WPBA Pro Villareal Inks Endorsement Deal With Seminole Tribe of Florida

WPBA Pro Villareal Inks Endorsement Deal With Seminole Tribe of FloridaHollywood, Fl – Her mother calls her “Honey”; her father - “Champ”. To her billiards fans around the world she’s known as the “Texas Tornado”. But on the lands of the 3,000+ member strong Seminole Tribe of Florida, Vivian Villareal is known as a six-shootin’, pool playin’, gator wrestlin’ superwoman that Tribal Chairman Mitchell Cypress believes is the perfect role model for the young tribal women who aspire to become the best they can be. Cypress, who met Villareal during the annual Seminole Tribe Sports Festival this past Memorial Day weekend, was impressed with Villareal’s contagious enthusiasm. “I watched the way she played billiards and interacted with those around her and I immediately sensed that she would be the perfect role model for our young people”, says Cypress. Since his election as Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Cypress has been instrumental in promoting a healthier lifestyle among his people and emphasizing the need to reduce diabetes and other diseases, the incidents of which have risen sharply over the last two decades.
Villareal, currently ranked as the fifth best female billiard player in the world, is elated over the endorsement. “Words can’t describe the feeling when one of the most successful Native American enterprises in the nation says: ‘We think you’re good enough to represent us’,” says Villareal. “I am so thankful and appreciative to both Mitchell and David Cypress for this opportunity and for believing in me,” she adds. The descendant of an Aztecan grandfather, Villareal feels a cultural closeness to the Seminole Tribe and great sense of willingness to fit into Cypress’ long-term plan. “This endorsement isn’t about the money. I want to make an impression on these young women and encourage them to realize and achieve their goals,” says Villareal. “I want them to lead healthy lives, exercise, take care of themselves, and most importantly, encourage them that they can become as successful as they want,” she adds. Although a number of the WPBA players are endorsed by sponsors related to the billiards industry, the Villareal/Seminole Tribe of Florida deal is the first of its kind in WPBA history. Ewa Laurance, President of the WPBA’ is very encouraged by the endorsement. “Native American tribes have been very instrumental in sponsoring some of our tournament events in their gaming casinos, but this sponsorship adds a new dimension to their involvement with the WPBA,” says Laurance. “We are very appreciative to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their recognition of Ms. Villareal as the true professional that she is and as a role model for their young women. Our hope is that through her encouragement and guidance, the Seminole Tribe will soon have their first WPBA participant,” she adds. As part of the endorsement deal, Villareal will hold billiard and wellness clinics throughout the Seminole Tribe’s Reservations and will attend sports festivities held by the Tribe. “We certainly hope that Vivian will be the WPBA “Player of the Year,” says Chairman Cypress. “One thing is for sure, she’s already the ‘WPBA Gator Wrestler of the Year,’ he adds with a chuckle. Cypress was referring to Villareal’s wild ride on an alligator at the Seminole Tribe’s ‘Billie Swamp Safari’ on the Big Cypress reservation in Florida. Villareal was introduced to the Seminole Tribe’s long-standing tradition of alligator wrestling by sitting on an alligator long enough to be photographed. Although it was not a full-fledged wrestling match, Chairman Cypress predicted the outcome: “There’s no doubt in my mind Vivian would have prevailed,” says the Chairman. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is headquartered on the Hollywood Reservation in South Florida. The 3000+ member tribal population, the majority of which reside on tribal land, are spread over six reservations: Tampa, Hollywood, Brighton, Big Cypress, Fort Pierce, and Immokalee, all located in South Florida. Tribal enterprises consist of five gaming casinos which are located on tribal land and a number of eco-tourism attractions including the Billie Swamp Safari and Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. There are also public campgrounds on the Big Cypress and Brighton reservations. For more information on the Seminole Tribe of Florida please visit their website at www.seminoletribe.com or contact Elrod Bowers at (954) 967-3900. To schedule an interview with Vivian Villareal please contact Bob Arguelles, Media Dynamics at (505) 269-1481 or e-mail at bobarguelles@cs.com .Visit InsidePOOL for the latest from the sport of billiards and pool.

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