More history in Black history month!
Morehouse College just became the first Historically Black College & University (HBCU) to have a polo team.
The Morehouse Polo Club was started in 2019 by students Rian Toussaint, Justin Wynn, Jayson Palmer and Caleb Cherry, in partnership with Miguel Wilson, owner of the Ride To The Olympics Foundation , HBCU Buzz reports.
Cherry is an experienced equestrian and the only member of the club with prior experience. He competed in horse riding competitions for 10 years before picking up polo about 5 years ago. The idea to start the club on Morehouse’s campus actually came from Cherry’s polo coach.
Wilson’s Ride To The Olympics Foundation came on to help students receive scholarships based on their membership in the Morehouse Polo Club. The foundation also gives them access to horses, riding lessons and gear, and allows them to compete within the states and internationally.
The foundation was established in 2017, with the sole mission of helping empower youth through equestrian sports, increasing awareness of horse-related sports, and providing access and opportunities for the community to engage in these activities. Last fall, the organization was able to raise money for the Morehouse Polo Club through its annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic event, where Atlanta influencers and celebrities all come out to support the foundation.
Last week, the Morehouse Polo Club received its official membership acceptance letter from the United States Polo Association. Amy Fraser, Director of Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo for the USPA said, “We would like to officially welcome Morehouse College to the I/I Family! Morehouse is in Atlanta, and will be playing out of The Atlanta Regional Polo Center with Jolie Liston and Frankie Questel.”
Morehouse is the first HBCU with a polo team in the USPA’s 130 year history.
Congratulations are in order!
Photo Courtesy of @morehousepoloteam/Instagram