A graduate student at the University of Lynchburg,
Caroline Gerke will graduate in the spring of 2024 with a master’s of business administration. A photographer and graphic designer, Gerke is the head of photography and the digital media and operations assistant for the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network. Leading the photography and design efforts for the department, Caroline also heads a team of student assistants who work as sports photographers. Last spring, she accompanied the Lynchburg baseball team as social media graphics and photography lead en route to its first NCAA Division III national title, and later designed the NCAA national championship t-shirt. Visit her website,
www.carolinegerke.com.
Mike Still has served at Sports Information Coordinator at his alma mater, the University of Manitoba, since June of 2022. Prior to that, he spent four years as Bison Sports staff writer. Manitoba sponsors a 16-sport program and is affiliated with USports Canada, the national governing body of university sport, and is one of 17 members of the Canada West Conference. He serves on the CSC Canadian divisional cabinet in as at-large representative. Prior to his collegiate athletic position, Still returned to his alma mater after serving as communications and social media coordinator for the university’s Indigenous Engagement department. He is the founder and website manager of
Manitobafootballfeed.net.
Joining the Iowa State athletics communications staff in June 2021 as a communications specialist,
Ryan Workman was promoted to associate director in March 2022. Workman is the primary contact for men’s basketball, women’s golf and men’s golf. Workman's prior experience in the profession was at North Dakota State for three years which followed 13 years at Coe College. Workman is active in CSC committee work, serving on the Academic All-America Committee and the Creative and Digital Design Committee. He has earned numerous national awards for graphic work and his basketball game notes in the annual CSC creative and digital design contest.
What has been the biggest surprise or moment for you professionally since the new academic/athletic year began?
Gerke: A couple weeks ago, we got to watch our head field hockey coach, Enza Steele, secure her 650th win on Shellenberger Field. This was such an awesome part of Lynchburg history to witness and capture.
Still: The biggest moment occurred at last weekend's football game. Our kicker, Maya Turner became the first-ever female to dress in, and score points in a regular season U SPORTS football game. She kicked the game-winner in the second OT as well! Her history-making game garnered international media attention; ESPN and the NFL picked up our content for their socials. Her achievement amassed well over a million views and counting. It was a special moment to be a part of, and our head coach Brian Dobie's post-game message has been shared worldwide as well.
Workman: We have two new staff members in our office and over half of our students are new this year. We haven’t missed a beat from previous years, which has made for a great start this fall!
Favorite snack to have on press row or press box (game-day snacks) ….
Gerke: Definitely Nerd clusters. Those became a favorite during game days on Shellenberger Field thanks to some of our awesome student workers!
Still: I am usually broadcasting games on game days, but my go-to beverage is a lemon-lime Gatorade for when I'm in the production room.
Workman: Home football gamedays must start with Casey’s breakfast pizza and a Monster Energy drink. I also need a fresh Pepsi just before tipoff for basketball games.
What communications challenge keeps you up at night?
Gerke: Figuring out how to say yes to every request while still being able to produce the best work possible. It’s all about quantity AND quality, not quantity over quality.
Still: To increase engagement on our X account. Ever since the brand change from Twitter, our audience has dissipated. We primarily use X for live gameday coverage.
This has given our communications staff a chance to produce more in-house content, with a larger focus on postgame interviews and recaps. But our live coverage has changed in look from a year ago and it's still a learning curve to staff two venues (hockey and court sports) at once and utilize our resources to the best of their ability during live action.
Workman: The never ending nightmare that a game is starting and you aren’t there.
If you could join any past or current music group which would you want to join?
Gerke: The Eagles have always been a favorite group of mine.
Still: Pink Floyd. I find their music to be very introspective and the lyrics to be profound and engaging. I would be very interested in sharing a conversation with Roger Waters, to see what process he uses while writing lyrics. As someone who enjoys poetry and expressing my views through writing, I think we would have a lot in common.
Workman: Nickelback. Don’t laugh. The real ones know.
What three things do you think of the most each day?
Gerke: Koda (my dog), my work check-list and schedule, coffee
Still: My dog Ellie, my fiancée Madi and to be honest, my job.
Workman: 1. How I can better improve the student-athlete experience. 2. What I can do to annoy some of my co-workers to keep things lighthearted around the office. 3. What crazy nickname my coaches are going to come up for me next.
What was the last movie you went to or streamed? What did you think?
Gerke: I went to see the Barbie movie after it came out. I thought it was good!
Still: Oppenheimer. It was incredible. It ran a bit long but I learned a lot and was invested the whole time.
Workman: Not huge into movies, but I watch way too much TV. Happy the writer’s strike is over and we’ll have shows back on TV.
How many pair of shoes/sneakers do you own?
Gerke: My shoe collection isn’t huge but has definitely grown since working with Lynchburg Sports. I went from two pairs of sneakers to now having about five pairs of adidas sneakers and maybe 12 pairs of shoes total
.
Still: I own over 20 pairs of running shoes, as I am an avid marathon runner.
Workman: I’ve apparently recently become a sneakerhead and currently rotate between 19 pairs of sneakers. I don’t even want to know how many are in my storage that I don’t wear.
Would you rather be TikTok famous or Insta famous?
Gerke: Insta famous! I’ve never created on TikTok but always trying to grow my photography Instagram.
Still: Insta famous
Workman: TikTok
This or that: (Are you a) dog person or cat person ... or not?
Gerke: Dog! Koda is my four year old Siberian husky.
Still: I am a dog person, and loving parent of a six year old Rottweiler-German Shepherd cross.
Workman: Allergic to both
This or that: Surprise party or planned party?
Gerke: I love throwing surprise parties but I think that I’m very much a planner when it comes to my own stuff.
Still: Surprise party
Workman: Surprise all day!
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