By Kyle Coppola
Eustis Senior Dribbles Towards Success in Basketball and Business
Alana Seward
Eustis High School senior Alana Seward has always been a shining star.
She impressed on the court as a combo guard on the school’s girls’ basketball team, but her dreams extend beyond the court. Alana has committed to Husson University in Maine and will pursue a degree in business management, aspiring to showcase her eclectic sense of style by launching her own fashion line after graduation.
Her passion for the sport is deeply rooted in her family. Alana’s father, Andre Seward, played for Eustis High before graduating in 1995.
Alana developed a love for basketball at the age of 4.
Early basketball memories for her include watching Lakers games with her father and being captivated by the legendary Kobe Bryant.
Alana says she chose Husson University because it felt like home, a place where she could build meaningful relationships like she has at EHS.
When asked to name her favorite teammate, Alana doesn’t hesitate to name Tanaujeah Brown, whose motivation pushed Alana to be the best player she could be.
Teammates D’Yani McKinley, Cerina Rolle and Khaleah Douglas, who grew up together in Eustis, have also left a profound impact on her life.
Beyond the court, Alana is actively involved in Eustis High’s Black Student Union, which provides space for black students to discuss pressing societal issues. She also participates in the African-American Heritage Parade in Eustis every February.
Alana is also involved in the annual Silhouettes of Criterion Cotillion Ball, an event dedicated to guiding young girls into womanhood and raising scholarships for those in need. The 25th annual Cotillion ball in 2024 will be a momentous occasion for Seward, who will make her debut in The Debutante Court.
Alana enjoys hanging out with friends and shopping for the latest fashion trends during her downtime. Her teammates describe her as a natural leader. They say she’s outgoing, funny and personable.
When offering advice to young players, Alana emphasizes resilience and patience.
“Never give up,” she says. “Don’t get discouraged by the opportunities others receive. It’s all on God’s timing.”
Alana’s proudest moment came in 2023 when her team secured the district championship. Her parents, Vanessa and Andre, have been pillars of her support system, reinforcing the values of hard work and love.
With that, the two are obviously proud of Alana. They believe she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. So does Alana’s brother, Jaxson, who loves his big sister and the amazing things she does.
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.
