Staff photo by Ben Baugh

Zach's Tack team from left to right, Wesley Bryan, Cindy Gooding, Mark Bryan and Horacio Onetto.

Local 11-year-old is at home on the polo field

By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer

The superstars of tomorrow are developing their founda- tion and skills today, and one area horseman is directing his energies toward achieving the ultimate objective in his sport. Wesley Bryan may only be 11 years old but his focus discipline and willingness to learn belies his age. The Oakwood-Windsor student is distinguishing himself .

o the polo field. His peers and teammates for the most part are adults, and he's more than held his own on the field of play.

Bryan is currently playing in the Edisto Polo Club 4-6 Goal League, and on a team sponsored by Johanna Sommer's Zach's Tack.

"I think he's a great kid, and I think he's going to have a wonderful career, and I'm glad to be involved in the early stages of it," said Sommer. "He's a good kid, smart and talented with horses and very knowledgeable. I'm very proud of him."

He comes from a polo playing family. His grandfather Gary Holmes, father and mother Mark and Haley Bryan are all polo players, and Wesley seems^-to possess the same talent and natural ability that is inherent to the

family. It was his mother who explained to the young polo player about tournament entry fees, and he took the responsibility upon himself to find a sponsor and organize a team.

"I have a great sponsor," said Bryan, who started to play at Edisto Polo Club in the spring of 2007. "1 went to the tack store and spoke to Hanna, and I asked her if she would help me out with the entry fee. I got the entry fee to play in the tournament from Zach's Tack, the entry fee for the Saturday league and the Thursday league and I'm very grateful. I got my friends Cindy (Gooding), Horacio (Onetto) and Jose (Rodriguez), my father and my grandfather who played in the beginning of the tournament to be on my team."

and older players marvel at his poise on the polo field. He played in several kids polo tournaments this winter in Florida including a game at the International Polo Club on Field No. 1.

"I'd like to be a 10-goal player one day," said Bryan. "Polo is a really good sport. It means a lot to me, and I'm grateful these guys are taking the time out of their day to play with me."