Excerpts from stories are below the gallery. My best work has come by way of long-form print features. Though the articles can be lengthy and time-consuming to write (and read), the work demonstrates my high-level storytelling, writing and communication skills, through the print medium.

Elon Athletics' Rising Phoenix 

Oct. 22, 2024

Former Elon men's basketball player John Bowen III practices with the Hornets in the fall of 2024 for his role of assitant video coordinator.

Courtesy of Charlotte Hornets PR.

After the season ended, Bowen's time previously spent on basketball became dedicated to building and establishing as many relationships as he could in the coaching industry. By reaching out on LinkedIn and using Taylor's connections, he constantly gave his coaching elevator pitch to anyone who would listen.

Eventually, his networking paid off and became more than just informational calls.

One of Bowen's high school teammates happened to be the son of the assistant general manager of the Charlotte Hornets. That connection led him to a call with the Hornets' head video coordinator.

After inquiring about possible opportunities, Bowen was brought in for an interview and to help with a team workout in Charlotte. He said that he "crushed it," and soon after, was offered a job as an assistant video coordinator for the Hornets.

Additional networking led to an offer to work the same position across the country for the Sacramento Kings, but Bowen said once the opportunity to stay at home in North Carolina was on the table, it was an easy choice to make.

"It was a no-brainer," Bowen said. "Charlotte's a great city, they're doing something special here and I'm glad I made the decision that I did."

Welcome to the Association
Entering his second season working in the NBA, Bowen has realized that, ultimately, he wants to rise to the rank of head coach.

Though aspirations of being on the sidelines methodically orchestrating and guiding a team to success one day are in the back of his mind, Bowen said the track he is on – despite the constant grind it can present – is one that will lead to the career he desires.

"You can't be too proud to take any opportunity," Bowen said. "You have to start at the bottom to work your way up to the top."

Even though his role could be considered an entry-level position, Bowen said there is a lengthy history of former video coordinators – like Erik Spoelstra, current head coach of the Miami Heat and two-time NBA champion – using the video room as a springboard to land their first coaching job.

Bowen said his assistant video coordinator position is like the "training ground" for learning how to coach and the ins and outs of player development and scouting.

In the video room, he creates film reports by cutting up specific clips of Charlotte's games and practices. The Hornets played 82 games last season, but Bowen estimates that he watched and cut film for 150 to 200 games...

Lynchburg Hillcats 

Aug. 12, 2023

“Looking back, I think I was just happy to be there,” Zarate said. “I wasn't actually trying to get better every day or trying to be a part of that starting lineup. I just thought I'm at a D-I program, I'm good now.”

Mike Fox, the former head coach of UNC, recalled a meeting with Zarate before his first season began. Fox informed his outfielder that it was going to be very difficult to find playing time due to the nature of their talented roster.

Hillcats outfielder Angel Zarate blows bubble gum in the dugout at Bank of the James Stadium in Summer 2023.

Courtesy of Lynchburg Hillcats.

“I told him, hey, we don't want to waste a year of your eligibility,” Fox said. “You're gonna need to keep working. You're not ready yet.”

After being informed by Fox that he would have to redshirt, Zarate quickly realized earning his spot on the field meant he would have to change his mindset completely.

“I had a purpose to get better every day,” Zarate said. “Not just, be out there to be out there.”

While a redshirt season did mean another year of waiting, it also meant more time to work on his game while improving his strength and conditioning. 

Even if he was riding the bench and learning the ropes for another year or two, Zarate knew it would be worth it.

Under no circumstances would he consider transferring either, he was not going to leave his dream school after working so hard to get there.

“I didn’t want to leave because, I mean, UNC is where I wanted to go for my whole life,” Zarate said. “So, I just put my head down, and I went to work.”

When Fox was leaving his office in Boshamer Stadium late that same night of the meeting, there was only one other person left in the entire facility. Since talking earlier that day, Zarate had been practicing his hitting in the batting cage.

“Instead of pouting, he just went to work,” Fox said. “He didn’t need any prodding from me or anyone else. Angel Zarate has always wanted to be good.”

Fox believes Zarate’s growth mindset and belief in himself are key components that propelled his former player to have a strong career at UNC. He was a self-made player who wanted to add another layer every day to improve his game.

Zarate said once he started applying intent toward every rep, it helped do away with bad habits that had festered over time. He explained that anybody can hit 100 balls off a tee, but if there is no purpose or intent behind the swings, the time spent is essentially useless.

“I feel like that’s what I was doing,” Zarate said. “Just doing stuff to do it, creating bad habits. But once I changed that, I thought, if I can take 20 good swings, create good habits, then that good habit will transfer over to the game.”

Elon Athletics' Rising Phoenix 

Nov. 8, 2024

Durham Went Down to Georgia

After seven years of climbing the ranks of college athletics radio, Durham was hired by Georgia Tech, an ACC school, in 1995 for football and men's basketball broadcasts. The Yellow Jackets had many successful seasons – highlighted by reaching the NCAA men's basketball national championship against UConn in 2004 – allowing Durham to broadcast some incredible moments in his 18 seasons with Georgia Tech.

Although Durham was able to make more exhilarating calls at Georgia Tech than his previous stops due to a higher level of play and competition, he still conducted his craft similarly to how he always had. He explained that a staple part of his success is broadcasting games as though he is vicariously experiencing what his viewers are feeling.

"You're channeling what you think the fan of the team you're broadcasting for feels," Durham said. "And if you do that the right way, you're going to have a very fortunate and very blessed career.

"I'm trying to be like the fan who's dialed into the game, who's like, 'Man, that was an unbelievable play,'" Durham added.

He emphasized that no matter how much preparation a broadcaster does, letting the moment come naturally is the ultimate key to a great call.

Wes Durham at the Dean E. Smith Center prior to broadcasting the Elon-UNC men's basketball game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.

Credit: Aidan Blake

"If you think about what you're going to say, there's going to be part of it that sounds scripted, if you think, 'Well, I've got this call in my head, and I'm going to say 'this' if there's a last-second shot,'" Durham said.

Durham said if he stays in the moment, emulates the flow of the game and considers where the viewer is looking, a successful and entertaining call usually ensues.

"If you follow the game, like the movement of the football: 'And he's wide open! Oh my gosh! And he's gonna score!' That should be enough," Durham said. "Then you haven't scripted anything and you haven't put anything in your mind."

As Durham continued to prove himself and hone his craft at Georgia Tech, an opportunity in NFL radio emerged in the fall of 2004. However, there was no need for him to choose between the two and step down from his post with the Yellow Jackets, making it an easy decision for him when he joined the Atlanta Falcons broadcast crew, a position he still holds.

Honoring Woody

Though he has always had a passion for college basketball and football, Durham never had quite the same affinity toward professional football. Now in his 20th season with the Falcons, Durham said one of the main reasons he has continued to work with the NFL is because of his father.

"He gave me the inspiration to do this," Durham said.

Durham recalled a conversation with his wife in the summer of 2010 when she asked him about what his long-term ambitions were in Atlanta.

"[My wife] asked me, 'Do you have a goal doing the Falcons?'" Durham said. "I said, 'Well I'd really like to do a Super Bowl. I don't know if it'll ever happen, but I'd like to.'"

With his dad being the most significant influence on why he pursued a career in sportscasting, Durham explained that because his father never had the chance to broadcast pro football, he wanted to pay homage to him in any way that he could on one of the biggest broadcasting platforms possible.

"Part of the reason I wanted to do a Super Bowl was that I wanted to, in some small way, put my dad's work on this stage," Durham said.

Seven years following that conversation with his wife, Durham had the opportunity to broadcast Super Bowl LI between the Falcons and New England Patriots in February 2017.

Though his dad passed away a year later in March 2018 from Primary Progressive Aphasia, Durham said having his father be able to hear his Super Bowl call meant everything to him.

"I'm hopeful that he understood what I was trying to do by showcasing his skill and his career even in just a small fraction on that broadcast," Durham said.

"I remembered a lot of things my dad had told me growing up during that broadcast," he added.

Following Durham's stint from 1995 to 2013 at Georgia Tech, he then moved into network television for Raycom Sports' ACC broadcasts from 2013-19. When ESPN launched the ACC Network in 2019, Durham was promptly brought on by the conference network and has been employed there ever since...

Elon Athletics' Rising Phoenix 

Nov. 27, 2024

As he left the court, Taylor's emotions flooded back in as he took a beat to process what he just accomplished.

"I had to take a deep breath many times to grasp everything that was going on," Taylor said.

Taylor explained that the coaching profession often gets him stuck in a next-play mindset. When the final buzzer sounded, Taylor said he felt like there was still more work to be done.

"We were still kind of focused on, 'There's got to be more,'" Taylor said. "Because the game was so tight for a long time, and then once we got some separation and made our free throws and won the game, it's like, 'What's next? What do we need to do?'"

Now 17 years deep into coaching, Taylor said that his ties to Notre Dame, with friends and family, in addition to some of the same security guards and beat writers from his time with the Fighting Irish in attendance, made the win one of the most "uniquely special moments" in his career.

"It means so much to play against my alma mater," Taylor said.Taylor said he hopes this is not just a one-off type of win for the Phoenix. Although this can be considered a program-defining win, it is clear he is working to establish a foundation for a program built to last.

"We're hoping that we are creating a legacy," Taylor said. "We're putting Elon's name in a different context than it's been presented before, and it's exciting for our program."

Once Taylor finished his media obligations and returned to the confines of a joyous locker room, the inevitable occurred. It was time for Taylor's second Gatorade shower in less than 48 hours.

"They got me both times, and they got even a little bit better the second time through," Taylor laughed. "It was fun."

"[We] wanted to take some time to be able to let down and enjoy the moment," Taylor added. "Because we don't get a lot of opportunities to catch our breath and put into perspective what that type of win against a Power Four opponent means for our basketball program and hopefully for our university."

Elon men's basketball head coach Billy Taylor on the dais for postgame  availability in South Bend, Indiana following a win at Purcell Pavilion against Notre Dame, his alma mater. 

Credit: Troy L. Sayles

When the team returned to campus early Saturday morning, Taylor said the emotions that came with the successful road swing, while surreal, had drained him.

"I was emotionally exhausted after the trip," Taylor said.

Both his father, the late Dennis Taylor, and mother attended Northern Illinois. Taylor said he scheduled the game against his parents' alma mater to honor his dad, who was instrumental in his decision to attend Notre Dame and pursue a career in coaching.

Rising Phoenix

May 24, 2024

...Even though she had been creeping up on multiple program records and exhibiting clear improvements heading into her junior year, Beermann said that she was regularly encountering a subconscious hurdle, one that others might not have always seen from the outside looking in.

"Running seems a lot more like a physical sport, and it probably is, but for me personally, it also makes a huge difference how you approach the races mentally," Beermann said. 

After Elon took home the 2023 CAA cross country title, which marked the team's fifth in a row, and even with Beermann finishing third overall in the meet, she still felt like there was another level that she had not been able to reach yet.

It was not until a pep talk from Jermyn right before the 2023 NCAA Southeast Cross Country Regionals that Beermann said she experienced "a mental shift" that has been everlasting and for the better.

"My coach said to me before the race, 'To get something you've never had, you have to be willing to do something you've never done,'" Beermann recalled.

Although Elon finished second-best as a team in both the indoor and outdoor track CAA championships this year, Beermann said she still gets to enjoy her individual victories, because of how encouraging the rest of her fellow student-athletes are.

Former Elon Track & Field student-athlete Jette Beerman holds up her Individual CAA medals at Elon's Robertson Track & Field Complex in May 2024. 

Credit: Aidan Blake

"Sometimes you need to hear things repeatedly for them to actually click," Beermann added. "I think that was the first time I actually took that and executed it. Before it was difficult to push myself through that last bit that really hurts in those races. But that quote, and what we talked about before that cross [country] race, I was like 'OK, if I want to have a different result from what I've been having this cross [country] season, I need to approach this race different.'"

She finished 18th overall in the 6K at the Regional, recording a new PR and school record of 20:19.5. Beermann propelled the Phoenix to an eighth-place finish amongst 34 other teams. Her performance earned her All-Region honors, making her just the third runner to ever do it while wearing the maroon and gold.

"I probably over-exceeded my own expectations a little bit," Beermann said of her performance at the Southeast Regional.

Beermann said her mental shift late in the cross country season was key in propelling her to dominant indoor and outdoor seasons.

Soaring On The Track
While her mental approach to running has changed throughout the years at Elon, Beermann said there has always been one constant during her time with the Phoenix – a supportive group around her.

"I have great teammates who make it easy to show up to practice," Beermann said. "They motivate me. And they believe in me."

"Enjoying my success with my teammates, it's just great when you know that they're happy for you," Beermann said.

Setting new school records in both the mile and the 3K during the indoor track and field championships – her 9:25.74 in the 3,000 broke her previous PR by eight seconds – was just a glimpse into what Beermann had in store for the outdoor season.

In the weeks leading up to April's Penn Relays, Beermann had set the school records in the 1,500 and the 3,000. Although she almost did not get to run in the 5,000 on what would become a historic day, Beermann took out her "frustration from another situation" on the rest of the competition in truly remarkable fashion.

"The Penn Relays are really busy, and the officials, after my warmup, didn't want to let me back in [to the track], so I got frustrated and I was crying before the race," Beermann said.

"I was like, 'OK, put your frustration in this race,' and I think it worked out," Beermann laughed.

Beermann edged out competitors from Northeastern and Penn State on the last lap of the event en route to a first-place finish while destroying multiple records in the process. She ran a 15:42.30 in the 5K, demolishing the previous school record by over 24 seconds and her own PR by just under 25 seconds. The time still ranks in the top-16 of the East Region this season.

Beermann's training is predicated on consistency. Although she cannot remember who came up with it, her ability to consistently find a second gear in the home stretch of races has earned her the nickname, "The Jet." Her tactic frequently puts her in position to beat out the rest of the competition at the end of long-distance track events.

Beermann also said she thinks her nickname simplifies what can be a confusing pronunciation for others, as her first name is pronounced (yet-TEH).