Olivia Hostler, a local 13-year-old polocrosse player, has made the 2025 American Polocrosse Association 16U team. She is just one of nine 16U players selected for the team.
Polocrosse is a team horse sport that resembles lacrosse. A section of three players from one team plays a section from another team in 6-minute segments called chukkas.
After a chukka is over, the other three players on each team will play while the first sections are resting. The team who scores the most goals at the end of six chukkas wins.
The player in the No. 1 jersey is the offense player and is the only one on the team that can score goals. The No. 2 jersey is a midfield player who swaps between offense and defense. The No. 3 jersey is the only player to defend the team’s goalposts against the opposing team’s No. 1 jersey player.
Olivia has been playing for three seasons and is a member of the Carolina Polocrosse Club, along with her mom and sister. Their club practices in Vass or Pinehurst and competes in East Coast tournaments. She attends the O’Neal School and has lived in Vass for over five years.
Olivia had to go through an application process before making the 16U team, which included playing on different horses in a tournament.
“She has risen quickly through the grades, playing in C grade for the first time at a tournament earlier this year,” said tour manager Kylie Ferrentino. “She stood out during the application process because she is versatile in the playing positions and can bring something good out of any horse you put her on.”
A huge smile emerged on Olivia’s face when speaking about the sport. “I really like that it’s fast-paced, and it’s a small community, so everyone knows each other,” said Olivia.
When Olivia began playing, she wasn’t very interested in the sport, but she now dreams of advancing.
“I want to try to stay close to polocrosse, and I want to make a World Cup team, but that’s really far off, but it’s totally possible,” said Olivia.
Her team will play three test matches from April 25 to 27 in Whitesburg, GA, during the annual tournament hosted by Sandie Creek Polocrosse Club. They will play an Irish team.
Olivia will ride a pony named Playmate, owned by a World Cup player and her coach, Kat Liner.
“Playmate is going to be really helpful because she already has the experience of playing fast and at a high level,” said Olivia. “I’m really looking forward to just playing on the team because I’ve never made a team before, and it’s going to be super exciting because I get to play up with other kids that are super good. I like my club specifically. I would definitely choose it over all the other ones. I have people like kids I can relate with and lots of high-level coaches to teach me, which has really helped.”
Olivia is thankful for her mom, who supports her, and her coaches, Liner and Donna Ellis.
“Kat has been probably the most helpful in teaching me all of this stuff and is a very nice coach. I like her a lot,” Olivia added. “Donna filled me in on all the other stuff that I would need and kind of the basics on how to fix your bounces or anything else you’re having trouble with, and she’s really solid.”
The matches will be live-streamed on the American Polocrosse Association’s Facebook page: facebook.com/americanpolocrosseassociation/
Feature photo: Olivia Hostler rides a horse named Lexi—photo by Lexi’s owner, Lisa Poe.
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~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self. Curtis has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2019.
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