Gaston College alumni return to lead new Sports Broadcasting Team
Gaston College alumni return to lead new Sports Broadcasting Team
Gaston College alumni Carson Dockery, Adam Rhyne, and Caleb Stalcup (L-R) will lead the broadcasting team covering the College’s sports events
When Gaston College’s new intercollegiate sports teams begin competing in the 2021-2022 season, the broadcasting team made up of students from the College’s new Sports Broadcasting class will be on hand as camera operators and directors and to provide play-by-play and color commentary. The students will learn sports broadcasting from three alumni of the Gaston College Broadcasting and Production Technology program that are currently working in the field.
Adam Rhyne, Carson Dockery, and Caleb Stalcup are eager to share their knowledge and professional sports broadcasting experience with students and to help share the inaugural season of Gaston College sports with the fans and community.
Rhyne graduated from Gaston College in 2013. As a student, he interned at Charlotte TV Station WCCB and went on to work there after graduation. He is now a director and Tech Operator at the station and has also filmed games for the Charlotte Knights baseball team. Most recently, he filmed sports for Wake Forest University.
“The Broadcasting and Production Technology program gave me the skills I needed for a career in broadcasting, and I’m excited about coming back to Gaston College to teach students sports broadcasting skills,” said Rhyne. “The students will learn about the different equipment used in the field, how to set up and shoot for different sports, and about other positions like play-by-play,” said Rhyne. “There will be multiple opportunities for students to work events for the broadcasting team. It will be a major part of the class and their grade.”
A 2020 graduate of Gaston College, Dockery is also a Tech Operator at WCCB. He films local high school sports games for the South Fork Conference Sports Network and was on the broadcasting team for the Gastonia Grizzlies.
“Returning to Gaston College to help put together a sports broadcasting team is a great way for me to give back to the school that trained me for the work I love to do,” said Dockery. “The goal of the Sports Broadcasting class is to prepare students for jobs in the sports broadcasting field, whether it be the production side or calling games. This will be a fun and unique opportunity to be a part of a new venture at Gaston College.”
Caleb Stalcup graduated from the Broadcasting and Production Technology program in 2018. Like Dockery, he works with the SFC Sports Network, and he also currently runs the Broadcasting program’s equipment room, assisting students when they need to check out audio and video equipment for their projects.
Kate Carmody, Program Chair, credits Stalcup with encouraging her to offer a class in sports broadcasting. “I told Kate we needed to start this sort of thing because that’s how college athletics are done nowadays. And when you break it down, it benefits the school as a whole in so many different ways.”
Stalcup will be on location coordinating Gaston College’s games and will be the ground contact for the students on the broadcasting team. He will help Rhyne and Dockery, the main instructors, teach the course when needed.
“It means so much to me to be involved in this new endeavor,” said Stalcup. “I originally came to the Gaston College broadcast program years ago as a student, with the goal of just being a camera man somewhere in the sports broadcasting world. When you fast forward to what I’m involved in now, it’s insane and a blessing.”
The Gaston College Sports Broadcasting Team will be open to students from all majors who have an interest in exploring sports broadcasting. The goal of the program is to have students shoot, direct and do play-by-play for many of the school’s sporting events.
“I am thrilled that Adam, Carson and Caleb, former students in the Broadcasting and Production Technology program, will be teaching, leading, and supporting our sports broadcasting team,” said Carmody. “Working with professionals who got their training at Gaston College is an exciting opportunity for our students, and this is a great way for them to get hands-on experience in the field. We believe this will bring a new level of enthusiasm to the broadcasting program and student life at the College. We would love for students to join us on this adventure.” Based on student enrollment and interest, Gaston College may consider adding a Sports Broadcasting certificate program in the future.
Beyond Gaston College, there are many broadcasting opportunities with local sports organizations like the Gastonia Honey Hunters, the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets, the Charlotte Knights, and NASCAR.
Students who would like to join the school’s Sports Broadcasting Team must register for the BPT 235 class, which will focus exclusively on sports broadcasting and give them the opportunity to get game experience. While part of the Broadcasting and Production Technology program, the class is open to all students regardless of their major.
For more information on registration, visit gaston.edu/register.
