WPBA Players Tour Big Cypress

By Nery Mejicano

BIG CYPRESS — On Monday Nov. 30, some of the world’s best female billiard players visited the many attractions offered by the Seminole Tribe on the Big Cypress reservation. The players were part of the Women Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) Cuetec® Cues Florida Classic tour, hosted by the Hollywood Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Dec. 1–5.

Twelve of the players visited the Ahfachkee School and had the opportunity to speak to the students about motivation, hard work and the importance of education in their life, regardless of their choice of profession. The students were very attentive and their talk generated several questions.

After leaving Ahfachkee, the players were treated to a nice lunch at the Swamp Water Café, where they sampled some of the fares that their palates have never tasted before, such as frog legs and alligator tail.

Next, in a day full of activities, the players attended the Critter Show at Billie Swamp Safari. It was a fun, entertaining and educational show presented by Swamp Safari employee Ray Becerra. He made the players laugh, and at one time almost cry when a skunk he was showing appeared to spray the visitors. Becerra actually had a water gun under the critter.

The WPBA players then went on a swamp buggy tour of Billie Swamp Safari. Tribal Chairman Mitchell Cypress was the tour guide and as a treat, he introduced them to Superman, the largest alligator in captivity, measuring 15 feet in length. Upon their return, they had a chance to “wrestle” an alligator, as all the cameras were flashing; closing this experience they will never forget.

Following the swamp buggy tour, the players enjoyed an airboat ride, followed by a visit to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. They learned more about the Seminole Tribe, its history and traditions.

The trip was supposed to end at 4:30 p.m., but ran a little late and the tour group got back to the Hard Rock at 7:30 p.m. At the conclusion of their Big Cypress experience, the most often heard comment was, “this was the most fun we had in a long time!”