BTA high goal a family affair – KC Krueger joins husband Steve

KC Krueger is charting new territory in her polo career this season as she makes her debut in the 22-goal Gauntlet of Polo with Texas-based BTA – alongside her husband. Such a duo is a rare dynamic at this level of polo and a non-existent phenomenon in the vast majority of sports.

“I think about it as a team,” said KC of playing alongside husband Steve for BTA. Photo: Alex Pacheco

“I don’t really think about it,” KC said in reference to the husband and wife combination on the field. “I think about it as a team.” Steve Krueger, KC’s husband, was an existing member of the BTA high goal team when it debuted in the Wellington high goal last year. Tommy Panelo pitched the concept to BTA’s Kelly Beal in the summer of 2024, and the team was formed – Kelly, Steve, Tommy and Ignacio ‘Nachi’ Viana.

This year Kelly, now 70, elected to sit out the high goal, but with the same line up and infrastructure in place for a BTA team – including additional horseflesh purchased at the start of the high-goal campaign – he suggested KC fill his role. “It’s the coolest thing,” she said. “I feel very lucky…it’s everybody’s dream.”

KC’s adjustment to 22-goal has been helped by watching videos alongside Steve, as well as having him school her horses “when they get too strong,” she said, “because they are eating a lot and I’ve never had to play horses consistently at this level.” BTA coach Tommy Biddle has also been instrumental in her transition. “Tommy is a really big confidence builder for me,” she said. “He keeps me refocused for every chukker.”

BTA high goal team. (l to r) KC Krueger, Steve Krueger, Tommy Panelo and Nachi Viana. Photo: Alex Pacheco

Her contribution on the field – as a one-goal player, lining up and marking players of a higher handicap – has not gone unnoticed. Last weekend at the National Polo Center [NPC] on the Sunday field, KC was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award. She was surprised to be the recipient. “I felt like I was trying to do what they [her teammates] were telling me to do,” she said. “And I would finally execute it every now and then…like, ‘Oh my God, it actually worked.’”

KC Krueger was named MVP in last Sunday’s feature game at the National Polo Center. Photo: Alex Pacheco

KC has brought in some additional horses to her string – a couple of Steve’s horses “that are a little slow for him” and some mares that were purchased in Argentina that had not suited her father, but do fit for her, as she plays a largely defensive role on the field. “That’s honestly where I am most useful,” she said. “I’m more comfortable playing with somebody on my hip than running to goal by myself with the ball.”

BTA has made it to the ‘mini’ quarter finals of the USPA Gold Cup and tomorrow, take on high goal heavyweight La Dolfina/Tamera featuring polo GOAT, Adolfo Cambiaso, for a place in the semi finals at NPC. KC’s pre-match preparation consisted of folding laundry – there are two children in the Krueger family, Shirley, 8 and Carty, 10 – and attending a team meeting. Her parents, Kelly and her mother Chrys are both at hand to help with the childminding during games, though Carty, she said, likes to hang with coach Tommy. “He may hear more than he should,” she joked.

Steve Krueger in action again this year for BTA. Photo: Alex Pacheco

KC is grateful to her father for this high goal opportunity. “He’s the most incredible human,” she said. “And an amazing support.” At the end of the day it is a family affair. “We play and over dinner talk about the horses or talk about you know, what was good that day – what was not good that day. I feel very lucky to be able to do what I do,” she said.

USPA Gold Cup ‘Mini’ Quarter finals: Sunday March 22, 11am BTA vs La Dolfina/Tamera, 4pm The Dutta Corp vs Park Place

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