The last two months have been a professional and personal whirlwind. Without being over dramatic it’s the only way I can think to describe it. I worked up the guts to propose to my beautiful girlfriend Sarah and she said yes. My station cluster lost a long drawn out bidding process for the rights to the team I’ve covered for the last five years. I’ve been searching for a new sportscasting opening and had even accepted one within our ownership group. I then had to go back and tell my owner, who has been great to me, that an unlooked for but better opportunity came out of nowhere and I couldn’t turn it down. I’ve searched for a new apartment and will be moving by the end of August month. Mix that in with the beginning of wedding planning and I’m ready for things to calm down.
Anyway, the culmination of the entire process is that I have accepted a new job with 5 Star Communications in Yankton, SD starting in September. This new opportunity will allow me to continue my passion for play-by-play as the voice of the Tanagers at Vermillion High School. I will also work as a marketing consultant helping businesses in the area grow and thrive. Sarah and I found a great apartment in a small town between Yankton and Sioux Falls. This location means a short 30 minute commute for each of us but allows Sarah to continue the career she loves as a music teacher in the Sioux Falls area. Making the pot even sweeter, there will also be opportunities to continue calling games at the college level on a freelance basis for NAIA powerhouse, and my alma mater, Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
Everything has happened really fast and I want to take a quick moment to thank the people at 5 Star Communications for giving me this opportunity. I also want to show appreciation to all of the friends I’ve made in Aberdeen. Despite the -40 degree windchills in the winter, I’ve had a great experience here because of the warmth and kindness towards an outsider that this community has shown me. This specifically applies to all the people at Dakota Broadcasting, especially owner Neil Lipetzky who throughout this entire process has gone above and beyond trying to help me through everything and was understanding and supportive when this opportunity arose. In addition, while I’ll keep my thoughts on the administration to myself, I again want to say thanks to all the Presentation College coaches, athletes, and fans over the last five years. I will always root for the Saints on the field!
Here’s to an exciting new adventure and the next chapter of my life and career.
