By Alejandra Ocampo
The prestigious Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame will host the 37th. Induction to the Hall Of Fame, in a ceremony due on Friday February 13. The event honour the life and achievements of all those who made significant contributions within the sport. And the upcoming edition, will feature the induction of a remarkable woman, Melissa Ganzi, the owner and co founder of Grand Champions Polo Club and the breeding centre, Santa Rita Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida, as well as Aspen Valley Polo Club, in Colorado. Melissa, alongside her husband, Marc, and Bob Jornayvaz, also established the World Polo League, a series that sees some of the world’s most renowned polo players in lineups up to 26 goals (the highest rated in the United States), compete. In addition, Melissa is the President of the Museum of Polo and The Polo Training Foundation, as well as a magnificient gobal Ambassador for the sport.
Melissa will be the recipient of the Iglehart Award, for ther large and extraordinary contribution to the sport, her remarkable achievements, her tireless enthusiasm and dedication, not only to polo but also as a committed philantrophist. With regards to the latter, her philantrophic activities include the Work To Tide Program and several charity events hosted by both Grand Champions Polo Club and Aspen Valley Polo Club. She is also one of the biggest promotors of ladies polo, by giving girls all the opportunities available to learn ot play polo throug the Polo School Women’s Weekly Polo League, as well as her own creation, the SunnyShip Scholarship, which she established as a tribute to the unforgettable Sunny Hale, a pioneer of ladies polo not only in the United States, but also worldwide.
Born as Melissa Potamkin, she grew up in Philadelphia, sorrounded by horses; she used to ride in the local pony club, while competing in different events. Polo came to Melissa’s life in 2000, when her father-in-law, Wally Ganzi, the father of her husband, Marc (whom she had two children, Grant and Riley, who also play polo), presented Melissa with a polo pony for ther birthday. And that was it – Melissa was instantly attracted to the sport, and started a routine to learn to play polo, while mounting and stick-and-ball, under the guidance of her coach, Juan Bollini. Just a year later, she became the first woman who claimed the renowned Monty Waterbury Cup. And that was only the beginning.
Her strenghth and determination led her to take part of several tournaments both with men and women; Melissa plays polo almost the whole year on grass, snow and even arena; she even played with members of the British Royal Family. Her passion made her a true ambassador of the sport and one of the most remarkable ladies players, who claimed several records on her own.
Being the first female player to claim the Monty Waterbury Cup, marked the start of a stellar career; Melissa made history on several occasions. She was a winner of the Ylvisaker Cup, the Butler Handicap Cup, the l Miami Beach Polo World Cup, Aspen Snow Polo Tournament, US Open Women’s Tournament, among others. In addition, Melissa became the first woman to clinch the most prestigious snow polo tournament in the world, the Snow Polo World Cup, in St. Moritz, back in 2019, with Badrutt’s Palace. Melissa played alongside Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Alfredo Bigatti and Juan Bautista Peluso. Not enough with that, she was also presented with the Patron MVP Award. Definetly, Melissa loves snow polo – she gained the nickname Queen of Snow Polo far and square – and she always brings support and encouragement to all those teams who want to play snow polo.
Another remarkable achievement in Melissa’s career came up in 2022, when she played the US Open with her daughter, Riley. History was made once again – Melissa and Riley were the first mother-daughter combo to compete in the most significant tournament in the US.
Melissa went further when she challenged arena polo, as well – she played the first Arena Singureni Polo Cup, the first ever polo tournament held in Romania, in 2024, with Falcons Malta. And guess what? Melissa and her team mates, Nacho Figueras and Alejandro Novillo Astrada claimed the competition, hosted by World Polo Events, established by another polo enthusiast, Reto Gaudenzi. Another historic highlights for Melissa is being the first ever woman to take the fields in Saudi Arabia, challenging the sands in the magnificient Desert Polo in AlUla, and Azerbaijan.
Like all polo players – whether they are professionals or amateurs – Melissa has her polo breeding, producing many horses in the breeding center, Santa Rita Polo Farm, located in Ocala, Florida, United States. Currently, Santa Rita has 400 horses and Melissa enjoys all the phases of the development of breeding. Many of the Santa Rita horses have secured a BPP blanket in different tournaments.
Another thing Melissa loves about polo is the friendly and familiar entourage, which is the highlight in her clubs, even when she plays with and against her husband and children. Definetly, her achievements, her courage, her determination and her non stop learning all things polo, in addition to her remarkable generosity, not only organising charity events but also providing help to all those who need it, have made Melissa Ganzi one of the most remarkable and significative personalities within the polo community.
That’s why the induction of Melissa Ganzi in the Polo Hall of Fame is very well deserve; her name will shine among the best of te sport. This recognition means the celebration of a magnificient woman and polo player who gave and still gives everything to encourage and spread the sport she loves dearly.
Congratulations, Melissa!