By Kyle Coppola
Umatilla Pop Warner to Host 2nd Annual Cheer Showcase on Oct. 19
The energy of cheerleading will take center stage this month as Umatilla Pop Warner hosts its 2nd Annual Cheer Showcase on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m. at the Florida Elks Youth Camp, 24175 Hwy 450 in Umatilla.
The event, which organizers say was a huge success in its inaugural year, aims to spotlight the dedication and talent of local youth cheerleaders while raising funds for upcoming competitions.
“Bring the whole family for a fun, cheer-filled day you won’t want to miss,” says Gabrielle Ford, the Cheer Coordinator for Umatilla Pop Warner.
Highlights of the showcase include performances from cheer teams representing Umatilla Pop Warner, Umatilla Middle School, Mount Dora Middle School, and Eustis Middle School. Attendees can also enjoy raffle baskets, concessions, a “Dad Jump Off,” and a “Coaches Pizza Box Knockout.”
Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for children.
The showcase was created to give young athletes in the area a chance to perform in a competition-style setting ahead of their official regional competition on Oct. 25 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
“We have 50 incredible cheerleaders who dedicate their season to cheering on our football teams while training tirelessly for competition,” says Coach Ford. “The showcase gives them a chance to shine in front of the community and helps them feel what it’s like to perform in a true competitive enviornment.”
Beyond preparing athletes for the competition floor, the event also aims to strengthen ties within the regional cheer community and inspire younger participants to continue cheering into middle and high school.
“The younger girls absolutely love seeing the older teams in action, it gives them something to dream about and strive for,” Coach Ford added.
This year’s showcase theme is “Let’s Glow Girls,” promising a bright and energetic atmosphere to match the enthusiasm of the performers.
Proceeds from the event help offset costs associated with competition travel, uniforms, and training.
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.
