The old Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ was a frequent Fall destination for young Nicole Weaving, her dad and her grandfather. The die-hard Jets fans braved the biting cold on many Sunday afternoons in support of their team. Weaving remembers the trio watching the 2011 AFC Championship game on TV, their Jets spotting Pittsburgh a 24-point lead, then nearly rallying to win in their bid for the Super Bowl. She remembers her sadness of them coming up short.

Those high times and disappointments sparked in Weaving a passion for sports that she’s turned into a career. Her next stop is Toledo, OH and a Sports Anchor/MMJ role for Buckeye Cable Sports Network.

“I found out about this opportunity through STAA, my go-to source for all new postings,” Weaving grins.

Doing it all

BCSN is a regional sports network covering high school, college, and pro sports in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Weaving will do everything from anchoring, writing and editing, to reporting for BCSN’s flagship nightly sportscast. She’ll also contribute to digital and social media platforms.

Weaving is a 2020 Syracuse graduate. She moves to Ohio after two years with Sinclair Broadcasting in Lincoln, NE.

“This was a good opportunity for me because it had a lot of flexibility for storytelling, which was an aspect I felt I missed at my first station,” she states. “Also, the chance to anchor a 30-minute show, as well as create content for additional shows, was appealing as a way to break the mold from a standard sports block.”

Weaving received a recommendation for the BCSN position from an industry connection. She also did extensive market research. “I believe what helped me stand out was my knowledge of the area after countless hours of research, and my eagerness to bring in new ideas and find compelling local stories.”

Good timing

Weaving saw the BCSN opening in an STAA Job Leads+ email barely two weeks after joining. “I joined STAA for the elite access to job leads and the community of sportscasters who all want to help each other succeed,” she grins.

Timing was important in Weaving joining STAA, and it will be important to her joining BCSN. Her new home in Toledo is less than two hours from Cleveland. The Jets play there in Week 2 of the coming NFL season.

The summer of 2022 is one that Noah Friedman will always remember because it provided the opportunity of a lifetime. He spent July in Israel covering the Maccabiah Games, also known as the Jewish Olympics.

The games debuted in 1932. They are the third-largest sporting event in the world and are held every four years. More than 10,000 athletes compete. Friedman soaked it all in while building his resume. Now he’s parlaying that experience into his first full-time broadcasting position. The 2018 Arizona State University grad is joining New Media Broadcasters in Havre, MT as an play-by-play broadcaster and on-air personality.

Motivation

Covering the Maccabiah Games re-affirmed to Friedman that broadcasting is what he wants to do. “That was my first on-air broadcasting since graduating from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. That lit the biggest fire under me to get going and pursue my dream.”

Friedman has been working as a production assistant since graduating from ASU. He felt, though, like he was settling when applying for jobs. “I want to do whatever it takes to get into sports broadcasting, so I’ve interviewed for jobs that don’t have play-by-play because you’re not supposed to be picky in this business. But when you see that a job offers play-by-play — even though it’s not as important as the other aspects the radio station offers — you can’t help but feel giddy because it’s what I want to do for a living. And starting in the fall, I will get to do that.”

Surprise Opportunity

Friedman recently returned from another trip to Israel. He didn’t expect to find a play-by-play opening upon his return. “The saying is the opportunities come about when you least expect it. This was definitely the least expected time for me to find something like this.”

Besides play-by-play, Friedman will write and produce newscasts for New Media Broadcaster’s three-station cluster. He’ll also deliver weather, sports, road conditions, and community-related events. Friedman adds excitedly, “When the calendar turns to the fall, I get the opportunity to do sports play-by-play that the region offers!”

Calling games will feed the passion that was re-kindled in Friedman following his experience at the Maccabiah Games. “The play-by-play dynamic was part of that fire,” he states. “It’s such a good feeling to know that I’ll finally get my shot to pursue this part of the industry after having worked in production for almost five years.”

Ethan Berch will walk across a stage and grab his diploma next month. That much is certain. What was less of a slam-dunk is what he would do next. He had two options: accept at TV sports director position, or continue his education and play-by-play pursuits. Berch chose the latter. An STAA member, Berch has accepted a Broadcasting Graduate Assistant position at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

He will be the Rangers lead play-by-play voice while working in the media relations department and pursuing a Masters in sports management.

“This opportunity would have not been possible without the help of STAA,” Berch credits. “The lead for the position was included in an STAA Job Leads+’ email.”

Tough choice

Choosing between Parkside and a TV sports director position in an entry-level market was difficult. “An opportunity for a free education doesn’t always come around,” Berch states. Plus, the chance to continue my pursuit of being a play-by-play broadcaster was the full package.”

Parkside became Berch’s choice only after several discussions with his advisors. “It became very overwhelming and stressful,” he recalls. “Being torn between two extremely intriguing jobs was the hardest thing to deal with. Jeremy Menard (Ithaca College), Pete Johanns (Ithaca College) and Jon Chelesnik (STAA), helped me come to my clear decision. All three offered me the true perspective of both positions. There was no doubt by the time I had to make the final decision.”

Well-prepared

Berch is a soon-to-be Ithaca graduate. Play-by-play ensured he stayed busy during his four years on the campus at the foot of Cayuga Lake in Central New York. His resume includes football, basketball, softball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball. He spent this spring in Los Angeles serving internships with three companies, including Mandalay Sports Media.

Berch joined STAA this spring for several reasons. “First, the community of broadcasters that STAA has put together is like no other,” he states. “Getting the chance to interact with nearly 700 broadcasters across the country is truly surreal. Everybody has their own story with different experiences. Getting the chance to learn about those stories is very helpful when mapping out a blueprint for your own career.

“Also, when the job search began, there was nothing but stress building up. STAA sends out job leads up to three times a week. Getting a job application practically handed to you was something that I didn’t know existed, but became the most helpful aspect of the process.

“And lastly, the resources provided, along with the assistance of advisors, was game changing. As an STAA member, you have access to a handful of resources that directly assist you in writing a perfect cover letter, a resume, a reel that will show employers your best work, and so much more. STAA provides the necessary steps to landing a job in this industry and I wouldn’t have been in this position without their assistance.”

Berch has nearly four months before he leaves for Wisconsin. The way he will spend that time is another major decision. He’ll either work to save money for the coming school year or continue to enhance his experience in sports broadcasting. Either way, Berch will stay near his family in the New York Metropolitan area. “I have not had any summers off since 2020, as I have worked summer internships away from home for the past several summers. Getting the opportunity to spend time with my family this summer is one of my top priorities!”

The 2012 Notre Dame football team featured 21 future NFL players. Manti Te’o, Theo Riddick and Tyler Eiftert led the Fighting Irish to the national title game against Alabama. That squad also planted a love of play-by-play in a young boy growing up in Orlando, FL. Alex Inbornone recalls, “My roots for play-by-play broadcasting come from Notre Dame Football on NBC. That 2012 season with so many memorable games and calls from Tom Hammond made me fall in love with the idea of making a career of this!”

Now Inbornone is a play-by-play broadcaster himself. He is the new voice of UNC-Pembroke. The opportunity is part of a paid play-by-play/video production internship. Inbornone will be the voice on video streams for many of UNCP’s 16 NCAA Division II varsity athletic programs, including football and basketball.

Inbornone is a 2022 graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University. He believes his UNCP application was boosted by the fact that PBAU and UNCP are both NCAA Division II schools. “For three years I was lucky enough to call nothing but DII athletic events. That might’ve been my biggest advantage to others who applied and came through a DI institution.”

UNCP has used STAA to fill it’s broadcasting position several times in recent years. Inbornone saw the opportunity in an STAA Job Leads email and eagerly applied. “UNCP has a great track record in this position,” he states. “I am very encouraged by that and hoping I can follow in line with the former broadcasters here. Obviously a huge plus to joining the UNCP family is having a football team, I think young broadcasters who can receive the opportunity to call college football is a big time opportunity.”

Inbornone joined STAA after learning about it through one of his professors in college. He wanted help finding a sportscasting job. “It took a while to find the right one but it all worked out! It has been a year now since I have joined. I always have fun reading the [weekly STAA Insider], watching the STAA calls of the week and listening to other people’s stories. STAA is way more than just the job boards!”

Now the kid who loved watching Tom Hammond call Notre Dame football on NBC is also calling games. “Growing up, all I ever cared about was sports. By the time I was in high school, I knew this was the career for me.”

A well-placed connection has helped Dominic Miranda back to his home state of Indiana. Miranda is joining WTHR TV in Indianapolis as a sports anchor/reporter after two years in Florida.

“I certainly was ready to get back to the Midwest and closer to family. I had been monitoring job leads pretty religiously and looking for that kind of opportunity,” he states.

Of course, there’s also this about Miranda’s new position: ” Covering the Colts, Pacers, IU, Purdue, Butler, and the Indy 500 is a dream come true,” he grins.

Help from a mentor

Miranda has been at WCTV in Tallahassee since June 2021. In early February, a mentor of his notified Miranda that WTHR was looking. “I had seen that through the STAA Job Leads and had applied immediately,” Miranda recalls. The mentor mentioned Miranda’s name to WTHR Sports Director Dave Calabro. Miranda reached out to him. “[Dave] immediately called me and let me know he had passed my information along to the News Director, and it all just kind of went from there.”

Mirada’s story illustrates the value of relationships. His mentor is someone who once hired Miranda for an internship. “We’ve remained in contact for nearly eight years now. He has been instrumental in helping me along the way. You never know who can help you when the time is right.

“I owe it to STAA for putting this opening on my radar, and a long time connection for getting my foot in the door. Your talent is a huge part of it, don’t get me wrong. But in highly sought after positions in top 30 markets, you need some help.”

Though Miranda is leaving South Florida, he’s grateful for the growth he experienced there. “My storytelling has improved tremendously. Ad-libbing, live reporting, and overall on-camera presence has improved as well. I cannot thank Ryan Kelly, my sports director, and Sabrina Fuller, my news director, enough for taking a chance on me. The freedom I was given to really come into my own on camera was very necessary and played a huge role in my improvement.”

Focus on family

As much as Miranda enjoyed Tallahassee, he’s eager to return to Indiana and to his family. “Family is the most important thing in my life. Without them and their support, I wouldn’t feel confident in having the ability to accelerate my career to a top 40 market. They mean the world to me and I certainly wanted to move closer to them.”

There is another reason Miranda is excited return to the Midwest. “I’m getting married in September. My fiance has been so supportive of my career. She’s currently living in Chicago. I absolutely wanted to move closer to home so we could begin our life together living close to our respective families.”

Keeping current

An important factor in Miranda’s job search was keeping his reel updated. “After every sports season, I like to go back and put together a reel, just so when the time is right, I have something to send immediately. That way, I’m not wasting a day or two putting together a recent reel, and risking not getting my name in front of decision makers as quickly as possible. Sometimes that’s the difference between getting a job or not.”

Miranda’s career has been on an upward trajectory since he joined STAA in the final semester of his senior year at DePauw University in Indiana. First it was a job at WTHI TV in Terre Haute, IN. Two years later, it was onto Tallahassee. He remains an STAA member for one big reason.

“Job leads, job leads, and job leads,” he laughs. “I cannot stress enough how important getting those [regularly] has been. It allows you to jump on opportunities immediately. I think the STAA membership is worth it soley for the job leads. Not to mention all the other incredible critiques, tips, tricks, advice, and help it provides.

“Every college student that reaches out to me asking for advice, I recommend them to become a member at STAA. The growth I’ve seen in myself since I joined STAA as a senior in college in 2019 to now has been substantial. I cannot thank [STAA Owner Jon Chelesnik] enough for his help along the way. He’s so accessible and is always willing to give you advice and help you along your journey. For someone as busy as I think we all know he is, that’s pretty cool.”

He adds, “I feel extremely lucky and extremely grateful for STAA. And for my long time mentor.”

For 16 summers, STAA members have been broadcasting baseball at ballparks nationwide. This year is no different. The following folks will be spending the dog days with new teams.

Some of them we’ve already written about:

Kevin DiDomenico, Reno Aces

Andrew Mild, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Zach Berman, Sioux City Explorers

Carter Woodiel, Kansas City Monarchs

Here are the others who are deserving of attention:

Double A

Jake Starr, Reading Fightin’ Phils No. 2

Spent last season with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League.

Gareth Kwok, New Hampshire Fisher Cats No. 2

Was the voice of the Frederick Keys in 2022.

Class A

Eric Bach, Fredericksburg Nationals No. 1

Elevated from No. 2 to the lead position after STAA member Joey Zanaboni left for MLS.

Tim Quitadamo, Modesto Nuts No. 1

Most recently worked as Director of Productions for the Worcester Paw Sox. Filled in a couple of broadcasts and did sideline reporting on some NESN telecasts.

Logan Potosky, Lake County Captains No. 1

Potosky will call home games at Classic Park. He graduates from John Carroll University in May.

Max Tanzer, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels No. 2

Spent last summer with Bourne of Cape Cod League.

Thomas Zinzarella, Hudson Valley Renegades No. 2

Was the Biloxi Shuckers No. 2 last season.

Derek Decker, Fort Wayne TinCaps No. 2

Called Chillicothe Mudcats summer collegiate games last season before a short stint at a radio station cluster in Western Kansas.

MLB Partner Leagues

Brendan Howe, High Point Rockers No. 1

Peoria Chiefs No. 2 last season.

Adam Bridges Boise Hawks No. 1

Scheduled to graduate next year from Boise State University.

Joey Miller, Gateway Grizzlies No. 2

Was in the summer collegiate Expedition League last summer.

Carter Bainbridge, Florence Y’alls No. 2

Will graduate this spring from Syracuse.

Summer Collegiate Leagues

Cory Sparks, Kenosha Kingfish

Graduating next month from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Be sure to say hello to these folks when you cross paths with them in the press box.

Congratulations to all!

Many job seekers surprisingly fail to reply promptly to correspondence from employers to whom they’ve applied. Lexi Schweinert did the opposite when applying with the Minnesota Twins. “I made sure to follow up every interview with a thank you, and respond to all their messages in a timely manner,” she smiles.

It paid off. Schweinert is the new Radio Host/Assistant Producer on the Twins Radio Network.
She will host approximately 50 Twins pre/post game shows across 85 radio affiliates and audio streaming platforms. She will also be responsible for contributions in pre and post game shows, weekly segments, and potential podcast opportunities.

Relationship building

The Twins opportunity came to Schweinert though relationship building. “It’s all about connections,” she grins. “I reached out to my friend who works for the Twins social media team. I asked her about jobs in MLB, and how she likes working for a team. She said they just had a job open up at the Twins that may be perfect for me! I went through the application process, making sure to follow up with the hiring manager over email. I got the gig weeks later!”

A warm smile and friendly personality are Schweinert’s calling cards. Simply being herself was key during the hiring process. “Some of my interviews felt more like a fun conversation than an interview and I definitely showed my personality!”

Familiar territory

Schweinert is no stranger to the Upper Midwest. She worked at ESPN Radio Madison while earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2020. After graduating, it was on to WNKY 40 News in Bowling Green, KY where she was a morning show host and MMJ. Schweinert doubled as a radio sideline reporter and pre and post-game host for Western Kentucky University. It was Hilltoppers voice Randy Lee who referred Schweinert to STAA.

“He worked with [STAA Owner Jon Chelesnik] back in the day when Jon helped broadcasters put together their reels,” Schweinert states. There is one STAA membership advantage she has especially enjoyed since joining last year: “Getting the inside scoop on jobs right when they’re posted and having the emails to hiring managers at top places to work in sports,” she smiles. “Even if you’re not looking for a job, STAA is a great to make connections in the industry.”

Though much of Schweinert’s career has been on-camera, joining the Twins in a radio capacity is a good fit for her. “You can have so much fun with radio, and I love the laid-back, conversational format.”

Conversation and communication are strengths of Schweinert’s. After all, it was thank you notes and prompt correspondence that helped lead her to Minneapolis.

“Communication was key to keep me top of mind and stand out from other candidates!”

The Washington Nationals hosted a “Kids Run the Show Day” in September of 2010. Pre-teens did everything from working on the grounds crew and running the ticket booth to broadcasting. Kevin DiDomenico aspired for the radio booth. “I submitted a CD – yes, a CD — of me showing my 10-year-old broadcasting skills. I was selected! I got to go into the booth and call an inning on the radio with [Nationals broadcasters] Charlie Slowes & Dave Jagler.”

12 years and an STAA All-American award later, DiDomenico is still broadcasting baseball. He is the new Content Creator and Broadcaster for the Triple-A Reno Aces..

“I saw the job posting on STAA Talent and applied, DiDomenico recalls. “From there I went through four interviews before getting hired. For the final round of the recruiting process, they asked finalists to make a sample ‘Aces Minute’ pregame video from a game in July of 2022.”

The Aces liked DiDomenico’s video, and his time broadcasting in the Red Sox and Yankees organizations. “I prepared really well for each interview and explained my vision for the position based on the job description.”

The content creator duties differ from other Minor League Baseball broadcasting jobs that usually include media relations. “Our business is an always evolving one,” DiDomenico states. “This season the Aces are putting more of a focus on different forms of content with the players and coaching staff. I plan on connecting with fans not only over the air, but also through the extensive content we’ll bring them through social media, the Aces website, and in-venue entertainment.”

DiDomenico is a 2022 graduate of Virginia Tech. There, he was mentored by Bill Roth, the respected Voice of the Hokies and a broadcaster on ESPN. Last year, DiDomenico earned All-America honors from STAA as one of the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sports broadcasters.

DiDomenico’s baseball resume is extensive. He was the voice of the Salem Red Sox in 2021 and 2022, and the Pulaski Yankees in 2019. DiDomenico also called Virginia Tech baseball for four seasons and has broadcast with ESPN+ and the ACC Network.

DiDomenico may one day again see Charlie Slowes & Dave Jangler in a Major League Baseball broadcast booth. When it happens, though, it will be as peers.

One of sports broadcasting’s most millennial voices is heading home to where his family roots run 100 years deep. Joey Zanaboni is the new radio voice for Major League Soccer’s expansion St. Louis City SC.

He calls the opportunity “the greatest honor of my professional career.”

The Zanaboni family roots in the Gateway City date back to the early 1920s. That’s when his great grandparents immigrated from Italy. Zanaboni grew up in the city and graduated from St. Louis University High. It’s the same alma mater as Taylor Twellman, Zanaboni’s new partner on St. Louis City SC broadcasts.

This isn’t Zanaboni’s first chance to call games in his hometown. He’s broadcast St. Louis Ambush indoor soccer and St. Louis Junior Blues hockey. Mostly, though, his career is built around baseball. Zanaboni has called games for six teams, from summer collegiate ranks to affiliated ball. He was most recently the lead voice for the Low-A affiliate for the Washington National’s. In August, he was part of MLB Network’s broadcast of a Mariners-Angels game.

It is in baseball where Zanaboni’s enthusiastic calls have drawn the most attention. When a catcher stole home, Zanaboni described him as “dancin’ like a Spice Girls cover band inside an earthquake simulation.” A pitcher in the midst of a great game was “pitching smoother than a balding hedgehog slather in baby shampoo.”

Zanaboni has said, “I want to be the first real millennial sports announcer who reflects the endless optimism, relentless anxiety and glorious randomness of this generation.”

Now Zanaboni brings optimism, anxiety and glorious randomness to his hometown.

He said on Twitter, “I will do everything in my power for the opportunity, at season’s end, to look myself in the mirror and every fan in the eye and says truthfully, ‘we had the most entertaining broadcast in Major League Soccer.”

Seth Dunlap was winding down an early January evening with a warm espresso during a rare multi-day freeze in New Orleans. He checked his STAA Job Leads+ email as he had done hundreds of times before. This time, though, he spotted his diamond in the rough and applied immediately. “I didn’t expect to have a reply waiting for me when I woke up with my morning coffee the next day, but boy was I excited!”

One month later, Dunlap is on his way north to Jamestown ND to host a daily air shift and broadcast play-by-play, Most important, he will soon take over as program director at KSJB radio.

“I had spoken to [STAA Owner] Jon Chelesnik and others about my narrow desires to work for a non-corporate-owned station or group,” Dunlap recalls. “I was willing to bide my time as much as possible until there was an opportunity I was truly excited about. The KSJB job listing read like my wish list.”

Searching patiently

Dunlap is a radio veteran who most recently has been working outside the industry. “Getting back into media/radio wasn’t something I necessarily thought would happen during that time. However, I felt the tinge of passion creeping up on me during the latter part of 2022.” Dunlap continues, “I reached out to Jon Chelesnik, who I had worked with at STAA for about a decade, with a brief hiatus during that year, to re-activate my profile and update my demos and work.”

And to receive STAA’s Job Leads+ emails. “The job listings for premier members are incredible,” he enthuses. “Even if you currently have a role you are comfortable and happy in, anybody would be doing themselves a disservice by not opening those emails or checking those listings. You never know when you’ll spot that diamond in the rough job that excites the heck out of you, like the KSJB job did for me.”

He adds, “These aren’t opportunities that are just lying around for us in the industry dominated by the Big 3.”

New opportunity

One part of the KSJB opportunity about which Dunlap is excited is being a program director. He’ll be in-training to start but will assume to PD role shortly. “If there is one gap in my resume and work experience in the industry it is a true PD role. I’ve had PD-by-another-name roles for various organizations, but the ability to fully round out my skills and experience in this way is something I’ve been pursing for many years.”

Play-by-play love

Another aspect of his new position that Dunlap finds especially appealing is the coverage of small, Class B high school football and basketball, including state tournaments. “I’ve had an amazing, diverse career that includes NFL game-day broadcasts to Power 5 football and basketball games and hosting big shows in Top-50 markets. My favorite broadcast memories, bar none, are doing high school sports and state tournaments. There’s something about the relative purity and goodness of sport at that age it’s truly awesome. I can say without hesitation or exaggeration that there’s likely not a single type of play-by-play I enjoy more than small high school basketball and football. Something completely and engrossingly enjoyable for the old radiohead in me.

“I grew up in a small ‘B’ town in Washington State. My single fondest memory in sports is being a kid from a town of 200 people and playing in front of 12,000 fans in a Hoosiers-like environment. My first few full-time jobs involved play-by-play for small schools like this, and one of the startups I worked for broadcast high school games year-round.”

As Dunlap shared his memories, he recalled sitting courtside at a ‘State B’ tournament early in his career with Bob Robertson, the late Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Washington State Cougars. “One night after the broadcasts we were talking over wine in his hotel room. I asked him why he was broadcasting for the small-school state tournament when he would obviously have higher profile opportunities elsewhere. Not to mention a huge pay cut! Robertson said he did those games because he loved doing those games, and loved the true spirit of sport embodied by the Hoosiers-type atmosphere these small town kids and their fans brought.

“Essentially, do the things your passionate about, what you love to do, and be-damned what other people think. A firsthand lesson from the legendary Bob Rob, a true childhood icon of mine, that will stick with me for life.”

Being genuine

Honesty and genuineness helped Dunlap’s KSJB application stand out. “Don’t try to sound, write, or talk like somebody else,” he suggests. “Don’t fluff or polish your cover letter, resume, or conversations with things that you may have heard sound or look good, but don’t reflect who you are!

“When I wrote the initial email to [KSJB GM Patrick] Pfeiffer on that cold, late evening, I just typed out exactly what I was feeling. The excitement for the job, the reasons that I truly believed it was a rare and wonderful opportunity that would be overlooked, and a small bit of my personal and professional history that related to my excitement for the opportunity. It was pretty much a fire-from-the-hip cover letter, but I believe the genuineness of my interest in the job and the market came across.”

Dunlap continues, “There’s a saying I recently heard about living and thriving New York City that applies to our industry as well: ‘You need a personality. Good or bad, just have one, and embrace who you are. Don’t be generic. Nobody wants generic.'”

Now Dunlap is taking his personality and radio passion to the plains of North Dakota. “There are so many more things than money, market size, or clout-by-proxy that drive me now. There’s nothing wrong with other people valuing those things more highly, but it’s just completely not me. Maybe that makes me a radio fool, but I’ll be one darn happy fool then!”