The Polo Panthers, at least for the 2016 season, will be the smallest school, enrollment wise, in the newly-constructed Grand River Conference’s eastern division.
However, don’t mistake lack of school size for lack of school competitiveness. On the football field a year ago, the Panthers bruising running attack proved nearly impossible for GRC opponents to stop. With all-GRC back Gunnar Martin returning, Polo could prove to be just as lethal in 2016.
Polo is likely to start the season with overall roster numbers less than 30, according to Head Coach Kyle Ross:
While Polo had a successful 2015 campaign, they struggled mightily to keep opponents off the scoreboard. Coach Ross is hopeful that increased athleticism and experience will improve that side of the football:
Polo has been in the GRC for a number of years, but arrived just as questions arise about the future of the conference, with so many members either moving to being threatened to move to eight-man. The moves adding Trenton, Milan, and Putnam County gives great stability to the Panthers program:
Polo’s season opener with Orrick will be on the Panthers home field on August 19th. A road trip to Slater is the following week. The GRC opener for Polo is at South Harrison on September 2nd. The Panthers travel to Putnam County on September 23rd, host the Trenton Bulldogs on September 30th, and play at Milan on October 7th. Polo’s regular season finale is a home date with Princeton on October 14th.
