Team Achievements
Virginia Polo’s first National Championship team in 1987, players are L to R Tom Huber, Batchy Carpenter, Derek Sifton, and Mark Egloff pictured with Coach Rob Rinehart (center) and longtime Virginia Polo supporters (back row) Dan Colhoun, Rodger Rinehart, Dick “Remo” Riemenschneider, and Don Grubbs
The collegiate club program has been a huge success. UVA varsity team achievements include:
Winner of 12 Men's National Championships, with 26 total trips to the finals
Winner of 11 Women's National Championships, with 23 total trips to the finals
11 Connie Upchurch Memorial Sportsmanship Awards
18 Polo Training Foundation (PTF) Intercollegiate Player of the Year Award
54 All Americans (MVP Awards)
Women's National Championships
National Championship Wins
2024- UVA 14, Texas A&M 13 Alana Benz, Lea Jih-Vieira, Mackenzie Craig, Hannah Thomas, and Pippa Harris
2022- UVA 17, U of Kentucky 9 Alana Benz, Grace Burgert, Liz Owens, Maddie Grant
2017 - UVA 9, Texas A&M 7
Julia Smith, Mary Collins, Catherine Mitcham, Jessica Schmitt
2014 - UVA 14, Cornell 12
Mary Collins, Vicky Friedrichs, Julia Smith and Colby O'Neil
2013 - UVA 10, Cornell 9
Kylie Sheehan, Isabella Wolf, Vicky Friedrichs and Julie Stellmann
2012 - UVA 17, Cornell 13
Kylie Sheehan, Julia Steiner, Isabella Wolf
2009 - UVA 19, Cornell 17
Cristina Fernandez, Leah Hall, Emily Dameron, Meg Greenhalgh
1999 - UVA 17, Cornell 13
Katie Madden, Erin Dougherty, Suzanna Lott, Courtney Blackburn
1993 - UVA 13, Colorado State 9
Bess Worrall, Christie Reed, Kate Clarke
1992 - UVA 8, Cornell 7
Bess Worrall, Christie Reed, Jenny Alexy, Kerry McDaniel
1990 - UVA 14, Skidmore 13
Midge Wilson, Bess Worrall, Jenny Alexy, Kerry McDaniel
Trips to the Finals
2025 Texas A&M 12, UVA 10 2023 Texas A&M 13, UVA 12 2018 Texas A&M 14, UVA 4
2015 Cornell 16, UVA 15
2011 Cornell 18, UVA 10
2007 UConn 13, UVA 11
2004 Cornell 18, UVA 7
2001 Cornell 24, UVA 11
2000 Cornell 22, UVA 13
1991 Cornell 15, UVA 13
1987 Cornell 10, UVA 9
1986 Cornell 11, UVA 6
1984 Cornell 11, UVA 7
1976 Yale 17, UVA 7
2022 National Champions: Alana Benz, Liz Owens, Maddie Grant, Katie Define, Grace Burgert, and Coach Lopez
Coach Brian Barquin with National Champion team
Men's National Championships
National Championship Wins
2022- UVA 13, UNT 7 Jack McLean, Parker Pearce, Brennan Wells
2012 - UVA 23, Westmont 17
Mauricio Lopez, CB Scherer, Felipe Viana
2011 - UVA 28, Cornell 14
Mauricio Lopez, CB Scherer, Felipe Viana
2009 - UVA 20, Texas A&M 17
Joevy Beh, Mauricio Lopez, CB Scherer
2004 - UVA 21, Cornell 19
Matt B. Dougherty, Mohammed S. Khakwani, Robert F. Orthwein, John F. Ryan, III
2003 - UVA 21, Colorado State 18
Santiago Avellan, Matt B. Dougherty, Richard W. Hartnett Jr., Mohammed S. Khakwani
2002 - UVA 19, Texas A&M 14
Santiago Avellan, Steve A. Orthwein, Jr., Richard W. Hartnett, Jr.
1995 - UVA 19, Texas A&M 17
Jake Flournoy, Jr., Jeremy Ragland, Amit Sharma, James West IV
1994 - UVA 17, Cornell 15
Jake Flournoy, Jr., Geoffrey Woodward, Carter Carnegie, Gregory Daniels
1993 - UVA 18, Cornell 17
Whitney Chamberlan, Geoffrey Woodward, Jeremy Ragland, Carter Carnegie
1988 - UVA 20, Cornell 10
Tom Huber, Dana Fortugno, Derek Sifton, Jim Dunlap
1987 - UVA 15, Skidmore 10
Tom Huber, Batchy Carpenter, Derek Sifton, Mark Egloff
Trips to the Finals
2025 Texas A&M 15, UVA 14 2016 Texas A&M 16, UVA 15
2014 Westmont 16, UVA 14
2010 Texas A&M 21, UVA 17
2005 Cornell 21, UVA 19
2001 Texas A&M 18, UVA 16
2000 Texas A&M 20, UVA 19
1998 Texas A&M 24, UVA 21
1992 Cornell 18, UVA 15
1986 Yale 12, UVA 10
1979 UC Davis 16, UVA 10
1973 UConn 19, UVA 10
1972 UConn 17, UVA 15
1971 Yale 12, UVA 11
1959 Cornell 14, UVA 5
1957 Yale 10, UVA 9
2022 National Champions: Jack McLean, Parker Pearce, Brennan Wells, Connor Finemore, Vlad Tarashansky, and Jim Deal
2009 National Champions: Joevy Beh, CB Scherer, Mauricio Lopez, and Strother Scott
Award Winners
Polo Training Foundation (PTF) Intercollegiate Player of the Year Award
2024 Lea Jih-Vieira 2023 Parker Pearce 2022 Jack McLean 2022 Grace Burgert 2019 Parker Pearce 2018 Jessica Schmitt
2017 Julia Smith
2014 Victoria Friedrichs
2006 LJ Lopez
2000 Carlos Arellano
1998 Rodrigo Fernandez
1997 Christopher Hitchcock
1995 Jake Flournoy, Jr.
1993 Elizabeth Worrall
1991 Oliver Olson
1988 Derek Sifton
1987 Clarissa Cantacuzene
1986 Tom Huber
Connie Upchurch Memorial Sportsmanship Award
2018 Sadie Bryant
2014 Victoria Friedrichs
2012 Victoria Friedrichs
2009 Meg Greenhalgh
2008 Lila Gaines
2008 Strother Scott, Jr.
2007 Lila Gaines
2004 Molly Muedeking
2004 LJ Lopez
2001 Lissa Green
Virginia Polo Club Awards
The Cavalier Award
A highest honor, this award is reserved for those who’ve been instrumental in the building and perpetuating of the Virginia Polo program.
Cavalier Award Recipients
2021 Dick “Remo” Riemenschneider
Dick “Remo” Riemenschneider (UVA ‘59, Law ‘64) was presented with the inaugural Cavalier Award. Remo embodied the spirit of Virginia Polo, he came to the club in 1955 as an undergraduate and stayed involved with supporting the club until his passing in 2022.
Remo received this award for his role in founding the Virginia Polo Club, being the driving force in creating the Endowment Fund, continuously securing donations for the program, and for his contributions to creating polo players through countless hours of sharing his knowledge and love of polo and horses with his fellow students during his time on the team.
2022 Dan Colhoun
Dan (UVA ‘58) was recognized for his dedicated efforts to building the Virginia Polo program to what it is today, his contributions to the master plan for the facility, and his tireless efforts in UVA relations with the program. He cherished the lessons he learned helping develop the Virginia Polo Club and tirelessly works to ensure current students will also gain essential life skills from the club.
He has been an instrumental part of the program's success and a role model for alumni support.
2023 Rob Rinehart
Since his childhood years of walking hots for the early student players Rob has been an essential part of Virginia Polo. Following his years in the club (UVA ‘74) he was the first coach (unpaid volunteer) and led the 1987 team to UVA’s first National Championship. In addition to that valuable contribution, Rob has remained involved throughout his life, serving as Chairman of the Virginia Polo Board of Directors where he led the board in its governance of the nonprofit Club for many successful years as the club fundraised and grew.
Rob continues to coach and instruct within the club and at summer clinics, and assists in an advisory capacity for the Board. Rob remains a familiar face at Virginia Polo, helping to teach new generations of UVA polo players and a common thread connecting generations of alumni at the Virginia Polo Club since the 1960’s.
2025 Earle Betts
Earle (UVA ‘72) was selected for this prestigious award for the significant role he played in the growth of the Virginia Polo Club. His contributions through the last 50 years include his time, planning, a barn, truck, and trailer- all extremely important components of a polo farm- and much more.
Earle understood the importance of Virginia Polo owning its own land and he was a motivating force behind purchasing the land. His thoughtfulness of selling the development rights on the land was a great source of support for the still developing Virginia Polo program, the proceeds doubled the fledgling Virginia Polo Endowment. Earle’s guidance has steered the Board forward and his devotion has inspired others to find how they best can benefit the Polo Club.
Student Awards
The Remo & Grubby Awards
Created in Fall 2023 by one of their classmates, these awards honor the memory of two important figures to the Virginia Polo Club, Dick “Remo” Riemenschneider and Don “Grubby” Grubbs.
The Remo Award
This award is bestowed upon the student who shows the most improvement in all aspects of their polo game.
2024 Shang Ruan 2025 Augusta Halle
The Grubby Award
This award is given to the student who through spirit and hard work contributed the most to the club throughout the year.
2024 Katy Owens & Megan Maleno 2025 Edward Pasco