Some usually unseen sports-team players

Student athletic coordinators

and other support personnel

By Alana Peiffer

Knightly News Reporter

alana.peiffer@mymail.centralpenn.edu

The players arrive, a big game ahead of them. They go right to the locker room and begin to lock in.

This game means everything.

Running out onto the court, they have everything they need.

Half-time rolls around and their water bottles are filled and sweat towels are ready.

The last buzzer sounds and the Knights take the win.

They then file into the locker room to celebrate their big win.

A point to ponder

Okay: Let’s back-track a little. Consider these points. How did all the balls get onto the court for the team’s warmup? Who is displaying a broadcast so friends and family can watch the game? Who took care of the cleanup and teardown following that big win? Until you pull back the curtain, it’s easy to miss the many hands and roles that go into a sporting event at Central Penn College.

A role that often goes unnoticed is that of athletic coordinator. People in this role work quietly, but their actions speak loudly.

Athletic coordinators work to ensure that game day goes smoothly for both teams. They make sure the opposing team feels welcome at Central Penn. They ensure uniforms are ready for the Knights and that they have the equipment they need. The athletic coordinators often organize most of the detailed process, from pregame to postgame, by using their passion for the game to ensure the players have a smooth game.

Central Penn residence life and athletic coordinator Andrew Hunter spoke about his experience as a player and, now, as an employee in the CPC athletics department.

“When I was a player before I was a student worker in the athletic department, I never knew how much work actually went into setting up each season and each home game,” Hunter said.

Hunter, who was goalie for Central Penn’s men’s soccer team, now knows.

Broadcasting live

Did you ever wonder about the work that goes into your friends and family being able to watch the Knights play from home?

Well, it’s because of the hard work of CPC’s broadcasting crew. These folks have a passion for the game and for student athletes, and they use their technological talents to support the team. The broadcasting crew takes time prior to the game to read and take notes on both teams.

These student journalists, members of The Knightly News Club @ Central Penn College who work with the athletics department, want to ensure they deliver accurate statistics while livestreaming. The preparations they make are part of their role that is often overlooked. They show up to the games early to set up their equipment, test it and make sure everything is running smoothly. Team meetings are crucial to make sure everyone is on the same page. Depending on game time and number of games, the day can get long for this crew, but their love of the game and for the athletes keeps them going.

Paul Miller, assistant professor of media studies, is Central Penn’s voice of athletic broadcasts. He is co-advisor of the media club and has been involved with The Knightly News Sports Broadcast since it started in April 2018. He said the crew, members of which from term to term and year to year, have done hundreds of broadcasts, allowing fans who couldn’t attend a game to watch it live on The Knightly News Club’s YouTube page.

Without support from an array of people at Central Penn staff, the Knights wouldn’t be able to do what they do. The support staff also values the students highly.

“I want to be clear how much respect I have for student athletes,” Miller said. “They are great students first but also spend an immense amount of time preparing to play.”

Parker Rose, a Knightly News Hall of Famer, works alongside Miller with the broadcasting crew.

“When you are on the broadcast team or working as support for athletics, you realize there are a lot more involved and moving parts as from what you see as a fan,” Rose said.

When the final buzzer sounds and the locker room doors close, the game may be over for the players, but for those behind the scenes, the work that supports the contest and players isn’t over. From setup to broadcasting to cleanup, everyone involved—with an emphasis on athletic coordinators—plays a part in bringing Knights athletics to life.