88R25970 JRI-D
By: Stucky H.R. No. 1464
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The University of North Texas polo club proved
itself the finest in the nation by winning the 2023 United States
Polo Association Division I Men's National Intercollegiate
Championship on April 15; and
WHEREAS, Despite having only competed in the sport since
2018, the Mean Green polo club quickly established itself as a
strong contender and finished as the runner-up for the national
title in April 2022; after returning to action later in the year,
UNT logged a series of impressive wins in November, capturing the
Texas College Polo Championship with a 13-10 victory over Southern
Methodist University and then bested Cornell and the University of
Virginia to clinch the prestigious William S. Field Invitational
polo tournament and the No. 1 ranking in the country; and
WHEREAS, At the conclusion of the regular season, UNT joined
the other top teams in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the 2023
National Intercollegiate Championship tournament; the Mean Green
players first squared off against Texas A&M University in the
semifinals on April 13 and defeated their interstate rivals, 20-8;
two days later, the team took to the field for the championship
match, looking to avenge the loss to the University of Virginia in
the 2022 finale; UNT built a 5-3 advantage in the first three
chukkers and added to their lead after the break; demonstrating
tremendous poise and confidence down the stretch, UNT outscored
Virginia 4-1 in the fifth chukker and then dialed up the defense the
rest of the way to seal a 14-9 victory and the university's first
polo title; and
WHEREAS, Vaughn Miller Jr. scored 17 goals in the national
tournament and was joined on the All-Star team by Andrew Scott, who
earned the Connie Upchurch Memorial Sportsmanship Award for the
second time; UNT also received important contributions in the match
from John Dencker, Vance Miller, and Niklaus Felhaber; these
determined student-athletes were ably guided by head coach Vaughn
Miller Sr.; and
WHEREAS, Winning a national championship represents
countless hours of hard work and an unwavering commitment to
excellence, and the UNT Mean Green polo players are a source of
tremendous pride to the entire university community; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the University of North Texas polo
club on winning the 2023 USPA Division I Men's National
Intercollegiate Championship and extend to the team's athletes,
coaches, and staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the club as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.