Sports have always been a big part of my life. I played basketball for ten years, grew up going to Tennessee Titans games, played multiple sports growing up, and even did a little bit of coaching when I was in high school. I knew sports would somehow be incorporated in my life and eventually realized during my senior year of high school that I wanted to be a sports reporter.
So the biggest question I get is, "How did you get started?". I was a journalism major at The University of Tennessee. Not every school is the same when it comes to what they have to offer majors wise, but most have some form of journalism or communications. I didn't minor in anything because I didn't have a lot of interest in what was offered at the time, but I think I would’ve chose something that had to do with social media if I could do it over again.
During my three years in undergrad I took all the required journalism classes, television reporting classes and a sport writing class. I was also a student intern for Tennessee's Athletic Broadcasting department, VFL Films. I specifically worked with our SEC Network broadcast production crew and did a lot of work behind the scenes for live broadcasts. That's how I really got my foot in the door and learned how live production worked.
Once I graduated from UT in 2017, I became a post-grad with VFL Films where I mainly did post production. During my first year with VFL Films I did a lot of shooting and editing, and then found a few opportunities to be on camera or voice features. This is when I learned how important editing and putting together stories was if I wanted to go far in this field. There is a lot more than just being on camera. I then went on to be a post-grad for a second year at VFL Films, where I was then able to start doing more on-camera with our Olympic sports and started sidelining SEC Network digital broadcasts for Lady Vol Basketball games.
Timing ended up working out perfect for me in 2019. The woman who had the on-air role with VFL Films at the time was offered a job in the NFL and I was able to take her position officially in September of 2019. The reason I was able to do that was because I had proven myself during my time as a post-grad. I was a good, quick editor, took critiques well, and had a good presence and delivery on camera. Having all of these qualities is important if you’re wanting to someday get a job like mine or in local sports reporting. Even the reporters on major networks started out as doing all the same things I do now.
Along with the post-production content that I do, I'm also the sideline reporter for the Vol Network Radio during football season. It's the official radio station for the Vols and was actually the station I grew up listening to! I also still sideline SEC Network digital games for both men and women's basketball.
To wrap this up, the way I got into the field was by pouring myself into VFL Films. I knew this was the place I wanted to work at once graduating and the place where I would have the best resources. I definitely have big goals for myself and I feel like my current position as Tennessee's on-air talent is putting me in the best position to achieve those. goals.
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