2026 NYTS Qualifer @ SBPRC

A Day of Champions: NYTS Tournament Qualifier Recap

Twelve talented young players competed across three teams at this NYTS Tournament Qualifier, delivering an action-packed day of polo that came down to the wire. Team Gold featured Tanner Ebbin, Aspen Tinto, Hattie Ward, and Charlotte Moll; Team White brought Gregory Shepard, Mike Estrada, Tennyson Hamir, and Kai Kulkin; and Team Blue rounded out the field with Inda Llambias, Marlin Taylor, Vitoria Seidler, and Minnie Lee.

The talent on the field was evident from the very first ride. Tanner Ebbin controlled the opening minutes of Gold vs. Blue with relentless pressure and several close shots on goal, but Blue answered in spectacular fashion — Inda Llambias put on a dazzling individual display while Marlin Taylor's strategic leadership guided the team to a goal right at the chukker's close. Blue carried that momentum through to seal the victory.

The second match, White vs. Blue, proved to be a back-and-forth thriller that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Blue came out swinging with powerful team play, but Gregory Shepard caught fire with strong support from Mike Estrada to launch a White scoring run. When the pressure mounted, Tennyson Hamir stepped up with spectacular penalty shooting to deliver White a narrow but hard-fought win.

The tournament finale between Gold and White stayed tight throughout, nearly forcing a shootout. Gold grabbed an early advantage on a brilliant Penalty 4 conversion by Tanner Ebbin, but the "White machine" found its rhythm once more, methodically clawing back to take both the game and the tournament title.

When it came time for awards, Team White was crowned Tournament Champions, with Gregory Shepard earning the Jackson Hole Horse Emporium MVP award — though organizers noted it was an exceptionally difficult decision given the outstanding play of Inda Llambias all day. Llambias' pony, Petite, took home Best Playing Pony honors. Rounding out the day's recognition, five players were named NYTS All-Stars: Inda Llambias, Gregory Shepard, Mike Estrada, Marlin Taylor, and Hattie Ward