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. “When he comes out Star team, and Matt’s Prada earned Best Playing Pony. Later that on the field, he has a lot of drive, he puts 110% into playing to win. month, when the Polo Training Foundation held its annual Florida He won the Argentine Open and the US Open in April.” junior and youth program party in Wellington, Matt received the Matt has enjoyed certain advantages, but he hasn’t been exempt Junior Sportsmanship Award. from horse-related character building. On May 3, just over a year “It was awesome to win that tournament – I had been playing ago, he hit rock bottom when he faced surgical replacement of in other junior tournaments this year, making the finals in two, but his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and the orthopedic specialist couldn’t win – we pulled this one off in my last year of eligibility,” also removed 60% of his MCL (medial collateral ligament). “I was Matt said. “Earning the PTF sportsmanship award was a real in so much pain, I can’t even begin to describe how bad it was,” honor.” recalled Matt. “I had an ice machine hooked up to my knee for Matt is a good indicator of how the USPA has gone all-out to 10 days and for a while I didn’t know if I would be able to ride, let encourage kids of all ages, but especially youngsters, to play alone play polo.” polo. Games tend to be fiercely contested, and juniors are starting It took five months of determination and hard work, including to make their presence known in higher-goal play. Matt noted, daily physical therapy in Wellington with Ed Smith (who helped “There’s a lot of competition from players who are 15, 16, 17 and McLain Ward get back in the saddle six weeks after a compound 18. I think we’re doing a good job of catching up with the great fracture). “All that time I was watching my buddies play and I was player families from Argentina and other countries whose kids dying to be out there,” admitted Matt. “I learned how very blessed start swinging mallets as soon as they can walk, but I would still and very lucky I am. I’ve had a lot of help. My dad and mom never like to see more American players in higher goal play.” miss a game. They support me so much, and I couldn’t have done Matt recently earned his 3-goal rating, a huge achievement at anything in polo without them. I’ve really learned to appreciate all 18, but his sights are set much higher. “Everybody’s goal is to be that my parents have done for me.” 10-goals, right? But I think that earning an 8-goal handicap will “Most of all I’ve learned to go out and give polo everything I be a big accomplishment,” he said. “I just graduated from high have, to do what I know and to keep learning,” stated Matt. “I’ve school and I have no plans to attend college. I’m going to help learned to have a good attitude on the field and to make the most my dad with the family business and work with my cousin, Lou of my teammates. I’ve had a great groom for two years: Eduardo Cuthbertson, who is the manager, and I’m going to pursue the prepares my horses and tack exactly right. Polo combines the polo.” thrill of being on a horse and the excitement of the game. It’s The family business is the Tackeria in Wellington, owned since everything to me.” 40 SIDELINES JULY 2013 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE.

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