Meet a team member

By Ashley Owens

Name: Mike Wenning

Hometown: Longmeadow, Mass.

Age: 21

How old were you when you started playing polo?
I began playing polo when I was 13. I started when I was watching my sister take a riding lesson. The owner of the stable (who would later become my coach throughout high school) took me aside and told me I should try polo. Once I tried it, I loved the sport and have continued playing ever since.

When did you join the UConn team?
My freshman year.

Who are your inspirations?
Hal Vita has been a coach and mentor for me both on and off the field since I met him back when I was in middle school. Before I met him, I really wanted nothing to do with horses at all, but once he started teaching me polo, I became addicted to the sport. Also, he was the one who encouraged me to go to UConn, as he was the one who started the program here.

My family has also been quite helpful and supportive in polo. Between making hotel arrangements, driving to games, helping to provide food for after the games with the other parents, and videotaping games for later review, they have always been supportive of polo.

Do you plan to pursue polo professionally?
While I always hope to be involved with polo (especially teaching/coaching kids), I do not plan to pursue polo professionally. Instead, I hope to pursue a career in business.

Who is your favorite horse to ride?
Julietta (winner of the best playing pony award) is my favorite at the UConn barn. She's quick, fast turning, and easy to control. We generally do not pick the horses we ride for practices or games. For games, we must be able to ride all the horses (especially because when we travel we must ride the opposing school's horses). The horses we ride in practice are on a rotating assignment so everyone learns to ride every horse.

What is one interesting quirk about you that others may not know?
Before I played polo, I was involved with martial arts for 12 years.