By Liz Leamy
Last Sunday, Level Select CBD, the electric New York metro area-based team that has catapulted into the center stage of the Greenwich Polo Club community this season, scored a notable 14-11 win against Roller Rabbit, the formidable New York-based contingent, in the semi-final playoffs of the 2022 East Coast Gold Cup 16-goal tournament.
Right from the outset, it was clear Level Select CBD was on their A-game as they flew around the supersized Conyers Farm field on their powerful charges at turbo-like speeds, knocking in goals and working in graceful concert together to wind up at the top of the leaderboard in the final tally.
Playing in front of nearly 5,000 spectators, Level Select CBD was at full-throttle level in their faceoff against Roller Rabbit, whose impressive roster featured Kris Kampsen, the stealth Wellington, Florida-based six goaler, Lerin Zubiarre, the renowned Argentinian seven goaler, Nick Manifold, the veteran Australian three goaler and Andrew Siebert, Chief Executive Officer of Roller Rabbit who sits in the number-one position.
Throughout the match, Level Select CBD, whose contingent includes Joaquin Panelo, the electric Argentinian six goaler, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, the rock-solid Argentinian six goaler named Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of this match, Enrique Zavaleta, the fervent Argentinian three goaler, Andrew Gundlach, the ever-steady number one player and Max Gundlach, a dynamo who also sits in the number one position, exhibited terrific focus, power, unity and skill, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd.
For the players, it was just all about doing their best.
“We want to keep focusing on playing our best as a team. It was a good game today and the other team was very tough,” said Joaquin Panelo, the powerful high goaler who has earned a great deal of buzz at the Greenwich Polo Club this season due to his outstanding playing standard. “We also want to just keep working hard.”
Certainly, this approach seems to be working for Level Select CBD who, so far this season, has scored the East Coast Silver Cup championship title as well as the first runner-up citation in the 2022 East Coast Bronze Cup tournament, designating them as forerunners of the 2022 Greenwich Polo Club roster.
For members of Level Select CBD, based out of the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York, it is all about focus, hard work and honoring the role and importance of the team dynamic.
“This is a good group. There’s great energy, the horses are great and we always try to work as hard as we can,” said Enrique Zavaleta of Level Select CBD.
Andrew Gundlach, who is at the helm of the Level Select CBD team, agreed.
“It was a good time out there today. I think it was a wide open game and [Roller Rabbit] was tough,” said Andrew Gundlach of Level Select CBD. “It’s always great to come here. The crowd is incredible and it’s always really something to hear the National Anthem before the start of the match.”
Clearly, the whole teamwork concept has been a key factor for the huge success of the Greenwich Polo Club so far this season as well, as its Sunday matches have been consistently packed with thousands of spectators every week.
“The Greenwich Polo Club is incredible and does a fantastic job of bringing so many different elements together,” said Frank Boccanfuso, who was the patron and number-one player of Phoenix, a New York metro area-based high-goal team that had been an integral part of the Greenwich Polo Club roster for several seasons. “There are so many great players and horses here and this is such a vibrant place.”
Others concurred with Boccanfuso.
“It’s so exciting to be here. Everyone has been so kind and engaging,” said Olivia Garzona, Visual Merchandising Coordinator of Roller Rabbit who was based at the Roller Rabbit pop-up tent, a main stopping ground for spectators throughout the afternoon. “The energy here is really amazing.”
The final match of the East Coast Gold Cup tournament is scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 24th at 3pm.
For more information, please go to www.greenwichpoloclub.com
July 17th Match Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Ezequiel Ferrario of Level Select CBD
Best Playing Pony: Los Machitos Mistral (Ridden by Lerin Zubuiarre of Roller Rabbit and owned by Los Machitos, based out of Buenos Aires, Argentina.)
