By Kyle Coppola
Orlando Thunder Water Polo Teams Medal at Junior Olympics
The Orlando Thunder Water Polo Club, which trains year-round at the National Training Center in Clermont, represented Lake County on the national scene. Over the past three weeks, the program has delivered standout performances at national Junior Olympics tournaments in both California and Dallas.
In California, the Orlando Thunder 18U Girls’ team made a powerful statement, securing third place in the Bronze Division at Junior Olympics and competing against top-tier teams from across the country.
On the boys’ side, the 16U Orlando Thunder teams competed in the prestigious Championship Division, facing off against some of the nation’s most elite programs. While they didn’t come home with a title, they impressed with sharp defensive play, quick counterattacks, and strong goalkeeping.
Meanwhile, in Dallas, the spotlight shifted to the club’s homegrown 14U teams. Both the Orlando Thunder 14U Girls and 14U Boys teams gave it everything they had. The girls held their own in a tough field and came away with a strong sixth-place finish. The boys had a standout tournament, earning a hard-fought silver medal in the Gold Division after a series of close, competitive games.
(The Orlando Thunder 14U team that won a bronze medal at the Junior Olympics.)
“These competitive results are the product of relentless dedication, disciplined training, and strong support,” says the Orlando Thunder coaching staff. “At the NTC, athletes train with focus and purpose throughout the year, sharpening their skills and building team chemistry. That effort over the past few years is now starting to translate into growth at the high school level as well.”
This fall, several Thunder athletes will join the Lake Minneola High School Water Polo Team, bringing with them competitive experience. Just last year, in its inaugural season, the team had only two players with prior water polo experience. This year, they will head into the season with nearly a dozen athletes who’ve been training and competing consistently, a major step forward for the sport in Lake County.
(The Sport of Water Polo continues to grow in Lake County. Interest is at an all-time high.)
“As a mom of a freshman boy starting high school, it’s been incredible to watch him grow through this program. He’s more confident, more disciplined, and he’s found a sport he truly loves,” says Ashley Salter, whose son will be playing his first season with the Lake Minneola team this fall. “The Orlando Thunder coaches have created something special.”
These performances are not just about medals, they’re a clear reflection of the growth of water polo in Central Florida. The club’s influence continues to expand, and the future looks especially promising for both Orlando Thunder Water Polo and the Lake Minneola High School team, which now includes players from several schools across Lake County.
The fall season kicks off August 26th, with the winter season beginning the first week of November. Now is the perfect time to get involved and be part of this exciting movement in Central Florida sports. Click here for info.
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.
