Winning the C.V. Whitney Cup is always a significant achievement, but this triumph was even more special for Matt Coppola*. As the only American player on La Dolfina/Tamera (Alejandro Poma, Diego Cavanagh, Adolfo Cambiaso), Coppola played a crucial role in securing the team’s 11-10 victory over Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Pablo “Polito” Pieres, Julian de Lusarreta, Lorenzo Chavanne) at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida. The title marks his third C.V. Whitney Cup win, first lifting the trophy in 2011 at just 16 years old with Lechuza Caracas.
“It’s a big accomplishment for me to be able to win the C.V. Whitney. It’s a very tough tournament to win with so many good teams competing,” Coppola shared. His performance may not have been reflected on the scoreboard, but his impact on the team was undeniable, something that Adolfo Cambiaso himself recognized. “I think Matt Coppola had a great game today,” Cambiaso said. “He did well, pretty much the whole tournament. He did amazing playing against higher-goal players.”
La Dolfina/Tamera’s Matt Coppola and The Dutta Corp’s Tomas Garcia del Rio.
“Winning the C.V. Whitney is a big accomplishment—it’s a tough tournament with so many great teams.” – Matt Coppola
For Coppola, the opportunity to play alongside Cambiaso and La Dolfina/Tamera is something he does not take for granted. “Playing with Tamera and with Adolfo [Cambiaso] is a very big opportunity for me, and I’m just trying to make the most of it.” Learning from the best has been invaluable, and his mindset is focused on continuous growth: “Learning and trying to improve my game every day.”
Coppola and La Dolfina/Tamera now set their sights on attempting to capture the Gauntlet of Polo, presented by TruBar.
“Playing with Tamera and with Adolfo [Cambiaso] is a very big opportunity for me and I’m just trying to make the most of it” – Matt Coppola
With the C.V. Whitney Cup secured, Coppola now sets his sights on the next challenges: the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship. “Our expectations are to try and win every tournament, like any other team. I’ve never won the Gold Cup, and I’ve lost the U.S. Open final twice—it would be really nice to win those two.”
As one of the brightest American talents in high-goal polo, Coppola’s journey with La Dolfina/Tamera is just getting started, and his hunger for victory continues to drive him forward.
*Matt Coppola is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.
All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.