Biddle’s tactical lineup delivers for USA
USA coach Tommy Biddle’s calculated team selection paid off on the rain-drenched Sunday US Polo Assn. field at the National Polo Center as the home team secured a slot in the XIII FIP World Polo Championship with a 6-4 defeat of Mexico.
“It wasn’t our best game, but we pulled it out,” Tommy said after the USA trailed 3-2 at half time. “We knew they were going to be tough, we knew it was going to be a dog fight.”
Mexico’s strength lay in the Gracida family tree, lining up two sets of brothers Carlos ‘Carlitos’ and Mariano ‘Nano’ Gracida – both sons of the late, iconic Carlos Gracida – and their cousins, and sons of Roberto González, Alejandro and Andrés Gonzàlez Keil. Their uncle Memo Gracida – himself a polo legend – was the team coach.
USA’s strength lay in a combination of experience and upcoming talent. “We have seven people on the team, and we tried everybody,” Tommy said. “But I wanted to go with the five, four, three, and two – this was the best combination I thought.” The five-goal handicap was Steve Krueger who was named Most Valuable Player of the game – and who was coming off a notable high goal season with BTA, concluded as runner up of the US Open Polo Championship a week ago. Tommy picked Cody Ellis on the basis of playing alongside Steve in Houston – and Quinn Evans was a natural addition having been a virtual team member of BTA all winter.
“I came down this season to work for the BTA organization,” said Quinn, a third generation polo player who grew up playing in the North-West circuit – and has had a couple of real high goal appearances, including filling in for La Dolfina Tamera’s Alejandro Poma, in a critical US Open game this season.
“I was playing practice with them [BTA] the whole season, a variety of horses with them,” Quinn said. “That really helped me get prepared when the opportunity came to play the 22-goal with Tamera. I’m very thankful that they allowed me to do that.”
“We started pretty well,” said Alejandro, who was first to score in the opening chukker and added another to his tally in the second. “The US put up a good fight and we had a chance around the beginning of the second chukker to maybe go up by one or two goals and we didn’t, it gave them a chance to come back in the game.”
Cool heads prevailed for the home team, who had arrived at the final playoff after a win over Zone A’s third contender, Guatemala – who also suffered defeat by Mexico. “Even when they were down by a goal, nobody got panicked or worried,” said Tommy, who gave his players some straightforward advice for the second half of play on Sunday. “Let’s stay simple – play simple polo,” he said.
One player surprised by his selection was Jason Wates. Jamaican-born, he became a US Citizen in 2023 and was proud to be playing for his newly-adopted country. “I didn’t know ’til like three weeks ago,” Jason said. “It was super special. Honestly, being a new American, I wasn’t sure where I fit in, but getting the call was a huge honor.” Jason’s father, Mark, runs the Kingston Polo Club in Jamaica, where a large watch party was taking place to support his son.
“I’ll always be from Jamaica but I’ve been here and built a life here for 20 years now,” said Jason. “And my children and my whole family are here so it’s been home for a long time and I’m happy that I can represent the USA now.”
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