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During my time in this virtual classroom I have learned a lot. Throughout this semester as a student in Sports Communication, I also was working a real life job in sports communication! I was able to work as a sports information director for ODU Athletics. I learned a lot from this experience that I was then able to apply to my learning in my assignments for this class. 

This was especially evident in the Game Report Submission where I covered the ODU vs Coastal Carolina Women’s Basketball game. I was so excited to do this assignment because we were in the heat of our baseball season here. For my job I write game recaps from time to time so I was excited to get graded on what I do for work. I knew that I had to pick a big game to cover and it had to be basketball. I decided to cover the ODU vs CCU game because it was a conference match and our second meeting with Coastal. 

Getting this assignment peer-reviewed and graded was very helpful in gaining more knowledge and understanding of game coverage. 

Another great thing about this class was the peer reviews! I really appreciate the constructive criticism I received from them for each assignment. I didn’t think I would actually get any good feedback from them and they were all very helpful and informative on what I could have done better on these assignments. This was very helpful in part with the feedback from our professor as well. 

Sports communication has such a special place in my heart and I am so fortunate to have been able to learn more about it in an academic setting. I hope that I continue to learn in sports communication in my career and take what I learned in this class into my professional life.

Thank you to those who have taken the time to read my posts in this journal, there is so much more to come!

An Olympic men’s hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980, during the medal round of the men’s ice hockey tournament made headlines not only as a win for the US but also for the political undertones of the match up. Although the Soviet Union was a four-time defending gold medalist and heavily favored, the United States achieved an upset victory, winning 4–3. Al Michaels’ “Do you believe in miracles?” call in the closing seconds of the United States’ miraculous victory over the Soviet Union might be more iconic today, but he also provided the perfect bit of foreshadowing as he opened the 1980 Olympic Winter Games ice hockey broadcast. The subject of countless books, documentaries and one major motion picture, the improbable upset in Lake Placid would end up as the most famous hockey game ever played.

This political statement between the game between the USA and the Soviet Union is due to the nature of the relationship between the two countries. The United States government was initially hostile to the Soviet leaders for taking Russia out of World War I and was opposed to a state ideologically based on communism. Thus, leading to The Cold War. This was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies that developed after World War II.

The USSR also won all 12 matchups with the United States between the 1960 and 1980 Olympics, outscoring the Americans 117-26. Also worthy of note is the Soviets’ infamous 10-3 blowout exhibition win to close out the 1980 U.S. team’s pre-Olympic tour at Madison Square Garden, just one week before the Olympic Games began.

1st Period: The Soviets take an early lead, but Buzz Schneider ties it. The USSR scores again, then Mark Johnson nets a last-second goal to make it 2–2.

2nd Period: The Soviets go up 3–2 with a goal from Golikov. Jim Craig makes several key saves to keep the U.S. close.

3rd Period: Johnson scores again to tie it 3–3. Moments later, Mike Eruzione scores the game-winner. The U.S. holds off the Soviets for a 4–3 victory.

Newspapers across the U.S. featured front-page headlines the next day, with bold titles such as “U.S. Stuns Soviets in Ice Shocker!” and “Miracle on Ice!”

The win was treated not just as a sports victory but as a triumph of the American spirit, especially amid Cold War tensions. The media enhanced the win for the US in celebration while the Soviet Union Soviet media downplayed the loss, offering minimal analysis and focusing more on the technical aspects rather than the emotional shock it caused.

In the tightly tensioned political game, the USA was able to fend off the Soviets to win it in a historic game that would be celebrated for years to come.

Women’s sports history is short, but rich in history. The battle for pioneers in women’s sports to be taken seriously and be heard were unimaginable efforts by courageous women and men. Jumping through hoops to change the narrative of women’s sports is a challenge that is still being fought but has come a long way. Nineteenth-century America posed sports as a threat to elite females’ fertility, this being a prime example of the double standard that stood long after slavery was abolished. Elite women did not physically exert themselves because there was no need for them to. They had servants who would do that work for them. Physical exertion for women then grew to have quite a stigma around it. Thus, making sports not even in the scope of what was acceptable for women to be a part of. Of course, if they were women of class. But lucky for the women of the Gilded Age, there were a couple of sports acceptable for ladies. Low-impact sports such as tennis, croquet, archery, and let’s not forget the swimming at the racially restricted lakes and beaches! The notion that women competing in sports is unhealthy can be dated back to the age of Aristotle, stating that women are essentially controlled by their reproductive systems and that too much exertion can be dangerous for their fertility. There were even campaigns to prevent women from partaking in active sports to keep themselves fertile. This and more are reasons that women in sports are so influential today. The pioneers who pushed past those societal limits are the reason that athletes such as Caitlin Clark can break and set new records, and be a figure for young athletes to look up to. 

Caitlin Clark, a senior on the Iowa Women’s basketball team, has made headlines setting the all-time scoring record in the NCAA Tournament and becoming unanimously named 2022-23 Big Ten player of the year. Nike signed Clark to become one of the first NIL basketball players, meaning that Nike will be able to sell official Iowa Hawkeyes jerseys with her name on them, which was not allowed before the implementation of NIL deals. In the 2024 WNBA draft Clark was selected as the number one pick by the Indiana Fever. She made her professional debut on May 14, 2024. 

“We are thrilled to add Caitlin Clark to our roster. This is a great day for the Indiana Fever and all of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. l am confident she will have an immediate impact on our team and the league,” Fever General Manager Lin Dunn said.

The beginning of Clark’s career started with facing challenges any rookie would face but some would argue to a different degree. Challenges such as veteran players not welcoming her with open arms and getting roughed up more than needed in games. Despite facing these adversities, in press conferences, Clark remained positive and chose to focus on her performance. Clark became the WNBA single-season assists record holder (337), an accomplishment which included a league-record 19 assists in one game. Her 8.4 assists per game average is also a WNBA record. Clark then became the first-ever rookie to record a triple-double and holds the record for most three-pointers made (122) by a rookie in league history.

The Iowa native also had a historic college career where she made headlines wherever the name Iowa was mentioned. Her incredible college career has been decorated with awards and achievements such as being Iowa’s all-time leading scorer, achieving the most 30-point games by any man or woman in Division I in the past 25 seasons, and achieving the most three-pointers in a single season by any male or female Division I player. She has also broken numerous records. She has broken the Big Ten all-time scoring record, Iowa’s single-game scoring record, and even the men’s and women’s scoring records for a single NCAA tournament. Clark has taken the women’s basketball world by storm, and she continues to prove that she is a force to be reckoned with, and she won’t be ignored. Breaking the barriers in a male-dominated sport is not easily done, but she has done it. She has broken NCAA records, which were previously held by all-star male basketball players such as “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who totaled 3,667 points. Clark beat that with a total of 3,900 points at this point in her career. 

Clark is an inspiration to any athlete, not only in basketball but also for young girls. She is also an inspiration to young teenage boys as well because of her work ethic and breathtaking records. Women’s sports in general have skyrocketed in recent years as it has gained popularity. Viewership for the 2024-25 NCAA Women’s Basketball campaign finished 3% above the historic 2023-24 regular season with a whopping 41% increase over 2022-23. In all, the 87 women’s games across ESPN platforms averaged 280,000 viewers

Clark has quickly become what most call the greatest of all time, and she has yet to begin her professional career. Exciting to see what else she will do with the power she wields in women’s sports.

For this post, I interviewed my colleague, Jonathan Agnello, about the most noteworthy aspect of his career. When I met Jon, he had just started his full-time position with ODU, and he told me that he did the same internship I was doing at the time. Through this interview, I learned so much more about his history in sports and what he is most proud of in his career.

Feb 26, 2025 by: Lauren Rivera-Galvez

NORFOLK, Va –  ODU Women’s Basketball defeats No. 4 Coastal Carolina in fierce rematch in Conway, S.C. (81-65). 

Starting seniors Brenda Fontana and Simone Cunningham were leaders for the Monarchs (17-13, 9-8 Sun Belt), making up a collective 42 points, and contributing to the 19-31 rebounds on the offensive and defensive ends. Double-doubles for both seniors helped send the Monarchs to their third straight victory. 

Junior Kelsey Thompson, who also started for the Monarchs, was a superstar in the game as well as she assisted the team with 11 points with five rebounds, and four assists. En’Dya Burford, senior, also chipped in with eight points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals. 

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (21-7, 11-6 Sun Belt) were hard-hitting in the first half of the match. Chants senior Jayden Marable kept up the back-and-forth game against the Monarchs with 12 points, two rebounds, one block, and one forced turnover, while CCU’s Jaylen Ponder had ten points, five rebounds, one forced turnover, and one steal. 

Monarchs Junior, Simaru Fields shot and made a 3-pointer, grabbing the first points on the board, though the Chanticleers led the game at the end of the first 20-18 with the Monarchs out-scoring Coastal in the second quarter 30-19. A layup by Fontana, bringing the game to the first tie 20-20, has Marable responded with a 2-point layup. After CCU’s Kristin Williams went 3-3 in free throws, Sarah Hammock-Fitzgerald was fouled, which perked up the Monarchs. She went 1-2 in free throws with minutes to go. 

Jumper by Thompson, layup by Cunningham, and a corner 3-point shot by junior Hama’ya Fielder tied the game 33-33 once again at the 4:28 mark. 

As the clock was ticking to the buzzer for the half, both teams were eager for points as there were multiple fouls on each team. This was followed by a stretch of layups by Cunningham and CCU’s Savannah Brooks, which was closed with a 3-pointer by Fontana. Monarch’s Mariyah Clayton was fouled, sending her to the free throw line where she went 2-2, closing out the half with a Monarch lead of 48-39. 

Carrying the momentum into the second half, two more 3-pointers from Fontana and one by Fields pushed the lead to 61-41 with 6:58 to go in the third. Neither side scored for over two minutes late in the quarter, but Thompson was able to go 2-2 free throws, and Cunningham’s layup beat the buzzer as ODU took a 70-48 lead into the final 10 minutes.

The Chanticleers were able to go on an 8-0 run midway through the fourth to catch up to ODU’s lead to 73-60 with 4:28 left in the game. Coastal’s Dawson Jemerson scored a layup to make it 75-62 with just over three minutes remaining, but the Monarch defense held the Chants until the final 20 seconds when Emilia Tenbrock completed an and-one point to end the back-and-forth game with the Monarchs taking the win 81-65.

“We did a great job of executing and just playing a great basketball game in a tough environment. Coastal Carolina lost one basketball game at home all year long, and for us to come here in the circumstances, it really says a lot about our growth” – Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones

Prior to this on-the-road win, the Monarchs were coming off a two-game win streak as they beat No. 2 Arkansas State (95-88) early last week, and Georgia Southern this past weekend (68-66). 

ODU concludes the regular season this Friday at Georgia Southern. Tipoff at Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Jonathan Agnello – ODU Athletics

Working in athletics it was hard for me to choose who I would ask to be my pen pal for this assignment because I have so many great people around me that I learn so much from. I decided to ask Jonathan Agnello who is an assistant director for athletic communications at ODU. I met Jon during my internship with athletics last fall during his first semester working at ODU. I reached out to Jon asking him to be my penpal through messages and he thankfully agreed! 

At just 28 years old, Jonathon Agnello has already made a significant impact in the world of sports information. As the Assistant Director of Athletic Communication and Sports Information Director at Old Dominion University, Agnello plays a crucial role in ensuring that the stories, statistics, and coverage of ODU athletics are accurately shared with the public.  

Agnello’s journey in sports communication began during his final year of college when he interned in ODU’s Athletic Communication Department. After earning his degree, he chose to take his skills to ESPN, working in the Statistics and Analysis department for two years before returning to ODU in August. Since then, he has been a part of the university’s athletic communication team, covering field hockey, rowing, and men’s basketball. With the upcoming fall semester, he will expand his role to include coverage of the men’s and women’s soccer teams.  

In his position, Agnello serves as the primary information contact for the sports he covers, writing press releases, handling statistics, and ensuring that television and radio broadcasters, as well as fans, have accurate and timely information. His work with men’s basketball includes traveling with the team throughout the season, making sure that all relevant details about each game are communicated through stories and social media posts.  

A lifelong sports fan, Agnello’s passion extends beyond his profession. Growing up in Connecticut, he naturally gravitated toward Boston and New England sports teams, with the Celtics, New England Patriots, and Arsenal FC being his favorites. He admires sports icons such as Tom Brady, Jayson Tatum, and Bukayo Saka, whose dedication and skill reflect the qualities he values in the industry.  

Outside of work, Agnello describes himself as a chill guy who enjoys spending time with his cat and handling the responsibilities of adulthood. While he is focused on growing in his current role at ODU, he remains open to future opportunities, including the possibility of pursuing a Master’s degree. 

When asked about advice for future sports communicators he emphasizes curiosity and continuing to learn. “Always ask questions and never feel like you can’t do something,” he advises. “In the world of sports, there are so many growing job markets—from analytics and data management to communications and athletic training. The key is to gain experience and always be open to learning new things.”  

With a strong foundation in sports communication and a passion for sports, Jonathon is on the way to making his mark in the industry. His dedication combined with his passion for sports, ensures that he will continue to make an impact at ODU and beyond.  

I still consider myself new to sports events though it’s been part of my life, my whole life. But thinking about where I used to get my sports information from compared to where I get it from now has drastically changed, even just in five years.

Five years ago, I was 16 and in my junior year of high school. Then I was a cheerleader at my high school and an editor for my yearbook. Sports other than how my high school football team was doing, weren’t really on my radar. I paid attention to how the then-Washington Redskins were doing but I wasn’t watching games or looking up any information. I got my news about the Redskins from my dad who is a big fan. I would ask him how last night’s games went on Monday morning when he would take me to school, and he would sigh and say, “We lost, of course”. Him telling me crazy stories of games and of the franchise would be the extent of my sports diet, I would also probably hear certain things about sports on the radio when he would listen to the sports junkies religiously. My dad was my main point of contact for sports five years ago. 

Now it’s a completely different story. I get a lot of my sports information from the news, watching games, and reading stories myself. Sometimes I catch myself even telling my dad things that he had no idea about in the sports world. I also get a lot of my sports consumption from my job, where I am working multiple different sports events in one week. I get to view how each sport works and be a part of the communications work, before the game, during, and after.

During the season I watched NFL football every chance I could and got to learn from my friends and my dad how the game works and how everything has a moving piece. I also watched live games where I was in the press box learning how stats are taken and how broadcasting is prepped days in advance and executed during the game!

Along with so much more, my sports media diet has changed drastically over five years, and I imagine it will continue five years from now as well. Growing my sports consumption has grown my love for sports in general and for the teams I have loved my whole life and even ones I just learned about! It also grew my appreciation for sports communications work at all levels of sports. 

If I could change one thing about the sports communications landscape, I wish women could’ve been a part of it a lot sooner. Being a part of it now is so special to me, but I wish it had been a more paved road. It would be a much more inclusive community if so.

A person’s social media can reveal their interests, personality, values, social circle, lifestyle, and habits or routines. It can also indicate their communication style, career aspirations, and opinions on various topics. Sports have always been a part of my life that I haven’t necessarily shared online until recently.

I grew up a gymnast and cheerleader and it was my entire life. It just wasn’t something I chose to share on social media because it was just for me. My social media platforms were rarely used and when it was it was strictly just personal. When working in sports suddenly became my reality I had to become comfortable with sharing my everyday life on social media. I started posting on my story for every game I was attending and started to grow more comfortable with sharing what I was doing especially because it was for the games and matches I was working for ODU. In part, it did contribute to me falling in love with the job and furthering my need to continue into the spring semester. Learning sports and growing my knowledge helped me gain confidence in sharing my opinions online and starting to rep my teams with some knowledge.

Especially when it comes to having new favorites, expressing my love for them on social media is so fun. New favorites I have gained while learning more about sports are WNBA player Caitlin Clark, the Philadelphia Sixers, NCAA sports, and learning how football works made me appreciate the Commanders so much more. I’ve always loved the NFL but I learned how it works from my internship with ODU athletics where I had the chance to be in the broadcast booth for one of our home games.

My philosophy has always been that there is so much to learn in the world and I’m always going to keep learning as I get older. Every game I attend or interview I listen in on I learn something I didn’t before and it excites me to know that I won’t lose that feeling. It’s also very rewarding to be able to teach other people about the work I’m doing through my Instagram stories and posts on my account.

I have a highlight reel on my personal Instagram with all my stories for athletics and a couple of posts on what I’ve been doing as well. I’d like to create my own podcast to talk about my journey with sports and my personal life as well. Taking baby steps with that goal I created a sports Instagram account so I can post my own sports content there!

I’m excited to start creating content and see what comes of it!

If you’d like to follow my personal account or sports account on Instagram it will be linked to socials

Hello! Welcome to my sports communications sports journal where I will be posting my assignment submissions this semester. I am excited to get started posting on here! First, a little bit of background on me. My name is Lauren Rivera-Galvez and I am a senior here at ODU majoring in strategic communications and minoring in geography. I’ve been involved in sports since I was younger in a variety of ways. As a gymnast and cheerleader, editor for the sports section of the yearbook, and now an athletic communications assistant for ODU! I hope to continue my career in sports in broadcasting and social media for the NFL!

I hope this blog grows to be a reliable source of sports information and a place for my assignments to influence and inform. Excited to learn this semester!