By Kyle Coppola
Leesburg Jr. Jackets Peewee Cheer Team Headed To Nationals
LEESBURG, Fla. — The Leesburg Jr. Jacket Jr. Peewee Cheer team brought pride to Lake County over Thanksgiving weekend by claiming second place at the Pop Warner Regional Cheerleading Competition. Their stellar performance secured them a coveted spot at the Pop Warner Nationals, set to take place on December 11 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Led by head coach Jamilla Russell, the Jr. Jackets demonstrated precision, enthusiasm, and an undeniable team spirit that wowed the judges. Russell, who has been instrumental in developing the program, praised her team’s dedication and resilience.
(The Jr. Jackets are headed to the Pop Warner Nationals in Orlando after a runner-up finish at Regionals this weekend.)
“My girls worked so hard for this and I couldn’t bee more proud of them. When they called our name yesterday we instantly started crying. Waking up yesterday morning and having to change the routine hours before we hit the mat had me stressed! But my girls held it down and pulled it off! Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters, we love you and appreciate you all.” said coach Russell who most know as MiMi.
The Jr. Jackets will now prepare to represent Lake County against the nation’s top cheerleading squads. The team is practicing intensively to refine their routine and build on their regional success.
(The Jr. Jackets had to change their performance just hours before taking the mat. But they impressed and earned a runner-up finish.)
Parents and supporters have already begun rallying behind the team. We are very excited for these young ladies.
“Being part of this team is more than just cheerleading,” said one parent. “It’s about building confidence, teamwork, and lifelong memories. The Nationals are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we can’t wait to see them shine.”
The Pop Warner Nationals bring together the best young cheerleaders from across the country. Some of the top broadway dancers and talent got their start at this very same competition. There is incredible talent showcased at these events and it’s truly inspiring to see these junior cheer teams perform. The Jr. Jackets hope to make their mark on this grand stage as they hope to inspire future generations of cheerleaders in Lake County.
We will certainly be rooting for the Leesburg Jr. Jackets as they aim for national glory! Good luck to each and every one of them!
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Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
Go Jackets we still got the beehive buzzing👏👏