Since July 1, 2022, Mount St. Mary’s University has been a part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), joining schools of a similar size and shared Catholic identity. Part of joining the new conference is an agreement with ESPN to broadcast Mount sporting events live through ESPN+. The Mount’s Communication Department has spearheaded the project, supporting the program with new hires and classes designed around broadcasting.
An ESPN broadcasting practicum course, taught by Lecturer Sheldon Shealer, has been offered since last semester to help coach students on how to produce broadcasts, operate cameras and edit audio and video for replays. Each week, students review their prior broadcasts, scope out the next week’s schedule, and are assigned roles. Shealer also invites associates from the sports and sports media industry to host Q-and-A sessions for his students.
David Haag, coordinator of live productions in the Athletic Communications Department, manages the control room that fills up with student interns in Lower McGowan. It has been a whirlwind year, getting the broadcasting program off the ground and flying high. “I was brought on in August, we had the broadcasting room furnished by September, and had soccer games streaming by October,” said Haag.
Haag believes that opportunities like this are valuable opportunities for students to get a jump start on their careers. “The earlier you get involved, the more opportunity you will have to grow,” he shared. He always emphasizes the value of a diversified skillset with his student interns. Darren Edinger, C’24, appreciates the challenge, commenting that “if you are in one position you should always be asking ‘what can I do next?’…I’ve worked the cameras, done graphics and next week I’m doing replays.” Replay is Edinger’s favorite position: “It’s the place where you can get most creative. You’re looking at six cameras with all different angles, but you have to pick the best shot…and fast!”
Edinger has been an intern in the ESPN studio since the fall and has loved every second of it. He is majoring in business with a chemistry minor, and he is now considering adding communication as another minor. He was a soccer and baseball player until injuries caused him to step down, but he remains a staunch supporter of Mount athletics by helping broadcast games and competitions. “I get a different take on the sport…I had never done any filming and seeing this side of it gave me a lot of respect for the workers in the industry,” he said.
Arden Lembryk, C’25, a fellow student intern, shares Edinger’s passion for the program and has enjoyed capturing the basketball court from behind the camera. A communication major and goalie on the women’s soccer team, she had experience from participating in her high school news team.
Lembryk loves the recognition she receives from the Mount community. “People that come to the games can rely on me to be there. My friends even started calling me Camera 4!” she remarked with a laugh. It’s a unique experience being right on the sideline; she’s captured the crowd’s reactions, as well as the game, and even becomes a part of it if a ball comes flying out of bounds.
What makes this program such a great addition to the Mount is its flexibility and diversity. The ESPN broadcasting studio attracts students with many different interests. This array of students makes each broadcast possible. Soon, they’ll be expanding broadcasts to cover several more sports, including water polo, lacrosse and baseball. Stay tuned!