By Kyle Coppola
Lake-Sumter State College Unveils New Beach Volleyball Complex
A new chapter in Lake-Sumter State College’s athletic history was written today as the Lake Jem Farms Beach Court Complex was officially unveiled. The state-of-the-art facility, designed specifically for the college’s beach volleyball team, represents more than just new courts; it’s a symbol of a community coming together to support the next generation of student-athletes.
This moment is one of great pride for the Lake and Sumter County communities, providing a dedicated space for athletes to train, compete, and excel at the highest levels. As Athletic Director Jay Miller put it, “This is more than just a set of courts; it’s an opportunity to compete and push to new heights. This is one of the top beach volleyball complexes in the county, and in the very near future, we hope to host regional and national events.”
The facility, built at no cost to the college, is the result of an incredible collaboration between the Lake Jem Farms team, led by Corey Warner, and the college itself. “It’s a joy to stand here today and see the results of a fantastic team. The school had a need, we had the ability to help, and I called on our team to help, and they knocked it out of the park,” said Corey Warner, expressing his pride in the community-driven effort.
Warner emphasized that the project was a collective effort. “This has nothing to do with me but with the community. This is our school and our community, and we need to invest in the school for our children. This is the beginning of doing better.”
Dr. Laura Byrd, interim president of Lake-Sumter State College, echoed Warner’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the new facility in helping the college’s student-athletes reach their full potential. “This facility is the realization of a purpose to provide our athletes with a chance to excel,” Dr. Byrd said. “It’s truly a moment of celebration for our great college community.”
Commissioner Tim Morris, says Corey, thank you so much. This is amazing, and it’s a huge commitment—huge commitment to our college to grow our community and our students,” he said.
The opening of the Lake Jem Farms Beach Court Complex is just the beginning of what the college hopes will be a long-term investment in both the college and the surrounding community. “This is the start of something bigger. This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long investment into the community,” said Warner
As the new complex becomes a hub for beach volleyball talent and competition, it will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the college’s athletic program and strengthen connections to the Lake and Sumter communities.
To all the student-athletes, Dr. Bard had one final message: “This is for you. This facility is for you, and we are so excited to see you grow, compete, and achieve great things here.”
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.
