May 9, 2025
MDCA’s Natalie Doan Signs Commitment with U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for Basketball
By Kyle Coppola
MDCA’s Natalie Doan Signs Commitment with U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for Basketball
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Natalie Doan wasn’t always a star on the basketball court. In fact, the Mount Dora Christian Academy senior remembers scoring just four points during her entire first season in recreation ball.
“I wasn’t good at all,” Doan said, reflecting on her sixth-grade introduction to the sport she now loves. “But I kept practicing, and I also like to work out. The more I work out, the better stamina I have on the court.”
That perseverance has now earned her a coveted opportunity: a spot on the basketball team at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Doan, who has grown into a dominant presence at MDCA, was named the Class 1A District 6 Player of the Year in both her sophomore and junior seasons. As a junior, she poured in 219 points and served as team captain, solidifying her role as a leader on and off the court. She was also named to the Lake & Sumter All-Area team in 2025.
Her story is one of quiet determination, grit, and a strong support system. The daughter of Son Doan and Denise Dang, Natalie credits her parents’ work ethic—especially her father’s journey as a Vietnamese immigrant—for inspiring her academic and athletic pursuits.
“My dad was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 20 years old,” she said. “He worked hard, and so did my mom. They’ve taught me that if you work hard at something, it pays off.”
That mindset helped Natalie balance rigorous academics—she boasts a 4.3 weighted GPA. She also credits her coach, Perry Petruccelli, for helping her grow on the court.
(Natalie is not just a great athlete but an excellent student. She has a 4.3 GPA.)
“He’s an amazing coach,” Doan said. “He stays after practice so I can shoot around and he sacrifices a lot of time for us.”
Doan’s next chapter will take her to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where she plans to study Military Marine Transportation. It’s a path that blends her love for basketball with a desire to serve and explore.
“I’ve always wanted to explore the world, and what better way than to get paid to travel and serve the country,” she said.
For younger athletes looking to follow in her footsteps, Natalie offers simple but powerful advice.
“Trust in your work,” she said. “Trust that the hours you put into anything will pay off. I wasn’t very good at basketball when I started, but now I’m a team captain. You can do anything you put your mind to.”
From four points in her first season to a future in service and sports, Natalie Doan’s journey is a testament to resilience, leadership, and the power of believing in your own growth.
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.
