Copperas Cove youth raising funds to head to Junior Olympics

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

A group of local youth ranging in ages from seven to 12 years old have achieved a lofty goal - qualifying to compete at the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro, NC later this month. 

The young athletes belong to the Copperas Cove Express and recently came home from regionals, where only the top finishers qualified for the national games.

Coach LaBrent Epps said the AAU athletes are trying to raise funds to travel to the games and compete. 

Epps estimates it will cost about $5,000 for the 11 kids, plus coaches for travel, lodging and meals. The games run from July 24 – Aug. 3. 

Qualifying for the Junior Olympic Games are:

Daevion Phillps (7) - 110m hurdles 

Ariyah Powell (12) - discus, turbo javelin, shot put 

Jamari Myers (12) - turbo javelin 

Joshua Arrington (11) 80m hurdles 

Colton Frogge (10) turbo javelin 

Liam Vipperman (10) turbo javelin 

Taliyah Cuffee (9) turbo javelin 

Makelton Walls (9) turbo javelin 

Antoria Smith (8) 400m, turbo javelin, shot put

Aaliyah Cross (8) turbo javelin 

Emery Cross (8) shot put

Coach Epps said the athletes will be having a car wash on Sunday, July 14 at Advance Auto Parts in Copperas Cove, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

Donations can also be made at www.copperascoveexpress.com or Cash App $copperascoveexpress. 

More than two decades ago, in 2003, Epps was a Junior Olympian himself, so he knows the excitement along with the drive that got the youngsters to this point. 

The Copperas Cove Express site is www.copperascoveexpress.com.