition, the sport-inspired brand is being recognized internationally with awards for global growth and sport content. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Modern Retail, and GQ as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world. For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn.

USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages the subsidiary, Global Polo, which is the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube.

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For Additional Information, Contact:

Shannon Stilson - VP, Sports Marketing and Media
Phone +001.561.227.6994 - E-mail: [email protected]

Stacey Kovalsky - VP, Global PR and Communications
Phone +001.561.790.8036 - E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE: U.S. Polo Assn.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

S.Yamada--JT