As the crowd cheers and the scoreboard ticks down, a different kind of action is unfolding behind the scenes. Broadcasting students are stepping into the spotlight, delivering live coverage of athletic events and bringing the excitement of Mountain and Lady Lion sports straight to viewers in real time.
From play-by-play commentary to camera operation and on-air reporting, broadcasting students gain hands-on experience by producing live broadcasts of school sporting events. The program allows students to apply classroom skills in a real-world setting while supporting school athletics and keeping the community connected.
Student broadcasters work as a team during each game to manage equipment, coordinate roles and adapt quickly as action unfolds. This fast-paced environment mirrors professional sports broadcasting, and helps students build confidence, communication skills and technical knowledge.
Senior broadcaster Korbyn Clifford reflected on the experience and showed his expression for what he wants in the future after the first go through on Jan. 13, 2026.
“I think it [live sports coverage] went well; I liked it and hope that we can continue to experiment with it and do it more, which we will,” Clifford said.
Clifford also weighed in on whether live broadcasts should continue for future basketball games or expand to other sports.
“Yes [they should continue], as I believe it gets students more associated with how real productions work, whether that’s commentating or working behind the scenes,” Clifford said.
Keegan Fink, another senior broadcasting student, echoed similar reflections about the success of the live broadcast format and his personal experience.
“I think the live broadcast format went really well,” Fink said. “I liked the feel of it, and I love sports in general, so I had a great time doing it.”
Fink also shared his opinion on the future of live sports broadcasting and the possibility of expanding coverage beyond basketball.
“I think we should definitely keep doing live broadcasts for all sports,” Fink said. “It’s a great way for students to get experience, and it helps get more people interested in them.”
The idea behind the live sports broadcasts originated with broadcasting instructor Michael Baker.
“The goal was to give students an authentic, real-world experience that goes beyond the classroom,” Baker said. “By broadcasting live sporting events, they’re learning how to work as a team, solve problems on the fly and understand what it really takes to produce a professional quality broadcast, all while supporting our school and its athletes.”
As the broadcasting program continues to grow, students are gaining real-world experience while helping bring school sports to a wider audience. The success of these live broadcasts suggests they will continue—and evolve—for years to come.
