The first University of Connecticut polo team was organized by Hal Vita in 1969. Polo has been an intercollegiate sport of men at UCONN since 1969 and for women since 1976. Since its founding the team has captured the men’s National Intercollegiate Polo Championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974 as well as the women’s National Intercollegiate Polo Championships in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2005. The men’s teams of 1982 and 84 were Reserve National Intercollegiate Polo Champions. The women first came into national prominence in 1995, when they were Reserve National Champions. During the 1997-1998 season, the UCONN Women were unbeaten in intercollegiate competition with a perfect 16 and 0 record! UCONN’s men’s team had a record of nine wins and only two losses that same year, which was the best overall Intercollegiate polo record in the nation for 1997-98 season! Since 2003, Matt Syme, a former UConn polo player, has been field coach of both teams. The long dreamed of arena finally became a reality in 2001. At 120 by 220 feet, UConn’s arena is one of the largest and newest in the country. The arena includes a heated lounge, dressing rooms and an office. The UConn Polo Club is funded through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Animal Science Department. The team currently has many polo ponies, which have all been donated to the team.