Most people watch basketball games from the bleachers, but now some will be calling games, running cameras, and even producing the show. For the first time in Lakes’ history, we have a new “live” broadcasting pilot program during sports games.
Kyle Martin (father of Lakes basketball starter Carter Martin) has started a new broadcasting program here at Lakes, open to Sports Media students. Although this is a pilot program, this isn’t Martin’s first time behind the broadcast. After starting a podcast on his YouTube channel, GetSomeSports13, just a few years ago, Martin has showcased his profound vision for producing live sports. He originally started his channel to help showcase his children’s talents for college, but as his online presence grew, so did his following and purpose. Now, if you look up his account today, you will see he has over 7, 390 subscribers.
One of the main reasons he finds so much joy in broadcasting is the opportunity to connect families, allowing parents and grandparents who live far away to still watch and support their loved ones through the games he helps bring to life. Little things like this are what encourage Martin to keep growing his account. One thing he keyed in on during an interview was trying to expand his sights beyond just basketball. Things like football and volleyball have Martin very intrigued. However, this can’t be done alone. He currently has a team of around six contributors; of these team members (Brett Beerbower, Ethan Gialo, Trey Prassel, and Tyler Steres) we were able to talk to a few to get more insight on this pilot program. Martin has coached the live broadcasting crew on all sorts of skills, including types of commentary.
“He has helped a lot, he’s taught me everything about announcing, being a play-by-play, color commentating, and how to work the audio.”
-Ethan Gialo
Martin’s help has proved to be beneficial for team members like Gialo, who have made huge strides in their work. One moment that stands clear in team member Tyler Steres’s mind was getting to “[call] a girl’s basketball buzzer beater.” Being able to call such a special moment gave Steres a lot of appreciation for this opportunity and this program. In something like announcing and broadcasting, the person creates their own style, but most have a few greats they try to take inspiration from. Brett Beerbower is a team member who would like to go into broadcasting in the future. When Beerbower was asked if he had any announcers he looked up to, he mentioned the late, great “Bob Uecker” and the current Brewers announcer “Brian Anderson”. Beerbower would like to announce baseball in the future, but calling basketball will help fine-tune his style.
As this pilot program continues to grow, it is already proving to be more than just a broadcast. It has been a hands-on opportunity for students to gain real experience while bringing Lakes Athletics closer to the community. With persistence, mentors, passionate students, and the ever-expanding possibilities across multiple sports, this new program is laying the groundwork for something that could become a long-lasting part of the Lakes’ sports culture.
Click here to listen to the live broadcast.
