February 2, 2025
Tavares High Senior Jasmine Lawrence Balances Softball, Academics and Ambitions
By Kyle Coppola
Tavares High Senior Jasmine Lawrence Balances Softball, Academics and Ambitions
Jasmine Lawrence
Tavares High School senior Jasmine Lawrence views softball as more than a game—it’s been a journey of self-discovery, joy and valuable life lessons.
With seven years of experience, Jasmine has transformed her initial struggles into a story of triumph fueled by passion, determination and family support.
Jasmine’s first game of softball was during a family gathering when her cousin Evie, new to the sport, inspired her to give it a try. Jasmine was playing flag football at the time but found herself drawn to softball’s dynamic nature.
“I was horrible at first,” Jasmine admits. “But when I was 13 or 14, I got serious about it. Softball gave me joy, taught me so much about life and brought me closer to my family and teammates.”
Jasmine credits her hitting coach, Sergio Rodriguez, as a key influence in her development.
“He taught me discipline, how to control my attitude, and how to trust myself,” she shares. “Softball is 80% mental, and he’s helped me build confidence and focus.”
This mental resilience has been a cornerstone of Jasmine’s success. She’s learned to focus on her own progress rather than comparing herself to others.
“Everyone’s journey is different,” she says. “Focus on yourself and you’ll be surprised at how far you go.”
Jasmine is not only a standout athlete but also a high-achieving student with a 5.0 weighted GPA who is dual-enrolled at Lake-Sumter State College. She’s also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has her sights set on a career in cybersecurity.
“I’ve always been interested in computer science,” she says. “It’s exciting to think about the opportunities in the cybersecurity field.”
As Jasmine enters her senior year at Tavares High, she’s eager to make the most of her final year after signing a letter of commitment to Troy University in Alabama.
“I’m really looking forward to this season,” she says. “I’m ready to hit some bombs and make lasting memories with my teammates. Signing with Troy was incredible, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to play NCAA Division 1 softball and further my education.”
Jasmine’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the sacrifices of her parents and the support of her family, teammates and travel ball coaches.
“My parents have given so much time and money to help me get here, I am so thankful for them,” she reflects. “I am also grateful to all my teammates, friends and coaches for all the work they put in to help me achieve my goals.”
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.
