Epolo Matt Coppola: Finding His Own Voice
ePolo Matt Coppola: Finding His Own Voice Matt Coppola Photo by Dave Boege - daveboege.smugmug.com/ The Coppola polo dynasty: Jesse, Tony and Matt with Eduardo Ramallo, head groom for two years, after a late April 8-goal match at The Villages Polo Club, Ocala, Florida, where Lolita earned Best Playing Pony. The weekend before, Matt earned MVP. By Lauren R. Giannini 1975 by Matt’s father, Tony Coppola, known as the Voice of Polo, because he announces matches from Florida to Chicago to Matt Coppola grew up surrounded by polo – what many Saratoga. Tony doesn’t play much anymore, but enjoys occasional consider a dream-come-true childhood. However, this 18-year-old stick-and-ball; Matt’s mother Jesse, who used to show hunter/ is aware that life with horses involves dedication, determination jumpers, helps ride their polo ponies every morning. and dealing with extreme highs and lows. Matt credits Augustine and Cacho Merlos for teaching him In April the Tackeria team of Matt, Lauren Biddle, Juancito Bollini horsemanship, how to get the most out of his horses, and about and Lorenzo Merlotti fought hard for their 4-3 win over Far Niente the importance of having a good attitude. He includes his father, at Everglades Polo Club in Wellington, Florida in the Region 4 Tony, as one of his polo mentors, and names Facundo Pieres as tournament of the inaugural US Polo Association’s National Youth his polo role model. “Facundo’s the most talented, amazing player Tournament Series. Matt and Juancito were named to the All- and he has really good horses,” Matt said.
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