The Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team, the nation’s first all-Black high school polo team, made history with its competition debut during the 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party at the 2025 Soul Symphony Weekend.
Led by students Caleb Choice-Sanchez, Syncere Poole, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ryland Hammond, Mikel Banks, and Quinn Ramsey, the team earned a 4–3 victory over the Starr Creek Polo Club of Cumming, Georgia, according to a news release shared with Blavity.
The team was created just two years ago for students with no previous polo or horseback riding experience. It was co-founded by celebrity fashion designer Miguel Wilson through his Ride to the Olympics Foundation, in partnership with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and BEST Academy. Wilson said the program was designed to break down socioeconomic barriers that have historically limited Black participation in polo and equestrian sports, while also providing students with access to skills and opportunities that extend beyond the game. His foundation covers the costs of training lessons, horse rentals, equipment, and uniforms, with fundraising events such as Soul Symphony Weekend helping to sustain the initiative.
The debut drew a number of prominent figures, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and celebrities such as Egypt Sherrod, Mike Jackson, Dr. Heavenly Kimes, and Monyetta Shaw. Actors Clifton Powell, Palmer Williams, and Rob Riley attended, along with musicians Kevin Ross, Pastor Troy, and Q Parker. Wilson previously made history in 2019 by co-founding the Morehouse Polo Club, the first polo program at a historically Black college or university. His ongoing mission is to expand youth polo programs nationwide so that Black students can continue to gain opportunities in the sport.
BEST Academy principal Robert Williams praised the initiative for shaping students into leaders, noting that the program has helped them excel both on and off the field.
Proceeds from the Soul Symphony Weekend will continue to support the Ride to the Olympics Foundation. The funds will sustain the Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team and help launch additional Black polo teams across the country.
