Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team Makes a Winning Debut (and Some Serious History)

The nation’s first all-Black high school polo team just stepped onto the field and into the record books.

The Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team at the 2025 Black-Tie Soul Symphony. Photo by Phil Jackson.

The Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team just swung into the spotlight — and straight into the winner’s circle. At their competition debut during the 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party (part of the 2025 Soul Symphony Weekend), the team of Caleb Choice-Sanchez, Syncere Poole, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ryland Hammond, Mikel Banks, and Quinn Ramsey edged out the Starr Creek Polo Club 4–3 in a nail-biter match that had spectators cheering like they were at the Kentucky Derby.

Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team vs the Starr Creek Polo Club at the 2025 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party. Photo by Darrell Stoney.

Pretty impressive… especially when you learn that just two years ago, most of these young riders had never even sat on a horse.

The Atlanta BEST Academy squad exists thanks to celebrity fashion designer and equestrian trailblazer Miguel Wilson, who co-founded the team through his nonprofit, the Ride to the Olympics Foundation. Created in partnership with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and Atlanta’s BEST Academy, the program launched the nation’s first all-Black high school polo team — with the goal of chipping away at the financial and cultural barriers that have long kept many Black riders out of the sport.

“We’re making history, and these young men are blazing a trail that we hope others will follow,” Wilson said. “It’s about more than just a game; it’s about leveling the playing field.”

Miguel Wilson, cofounder of the Atlanta BEST Polo Team at the 2025 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party. Photo by Phil Jackson.

And he means it. Wilson’s foundation covers everything — lessons, horse rentals, gear, uniforms, equipment, you name it — ensuring students can focus on learning, competing, and growing, both in and out of the saddle.

Soul Symphony Weekend: Fashion, Polo, Big Names, Bigger Purpose

This year’s Soul Symphony Weekend (the glam reboot of the Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic) ran September 19–21 and brought out a seriously star-studded crowd. Between the black-tie gala, the fashion show, and a lineup of fast-paced polo matches, guests mingled with Governor Wes Moore, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and a long roster of TV personalities, actors, musicians, and community leaders.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore with Chancey and Miguel Wilson at the 2025 Black-Tie Soul Symphony. Photo by Darrell Stoney.

But at the heart of all that glitz? Raising funds for the Ride to the Olympics Foundation — and celebrating the young riders who are redefining what the future of polo looks like.

Building Riders, Leaders, and Opportunity

BEST Academy principal Robert Williams said the polo program has done more than teach students how to tack up and make a clean neck shot.

“The students have grown as leaders on campus and have really strived for excellence both on the field and off,” he shared. “When the opportunity came to partner with Miguel Wilson and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, we knew it was something special.”

Wilson isn’t new to breaking ground in the sport. Back in 2019, he co-founded the Morehouse Polo Club — the first polo team at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) — and he’s continued to expand youth access to the sport ever since.

Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team vs the Starr Creek Polo Club at the 2025 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party. Photo by Darrell Stoney.

What’s Next?

All proceeds from the Soul Symphony Weekend go directly to the Ride to the Olympics Foundation, helping keep the Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team galloping forward while supporting new youth polo programs around the country.

Want to learn more or support their mission? Check out ridetotheolympics.org.

Because this is the kind of equestrian future we love to cheer for.

About the Ride to the Olympics Foundation
Founded in 2017, the Ride to the Olympics (RTO) Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides underprivileged youth access to equestrian sports, fashion, and leadership development. The foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness and participation in polo, showjumping, and dressage while fostering diversity and community engagement. Founder Miguel Wilson believes that equestrian sports, having played a pivotal role in his life and achievements, can provide youth with access to similar or greater opportunities.