Kareem Rosser

Kareem Rosser (born c. 1998) is an American polo player and author from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He led the team, Work to Ride, to two consecutive National Interscholastic Polo Championships alongside his brother, becoming part of the first all-Black team to win the championship. Rosser is the author of two books, Crossing the Line, which received an Alex Award, and When You're Ready.

He captained the 2015 Colorado State University polo team to a national title, ending a 16-year drought. Rosser is the 2015 United States Polo Association Polo Training Foundation Male Intercollegiate Player of the Year.

Early life and education Rosser was born and raised in West Philadelphia. He is one of six children raised by his single mother. Rosser has recalled seeing horses in his neighborhood regularly. As children, he and his siblings interacted with the wildlife in their local pond. He recalled being exposed to horses through the "local urban cowboy culture of West Philadelphia."

Rosser attended Tompkins Cortland Community College for one year before transferring to Colorado State University. He graduated from Colorado State with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 2016. In 2019, the school awarded him with the Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade Award.

Playing career In 2011, Rosser and his teammates, Daymar Rosser and Brandon Reese, entered the National Interscholastic Polo Championship under Work to Ride. Prior to the tournament, they won the Southeast Regional championship. This win placed them as the number two ranked team in the nation.

In 2013, Rosser and Work to Ride played in the third annual Scottsdale Ferrari-Maserati Polo Championships in a game against 2012 college champions, University of Virginia. Rosser noted that that they were fortunate to win against Harvard a year prior and that it was going to be "a tougher challenge beating Virginia."

Colorado State Rams Rosser, as a freshman, and his team reached the finals of the 2013 United States Polo Association collegiate championships. They lost to Westmont College in a 16–19 defeat. Westmont would go on to win the 2014 season. In the 2015 season, Colorado State entered the tournament as the number one seed with an 8–1 record.

Game vs Texas A&M The game was held at the University of Connecticut. Colorado State started the game on a six-goal deficit by the end of the first chukker. By half time, the score was 8-12. By the end of the third chukker, the score was 15-15. Rosser scored a team-high seven goals and maintained their lead until the end of the game. They defeated Texas A&M 20–17 to win the title.

Writing career Rosser is the author of two memoirs. His first book, Crossing the Line, chronicles his upbringing in West Philadelphia and his development as a polo player through the Work to Ride program. Winner Governor's Cup 8-Goal (Fifth Chukker Polo Club) Runner-up Competed as a member of BlackWatch Polo Team alongside Nacho Figueras; lost to the team led by Tommy Biddle. 2012 Veuve Clicquot Classic (16-goal) Champion Defeated Texas A&M, 20-17 2015 Polo Training Foundation Male Intercollegiate Player of the Year Rosser remains involved with the Work to Ride program and has served in a leadership capacity following his playing career. He is the current Executive Vice President of Work to Ride.

In interviews, he has described polo as both a competitive and social sport that has shaped his personal and professional outlook.