- April 18, 2024
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Updated 8 a.m. June 12
Flagler County Sports SWAP, a Community Problem Solving team with members from Matanzas High School, Flagler Palm Coast High School and Indian Trails Middle School, was crowned Grand Champion of the Middle Division at the Future Problem Solving International Competition’s virtual awards ceremony June 9.
SWAP, which stands for Students Wanting Athletic Participation, collects donations of sports equipment, organizes it, displays it, and then gives it away to anyone who needs it. The group consists of Ben Kopach, Jake Blumengarten, Tommy Sturman and Aiden White. The coach is Amy Kopach.
The other winners in SWAP’s category were from Singapore, Turkey and Texas.
Kopach said the team assembled at his house to watch the virtual ceremony.
“We were jumping up and down, screaming,” he said. “Once we realized we won, we were all just going crazy because everything we worked for is paying off.”
In January, SWAP opened a storefront at Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church, 101 Pine Lakes Parkway, where people could come and “shop” for free equipment on Monday evenings. It was only open for about six weeks before it had to close due to the pandemic.
Plans are still in the works for how to reopen, but in the future, Kopach said, he hopes that the group can work with school guidance counselors and arrange for other students to help receive donations and distribute them at the store, for community service hours.
Email [email protected], or look for @flaglersportsswap on Facebook or Instagram.
