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LOCAL STUDENTS TAKE A UNIQUE “FIELD” TRIP

January 22 , 2008

WELLINGTON, FL – Today wasn't your typical field trip for area fourth graders. In fact, it was a trip to the polo fields that entertained more than 1,200 youth at International Polo Palm Beach.

In an attempt to gain more players and enthusiasts, International Polo hosted an exhibition game for the young fans that attend schools in Wellington, including Panther Run, Equestrian Trails, Binks Forest, Wellington, Elbridge Gale and New Horizons Elementary schools.

The two-chukker game complete with a half-time Kool-Aid divot stomp, featured four nine to 13-year-old local rising youth players, who competed alongside North American Polo stars Nick Roldan, Todd Offen, Jeff Hall and Brandon Phillips.

“They were pretty tough. They hit the ball very fast and they were very accurate,” said Offen, who along with the other team Catamount pros will be playing in the semifinals of the Joe Barry Memorial tournament tomorrow at International Polo.

Christina Firestone, 12, who attends Wellington Christian School played on Offen's team today and scored the first goal of the match.

”It's a lot of fun,” said Firestone, who played in a similar exhibition game with the pros two years ago. When asked how long she's been playing the sport, she added, “since I was real young.”

Her teammate Matthew Coppola, 13, has been playing since he was four. His father, polo announcer Tony Coppola, proudly called his son's goal that followed Firestone's.

Joining the younger Coppola and Firestone on the field, were best friends Michael Armour and Michael Belissimo who have been playing together for two years.

“We play together every other day,” said 12-year-old Belissimo, who scored a field goal during the final chukker.

“We try to give the ball to the kids,” said Hall, who has been playing in the exhibition games for the past four years.

“Everybody helped us when we were kids,” said Offen. “We just want to give back to the children.”

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120 th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments until April 20. Information can be obtained by calling 561-204-5687 or on the web at www.internationalpoloclub.com or www.northamericanpololeague.com .