Slayer Spotlight is a new Davis Bike Polo blog series to highlight the amazing people that make up our world-wide bike polo community. In this installment you get to meet Caleb, one of the sweetest people in polo. If you haven’t had the pleasure, next time you see him at a tourney, introduce yourself, you won’t be sorry! You can also listen to Caleb talk polo (after reading this post of course!) on the Shuffle: A Polocast, Ep. 10.
How did you first get involved in bike polo?
I learned to play in West Lafayette, Indiana with a club that started on Purdue University’s campus. One night, I was walking around and saw people playing. They invited me to try it out, so I did!
What was your first impression of bike polo?
I feel in love instantly. It was as if hockey and biking, my two favorite sports, had a love child.
Where do you currently play? What’s your club like?
I now play in Lansing, Michigan where we have a great club. Players have played for many years at Michigan State, but never traveled to other clubs until about a year ago. Now, we practice twice a week and even have an indoor spot for the winter. Our club is small compared to others, but full of dedicated players who are always willing to learn.
Tell us about something you recently did that makes you proud.
This year we started a statewide recreational league called the Michigan Bike Polo League. We were able to organize players from four cities to compete in a series of matches. Not only did it help our new players learn the rules, but our veteran players we able to practice strategies and new plays. Recreational polo in the Mitten was a great way to engage players in the joy of bike polo, while also helping the local clubs prepare for out-of-state competition. This fall we hope to bring even more teams together across the state.
Who are your bike polo heroes? Why?
Tiffany from Lexington, Jenny from Davis, Amy, Megan, and Betsy from Indianapolis, and Jake from Milwaukee. All of these people have been amazing assets to their clubs and have the courage and persistence to navigate unknown territory to make bike polo bigger and better than ever before. I admire their vision and action. Keep it up you all!
What do you think will (or needs to) change in bike polo over the next few years?
I would like to see bike polo focus on growing clubs since more numbers will lead to more talent, creating drills for beginners to help retention of recruits, teaming up with city and university sports programs to become recreation-oriented polo, and focusing attention at state level events to feed regional and national events.
If you weren’t playing bike polo, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
I’d be riding my bike with fewer stories.
What do you do when you aren’t playing bike polo?
I sleep and eat.
What piece of advice would you give someone just starting out in polo?
Everything I would say has already been written by the Hot Honey Biscuits: http://321polo.net/2015/01/helpful-tips-from-the-hot-honey-biscuits/
