By Kyle Coppola
MDCA’s “Fantastic Four” Ready to Make Golf History
Four lifelong friends searching for their place in high school sports have become what could be the most promising golf team in Mount Dora Christian Academy (MDCA) history.
Seniors Dylan Lapp, Jonah Musselwhite, Veydan Diaz and Jackson Graves didn’t tee off with the Bulldogs as freshmen. In fact, none of them were even on the team. They were athletes without a sport: a baseball player recovering from surgery, two former basketball hopefuls and one who hadn’t found an athletic identity.
Now, three years later, they’re bound by a passion for golf and an even deeper bond with each other, poised to lead MDCA into its most competitive season yet.
“We’re calling them the Fantastic Four,” says head coach Mike Considine. “They love this game, but even more than that, they love each other. That’s the real story.”
And it’s a powerful one.
These four seniors have known each other since kindergarten. “Veydan, Jackson, Dylan and I have been friends for around 10 years,” says Jonah. “We played different sports over the years, but golf was the first sport we played where we wanted to be great, not just individually, but as a team.”
That mindset change brought them closer. Golf, often viewed as a solitary pursuit, became a conduit for teamwork and personal growth. They spent the past few summers grinding together, putting in long hours on the course and range.
“I think golf enhanced our friendship because of how much time needs to be spent on the course,” Jonah adds. “We’re out playing together on our home course every day during the season and nearly every other day in the offseason.”
Dylan was the first to make headlines. After shooting in the high 90s as a sophomore, he won the Lake County High School Championship as a junior by carding a one-under 71 at Harbour Hills Country Club.
His breakthrough inspired Jonah, Veydan and Jackson to step up their game. They went from average scorers in the mid-80s to now consistently shooting under 80. It wasn’t just talent. It was relentless effort, summer practice sessions and a drive not just to improve individually but uplift each other.
“It takes a village,” Coach Considine says. “The biggest reason they’ve improved is their work ethic. They’re on the course constantly. But we’ve also had incredible support from our community.”
That includes assistant coach Clayton Vaughn, a local firefighter who somehow finds time to coach and encourage the boys on and off the course.
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“Coach Vaughn, despite being a firefighter, makes time to be with our team,” Jonah says. “He comes up with great drills and keeps us positive during tournaments. That’s huge for us.”
The boys also benefit from the generosity of local golf pros Attila Pinter (Country Club of Mount Dora) and Steve Wresh (Continental Country Club), who’ve provided lessons and access to facilities. The Mount Dora Golf Club also opened its doors for offseason training.
While many coaches focus on swing mechanics and stats, Coach Considine focuses on the mental aspect of golf . . . and life.
“If there’s anything that should be known about this team, it’s how influential our coach Mike Considine is,” says Veydan. “He doesn’t know much about the technique part of golf, but instead he has us focus on everything mental about it.”
Considine’s leadership has taken an unusual form, book clubs, character-building exercises, and deep discussions about discipline and mindset.
“For the past year he’s had us all reading and exchanging books that help build ideal character,” Veydan adds. “Without him, this team wouldn’t have the same determination and focus. He is my biggest encouragement and I strive to be the man he is to me to someone else in the future.”
That kind of leadership helps shape strong athletes as well as mature young men.
Expectations are high this season. These four seniors are no longer just best friends who golf; they’re legitimate contenders with a chance to make school history.
“Playing golf together has allowed us to become much closer,” Jackson says. “Joining the MDCA golf team was a great decision because I get to play a sport I love with my best friends. I’m really excited for this season and just look forward to being out there with my team every day after school.”
From teammates to brothers, from novices to contenders, the Fantastic Four story is about more than chasing trophies. Beyond the wins and scores, what truly stands out is the brotherly bond they share so dearly.
“They’re not just out here having fun anymore,” Considine says. “They’re legitimate contenders. This could be the best team MDCA has ever put on a course.”
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Photos: Nicole Hamel
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.
