January 24, 2025
Wildwood Boys Basketball Team Flips Script with Stunning Turnaround Season
By Kyle Coppola
Wildwood Boys Basketball Team Flips Script with Stunning Turnaround Season
WILDWOOD, Fla. — The Wildwood Wildcats boys basketball team has orchestrated a terrific turnaround this season, flipping their record from a dismal 4-18 last year to an impressive 18-4 mark. Under the leadership of head coach Richard Jackson, the Wildcats have emerged as one of the top teams in FHSAA Class Rural. The resurgance has been fueled by young talent and strong team chemistry.
(Wildwood head basketball coach Richard Jackson has been a big reason for the success. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
Freshman sensation Demarius Knight has been a standout, averaging 13.7 points per game and establishing himself as a key offensive weapon this season. Junior Louis Brown has also played a pivotal role, contributing 11.3 points per game and leading the Wildcats on the boards with 5.1 rebounds per game.
“The kids worked hard all summer and fall.” Coach Jackson said. “Last year was challenging for everyone involved but we challenged the kids to really live in the gym and work at their craft. They responded great to that. We got back to some of the basics and worked from there. The kids bought into the culture we as a staff were trying to build,” says Jackson.
(It’s been a season to remember for Wildwood. They are coming into the final fews games of the regular season as serious contenders for a state championship run. Photo Credit – Wildwood Middle High.)
Wildwood also brought on former Villages head coach David Krackoff who has brought much of the foundational work he was able to instill at The Villages to Wildwood. The entire coaching staff along with the players have bought into the success and Wildwood seems poised for a run in the FHSAA Playoffs this season as one of the favorites in FHSAA Class Rural.
It’s great to see Wildwood Middle High basketball back to it’s winning ways. The Wildcats will look to finish the year strong and contend for not only a district championship but a state championship.
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.
