2013 in review

Family, friends, fans, it's been too long.

Life somehow seems to pop up and all of a sudden, it's a new year.

This year was the best of my career, hands down.

Taking a look back, it's hard to believe all the accomplishments I've added to my resume.

January: I applied for internships and decided I wanted to spend my summer calling baseball. So I sent out resumes and applications and waited. I also got to travel to Montgomery and cover the Raycom College Football All-Star Classic.

January-April: I continued working at TrojanVision in several capacities and expanding my resume. I covered Don Maestri's final season at Troy University and the Trojan baseball team making it to regionals in Tallahassee.

February: I traveled to Union University for the SEJC convention and competed in the on-site TV reporting category and came in second place!

March: I compiled a recruiting video for the Troy University Basketball team and was able to pour time and effort in to making the finished product a success!

April: I was named the Hall School of Journalism and Communications Outstanding Broadcast Major as well as the Best Sports Reporter and Sports Anchor for Trojan Vision!

I covered the Troy University Soles 4 Souls shoe drive and nailed an awesome stand-up with the help of a great videographer.

I received the best birthday present I could have asked for. After lunch with my parents, I got a phone call from Stefano Foggi with the Florida Collegiate Summer League that I was selected as a broadcast intern and would be the play-by-play announcer for the College Park Freedom!

May: I moved away for the summer and left the comforts of home for sunny Orlando, Florida & had an incredible summer full of opportunities and experience!

I also was able to travel to Tallahassee, Florida for the Florida State regional where Troy played and got to go up in the ESPN booth with Adam Amin and see how the pros work! Another great networking opportunity.

Making my ESPNU debut

June-July: With the exception of a few rain-outs (few being a relative term), I had the pleasure of calling nearly 40 baseball games throughout the summer season including working with Tuff TV as a sideline reporter and the play-by-play announcer for the Southeast Collegiate Prospect Showcase featuring the Florida League and the Sun Belt League. I also appeared on the Florida League television show as the College Park Freedom reporter giving updates throughout the season on the team.

Batting practice with the big boys

Shortstop needs a canoe

August: My internship was coming to a close and I got to be on the big stage for the finale! I was able to work as the post-game on-field reporter for Tuff TV's broadcast of the Florida League Championship game at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida! I was honored pre-game as the Florida League Broadcast Intern of the Year. The Florida League gave me opportunities I could've never dreamed of and I had the experience of a lifetime.

Honored pre-game

Post-game interviews

Post-game with the MVP

Post-game with Head Coach Kevin Davidson

August-November: I returned to school and went back to work at TrojanVision as well as returning as the co-host of Trojan Sports Now, the thirty minute weekly show about Trojan athletics. I have now worked with Jonathan Sellers for three and a half years on this program and will enter my final semester on the show in January.

I worked for the third season covering the Troy Trojans football team for TrojanVision and had the chance to cover some of the nations best including the best quarterback in history (hey, numbers supported it) as Corey Robinson set the national record against UAB with a 93.8% completion percentage.

I traveled with the football team to some beautiful venues including being on the field at Mississippi State, Duke & Ole Miss.

Gotta love supportive parents!

I also tackled a new job this fall and wrote for the Troy Messenger. I was the Troy football beat reporter for the newspaper and contributed features as well as game previews & recaps throughout the year.

I also got the chance to join Barry McKnight and John Longshore on SportsRadio740 as the Troy University football beat reporter and had a segment on the radio each Tuesday morning reviewing the previous weeks game and looking ahead to the next match-up.

October: I covered some of the most incredible football games this season including the homecoming match-up for the Trojans against South Alabama in the most thrilling finish I've ever been on the field for. A performance that awarded Eric Thomas the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week.

I also ran for homecoming queen and although I didn't make homecoming court, I have to say I had the most creative posters of anyone! Plus, I had the football team on my side!

Blakeney was on board!

November:  I covered the Sun Belt Cross Country Championships on the campus of Troy University and had the opportunity to network with some of the assistant commissioners in the league. 

I then partnered with the Sun Belt Conference and served as the play-by-play announcer for the Conference Volleyball Tournament at Troy University. I called six matches in the span of two days including the biggest victory in Troy University's volleyball program history! What a pleasure it was to be able to be on the call for my University's shining moment!

I also got to network with Dave Leno and serve as an assistant for the ESPN3 broadcast of the Sun Belt Championship Volleyball match. Dave provided lots of insight and advice and made the experience memorable!

December:  BREATHED! I finished my last fall semester which means my final football season with the Troy Trojans! It's been such a joy to work with people like Larry Blakeney, Corey Robinson and the entire Troy family!

I worked harder this year than I ever have on my career and the work was incredibly rewarding! I'm thankful for the opportunities I've been given, the people that I've met along the way, and the memories I've made along the way!

Here's a look back to some of the memorable moments along the way!

Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr.

I graduate in May from Troy University and I will then be on the job hunt and looking to make my impact on a larger stage. Here's to 2013 and to what should be an even more thrilling 2014!