Pelon Escapite recently added another milestone to his career: another win at the Townsend Cup, playing alongside Tommy Biddle Jr. and Andrew Scott, where the USA defeated England 15-11 at the New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina. This marked his fifth title in the competition, underlining his significant presence in arena polo.
For Escapite, winning while representing the United States is a point of pride that underscores his dedication to the sport both on and off the field. Pelon's career, deeply rooted in both outdoor and arena polo, began in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, with family ties bridging Mexico and the United States. Having started in Juarez, Mexico, and reaching professional heights in Florida’s competitive circuits, his journey embodies the cross-cultural essence of the sport.
As a player who started in El Paso, Texas, and turned pro at 21, Escapite has seen the growth and challenges of arena polo firsthand. He emphasizes the importance of representing his country and discusses the need for more high-level arena tournaments in the U.S. Moving forward, he looks ahead to the winter season at the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, California, where he will play for Bush League in the 12-goal league and support the coaching league at Twin Palms.
-Pelon, can you walk us through your experience of the match against England?
"These matches are always fought extra hard because we can represent our countries. I had played against Jack’s father in England, and he’s a great player, but had never played against Jack. He is a talented young player, and they had us down in the 2nd chukker, so we had to focus. Tommy, with those long 2-pointers, allowed Andrew and me to keep putting the pressure up front to help us come out with the win."
-What does winning the Townsend Cup mean to you, both as a player and as a representative of the USA team?
"To represent the USA and win means everything to me. I think that there are plenty of good Arena players, and to get chosen to play means you have earned respect both on and off the field. To represent your country in any sport is pretty sweet."
-This was your fifth Townsend Cup title. Are there any specific moments that stand out as particularly meaningful?
"The 2020 Cup was meaningful because Tommy was not able to play, so I was in charge of choosing the players and I was captain of the team. We had to step up the game because the US can’t lose at home. I couldn’t let that happen on my watch."
-Could you share your background in polo, specifically how you became involved in arena polo?
"I am from the border town of El Paso, TX. My parents are from Mexico, but my mom naturalized American at a young age and went to school in El Paso. I started playing polo at age 10 in Juarez, Mexico. I turned pro at the age of 21 and started playing arena later in Florida at El Sur Polo Club. They did events under the lights for fun; not many players wanted to sign up because it gets a little rough, but for some reason, I was asked to play and it was fun. The best season was Gladiator Polo, which was a High-Goal all-pro league for prize money. That is where my handicap went up."
-What are your thoughts of the present of arena polo in the United States?
"Arena polo in the States is big at the Low-Goal, interscholastic and intercollegiate levels, but there’s not enough at the higher levels. There are a lot of great players that come out from intercollegiate, so I wish there were more High-Goal arena tournaments available to play."
-Looking ahead, where will you be playing at the end of this year? Could you share your thoughts on the upcoming season at the Eldorado Polo Club?
"I’m working on getting on a team for the Arena Open in Houston, but we will see. For the winter, I’ll be playing the 12-goal for the Bush League at El Dorado Polo Club. I will also play the coaching league at Twin Palms to help sponsors have fun at a lower level and help others step up to play more competitive polo. It will be a great season with 8 teams competing in the 12s; competition will be tough, which makes polo better."
-With the new season approaching, what are your personal goals and expectations?
"Last year, I won the Rossmore Cup, the last tournament of the season out at El Dorado. It was great because I played it with my brother and the Kyles, father, and son. It was really special. I’m hoping to keep my game competitive and continue to win a few tournaments."
Comments