Aaron Poling’s job as a supply NCO in the Marines was maintaining, tracking and ordering supplies for his unit. Poling maintained a zero percent failure rate while in charge of more than one million dollars worth of gear.
That is the degree of responsibility and discipline Poling brings to his new job in sportscasting: play-by-play announcer for Cook Brothers Broadcasting in Evanston, WY. Poling will broadcast radio, Internet and video streaming play-by-play of high school football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and more.
He learned of the opportunity through STAA less than one month after joining the organization.
“I had friends in the Marine Corps who are from Wyoming and they raved about the place,” he recalls. “I sent my application, demo and resume just to see what would happen. Turns out, it was definitely the right move.”
Preparation
Poling served in the Marines from 2016 through 2019. Afterward, he earned degrees in multimedia journalism and communication studies from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. During school, Poling worked as a newspaper and radio sports reporter, a radio board operator and a play-by-play broadcaster. After earning his diplomas, it was onto the job market.
“I just graduated from college this past spring and was looking to get my foot in the door of the broadcasting world. [Cook Brothers Broadcasting] is a unique opportunity to call sports for a living and live in a place that I may have never traveled to without this job,” Poling smiles.
Practicing & mentors
Practicing job interviews proved especially helpful to Poling. “I did not knock every interview out of the park but I was able to learn from my mistakes.”
Poling also sought mentors to guide him and to minimize the stress of landing a job. Minor League Baseball broadcasters and former STAA members Marco LaNave, John Kocsis, and Garrett Greene all pointed Poling to STAA.
“Trying to get my foot in the door was super stressful. I talked with a few broadcasters and they were able to help guide me in the right direction,” Poling recalls.
A zero percent failure rate is an unreasonable expectation in sportscasting. Still, Poling’s Marine training, discipline and drive will help him excel while calling games around Evanston.