April 1, 2025
Eustis Sophomore Brooklyn Powhida Excels with 4.0 GPA and Softball Excellence
By Kyle Coppola
Eustis Sophomore Brooklyn Powhida Excels with 4.0 GPA and Softball Excellence
EUSTIS, Fla. — After helping lead Eustis High School to a state championship in 2024, sophomore Brooklyn Powhida is proving her breakout season was no fluke. One of Lake County’s most electrifying young stars, Powhida has taken her game to another level in 2025, delivering standout performances at the plate, in the field, and on the base paths.
Powhida, a versatile switch-hitting outfielder and catcher, is batting .381 this season with 16 hits, 13 RBIs, and 17 runs scored. A terror on the base paths, she recently surpassed 50 career stolen bases after swiping 37 last season. She has 13 steals so far this year, including the milestone theft that came during the Key West victory a few weeks ago in a 9-7 win. Powhida had 2 steals in that contest.
(Powhida is coming off a freshman season that saw her contribute heavily to the 2024 State Championship team.)
Her impact is not limited to the diamond. Powhida is also excelling in the classroom, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has been able to balance her softball schedule which includes her travel ball team. Powhida is one of the premier sophomore student-athletes in the region. “Us Eustis Lady Panthers strive everyday to be the best we can be! Pray and Play through it and nothing can stop us.” says Powhida.
While Powhida is only a sophomore, she’s a leader, a competitor, and one of the hardest-working players you will meet. That goes for the entire Eustis High School softball team. Those girls put in the work day in and day out. It’s the reason they are the defending FHSAA Class 4A State Champions. Whether she’s at the plate, behind it, or running the bases, she finds a way to make a difference.
(Powhida is not just dominant at the plate but on the base paths as well. She just stole her 50th career stolen base which puts her on pace to steal over 100 by her senior year.)
But it’s not been all Brooklyn this year, Emmy Luke is batting .429 with 24 RBIs and 20 runs scored. You also have Adrianna Covino having a stellar year at the plate batting .467 with 21 hits. Ella Flemming is an exciting freshman who has burst onto the scene with a .390 average with 16 hits this season. And don’t forget Carson Roden who had big shoes to fill at the pitcher position this season with Skylar Cloud graduating. Roden has pitched 64 innings and struck out 76 batters with a 3.50 ERA.
(Its been a total team effort from Eustis this year. Eustis had at one point won 18 games in a row until a loss earlier this year dating back to April of 2024. Currently 10-3 Eustis looks to gain momentum in the final half of the 2025 regular season.)
The entire team is having another stellar year and while there are big pieces to fill after key players graduated, the team is looking good under first year head coach Tyra Bowers who took over for Brittany Beall who is now coaching with FAMU. Whether it’s driving in runs, making key defensive plays, or disrupting opponents with her speed, the Brooklyn Powhida is showing why she is one of the brightest young stars in Florida high school softball.
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.
