For the second time this school year, the Caravan Media Group will air its broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.
The media group is no stranger to these broadcasts. Just last year, the Week 7 football game against Joliet Catholic was aired on Marquee, as was this season’s football game against Brother Rice.
But this time is different. For the first time, Marquee will air a Mount Carmel basketball broadcast on the network.
The Marquee Community Showcase gives student broadcasting crews a chance to show off their skills to the greater Chicagoland area. The broadcast will air on Marquee Sports Network at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 13.
“We were approached by Marquee Sports Network about joining them for a basketball broadcast after our successful football broadcasts,” said Media Group moderator Ms. Eleanore Menke. “They know that the Caravan Media Group is the kind of group who doesn’t need a ton of instruction. (They) can run with the idea and produce a very successful broadcast.”
Senior Jon Akin, the vice president of the group and the producer for the game, feels that working on a major network comes with expectations like never before.
“You can’t have anything go wrong when you’re on the national stage,” Akin said.
He also noted that producing a live game brings challenges that pre-recorded games don’t. “With a taped show, you can make mistakes and fix them later,” he said. “When you’re live, there’s no room for errors.”
Senior Terry Dougherty, who will be the color commentator, said that calling a game on a major network changes the way he and his broadcast partner, myself Rocco Lopez, prepare.
“Being on a bigger network than what we’re used to is a great privilege,” he said. “You want to go through your preparation very thoroughly and have other people help.”
Calling a fast-paced game live can be very demanding, but Dougherty said his experience allows him to stay composed. “With my experience doing it for two years, I just get into that more where I’m able to keep up with the game and keep the broadcast going well. It’s kind of like riding a bike.”
Preparation for the broadcast has very common similarities to how a player prepares for a game. Dougherty explained that research involves more than stats. “You watch game film and talk to players about matchups and how to look out for,” he said. “Those little things help you understand the story of the game.”
Beyond the broadcast, Ms. Menke emphasized the long-term benefits for students interested in careers in sports media. “Our students can attend Marquee workshops, Zoom sessions, and lectures on different aspects of sports media and sports management,” she said. “The staff at Marquee has been very open and excited to help students build those relationships.”
For Ms. Menke, the broadcast sends a message about the program’s readiness for the national stage. “This shows that the media group is willing and able to handle the demands of a major TV network,” she said. “It is exciting to share your gifts not just with our community, but with the nation.”
