The American Polocrosse Election is now complete! Please congratulate our newly elected board members, who will serve in 2026-2027.
Positions that will be elected:
⭐️ Vice President: Katelyn Pierce
⭐️ Secretary: Kristy Gusick
⭐️ Mountain Zone Rep: Andrew Hatchett
⭐️ Board at Large #3: Ryan Murphy
⭐️ Board at Large #4: Stacy Upshaw
Katelyn Pierce
As Vice President, my goal would be to serve as a strong voice for the membership while upholding the standards, policies, and values of our organization. I am committed to strengthening APA relationships with local clubs and supporting key areas such as umpiring, player development, recruiting, and fundraising.
I believe it is essential to uphold the traditions and standards of polocrosse while continuing to expand the APA’s presence within the broader horse industry. My focus would include developing more streamlined processes for reporting tournament results and incidents, increasing the use of modern technology to improve communication, and continuing to build a cohesive national marketing strategy that attracts new members and national sponsorship opportunities.
The APA is built on strong connections, teamwork, and clear communication, values that I care deeply about. For more than 10 years, I’ve been grateful to be part of this community, not only enjoying the sport itself but also the amazing friendships that come with it. In my professional life, I own a marketing and communications firm, where I focus on making information accessible, timely, and easy to understand. I also embrace tools like AI to help streamline communication and keep people connected. As Secretary, my goal is to ensure APA’s plans and activities are documented and shared in a way that supports every member and strengthens our community.
My name is Andrew and I’m running for mountain zone rep. I’m from Alabama originally where I got my start in polocrosse with Grand Bay. I’ve been playing for six years since and the last couple of seasons have found me in Colorado where I would love to help grow the sport!
Ryan Murphy
Polocrosse has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing in 1989 at age eight, in a small Pennsylvania club built from a rulebook, a few rackets, and a passionate coach. That spark took me across the country, around the world, and eventually onto the APA Board as a college student—where I learned early what it means to give back to the sport that shaped me. Over the decades, I’ve played on numerous U.S. teams, including three World Cups; coached at every level; helped build two thriving clubs and served the APA in roles including Board at Large, PDP Chair, and Chief Umpire. My experiences as a player, coach, club builder, and international competitor give me a complete view of what makes our sport great—and what threatens it.
Today, living in Connecticut with no remaining international ambitions, I bring a clear mandate: promote fun, protect safety, and prioritize horse welfare. Polocrosse is at its best when families are camping together, horses are well prepared, teammates support one another, and kids feel proud of their progress. That community is our greatest asset—and it must be safeguarded.
To grow, we first need to strengthen the foundation: safer play, clearer frameworks, better support for clubs, and an understanding of what our members actually want. Growth happens when local clubs thrive, and I’m committed to helping identify what’s working, fix what isn’t, and amplify successful models across the country.
With your vote, I’ll work collaboratively with the Board and membership to listen, ask the hard questions, and take measured, meaningful steps that elevate our sport for the long term. Thank you for your consideration.
I’m Stacy Upshaw and I met polocrosse as an adult in 2012. I founded Grand Bay Polocrosse and host events at my home field. My two kids, now in college, played through the levels to B grade. I photograph the sport to provide players with memories. I’d like to serve as a Board Member at Large to hear ideas from all quadrants and continue to grow our sport at the grassroots level.
Positions that will be elected:
⭐️ Vice President: Katelyn Pierce
⭐️ Secretary: Kristy Gusick
⭐️ Mountain Zone Rep: Andrew Hatchett
⭐️ Board at Large #3: Ryan Murphy
⭐️ Board at Large #4: Stacy Upshaw
Vice President:
Katelyn Pierce
As Vice President, my goal would be to serve as a strong voice for the membership while upholding the standards, policies, and values of our organization. I am committed to strengthening APA relationships with local clubs and supporting key areas such as umpiring, player development, recruiting, and fundraising.
I believe it is essential to uphold the traditions and standards of polocrosse while continuing to expand the APA’s presence within the broader horse industry. My focus would include developing more streamlined processes for reporting tournament results and incidents, increasing the use of modern technology to improve communication, and continuing to build a cohesive national marketing strategy that attracts new members and national sponsorship opportunities.
Secretary: Kristy Gusick
The APA is built on strong connections, teamwork, and clear communication, values that I care deeply about. For more than 10 years, I’ve been grateful to be part of this community, not only enjoying the sport itself but also the amazing friendships that come with it. In my professional life, I own a marketing and communications firm, where I focus on making information accessible, timely, and easy to understand. I also embrace tools like AI to help streamline communication and keep people connected. As Secretary, my goal is to ensure APA’s plans and activities are documented and shared in a way that supports every member and strengthens our community.
Mountain Zone Representative: Andrew Hatchett
My name is Andrew and I’m running for mountain zone rep. I’m from Alabama originally where I got my start in polocrosse with Grand Bay. I’ve been playing for six years since and the last couple of seasons have found me in Colorado where I would love to help grow the sport!
Board at Large: #3
Ryan Murphy
Polocrosse has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing in 1989 at age eight, in a small Pennsylvania club built from a rulebook, a few rackets, and a passionate coach. That spark took me across the country, around the world, and eventually onto the APA Board as a college student—where I learned early what it means to give back to the sport that shaped me. Over the decades, I’ve played on numerous U.S. teams, including three World Cups; coached at every level; helped build two thriving clubs and served the APA in roles including Board at Large, PDP Chair, and Chief Umpire. My experiences as a player, coach, club builder, and international competitor give me a complete view of what makes our sport great—and what threatens it.
Today, living in Connecticut with no remaining international ambitions, I bring a clear mandate: promote fun, protect safety, and prioritize horse welfare. Polocrosse is at its best when families are camping together, horses are well prepared, teammates support one another, and kids feel proud of their progress. That community is our greatest asset—and it must be safeguarded.
To grow, we first need to strengthen the foundation: safer play, clearer frameworks, better support for clubs, and an understanding of what our members actually want. Growth happens when local clubs thrive, and I’m committed to helping identify what’s working, fix what isn’t, and amplify successful models across the country.
With your vote, I’ll work collaboratively with the Board and membership to listen, ask the hard questions, and take measured, meaningful steps that elevate our sport for the long term. Thank you for your consideration.
Board at Large #4: Stacy Upshaw
I’m Stacy Upshaw and I met polocrosse as an adult in 2012. I founded Grand Bay Polocrosse and host events at my home field. My two kids, now in college, played through the levels to B grade. I photograph the sport to provide players with memories. I’d like to serve as a Board Member at Large to hear ideas from all quadrants and continue to grow our sport at the grassroots level.