By Kyle Coppola
Jayda Washington Shines as Umatilla Opens Season on a Roll
Umatilla High senior Jayda Washington has never been one to shy away from a challenge. At 5-foot-8, the versatile guard/forward has become a steady force for the Bulldogs, averaging 12 points and 6.3 rebounds through the first four games of the season. This year, Umatilla High is looking to build upon its growing reputation under Head Coach Cameron Ware.
Jayda didn’t pick up a basketball until eighth grade, but the sport quickly became a central part of her life. She credits Coach Cam and Coach Nitro for pushing her to take the game seriously heading into her freshman year, a turning point in what has now been a five-year commitment.
“They really got me to see what basketball could be for me,” Jayda says. “They pushed me early, and I’m grateful for that.”
Her drive is fueled by a tight circle of role models. Her mother Brooke, stepfather Marlon, and sister Avaya, along with her faith.
“They push me to be a better version of myself every day,” she says. “And none of my accomplishments would be possible without God.”
Jayda’s favorite memory on the court came during her sophomore season, when Umatilla finished 19-7, marking the best record in modern girls basketball history at the school.
“We made history,” she says. “That season showed what we were capable of.”
But her journey hasn’t been without setbacks. As a junior, Jayda tore the ligaments in her ankle, cutting short her basketball season and half of track and field.
“It was the biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome,” she says. “I got through it by trusting that God had a plan for me.”
She says basketball has taught her to handle both wins and losses with grace, understanding that growth comes from both. And she credits Coach Ware with shaping her on and off the court.
“The most important thing Coach Cam has taught me is to be humble and always have respect no matter what,” Jayda says. “He’s grown me into the athlete and person I am today.”
Playing at Umatilla, she added, has its own motivation.
“People doubt us all the time,” she says. “But that just pushes us to be better.”
Umatilla has grown not just athletically but academically in recent years under the guidance of Principal Brent Frazier who’s brought a winning culture back to the athletic and academic programs at Umatilla High.
Jayda carries a 3.8 GPA and plans to continue her athletic career in college taking part in track while majoring in nursing. She has great advice for the next wave of young athletes coming up the ranks at Umatilla High and in Lake County, “Never give up, no matter how hard it gets. Don’t lose focus.”
For Umatilla, her focus is already paying off. Umatilla is off to a 3-1 start to the year and will be looking to make the FHSAA Playoffs for the second time in three years and a trip back to the District Championship a feat they accomplished last season.
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.
