PRESS RELEASE – SwampDogs Radio Broadcaster Adam Young has been recognized by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America (STAA) as one of the Top 20 college sports broadcasters in the United States.
The recognition is part of the STAA All-America Program that recognizes the most outstanding collegiate radio sportscasters in the country and encourages sportscasters nationwide to strive to achieve their best. Each June, the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sportscaster is presented the Jim Nantz Award, named in honor of the award winning CBS sports broadcaster. The award is considered sports broadcasting’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Young was included on the Top 20 list that was revealed on June 4th. The list can be found at www.staatalent.com/all-america.
“I’m still in shock that I’ve been included on the list,” the Waterloo, IL. native said. “These are the best of the best across the nation and to be included on that list is very gratifying.”
Young is a May 2010 Graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he spent his college years gaining as much experience as possible in the field of sports broadcasting.
“The recognition is a tribute to all of the hard work that I put in while in college outside of the classroom,” says Young. “From the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed every day, I had my eyes set on getting better. I feel like I was able to do that and put myself in a good position to succeed.”
The 21-year-old worked as a news and sports reporter for WSIE Radio in Edwardsville, IL. all four years in college, covering the St. Louis Cardinals, Rams and Blues, while also performing newscasts on a regular basis. He served as Radio broadcaster for SIUE Men’s and Women’s Basketball for two seasons before switching over to Television Play-by-Play for SIUE Men’s and Women’s Division I Basketball from 2008-2010. In 2008, Young worked for KSLG 1380 AM in St. Louis as a sports reporter for their St. Louis Cardinals Pregame Show. He also served as SIUE’s Public Address Announcer for nearly every one of the school’s sports teams all four years of college, hosted the Sports Segment on a local T.V. Show called SIUE Global Village, was the play-by-play broadcaster for SIUE Softball during the 2010 season and was a Producer at WSIE Radio as well. In 2009, Young got his first taste of Professional Baseball, serving as a broadcaster for the Gateway Grizzlies Minor League Baseball team.
For his work, Young was named the 2009 recipient of the Dewayne Staats Sports Journalism, given to the student at SIUE that best exemplifies excellence in Sports Journalism.
“It was a great honor to receive the Staats award at SIUE,” Young said. “But nothing compares to getting recognized nationally by some very respected men in the business.”
The men in charge of selecting the nation’s best were Jon Chelesnik (President/CEO Sportscasters Talent Agency of America), Tom Boman (Learfield Sports Broadcast Manager), Mark Boyle (Voice of the Indiana Pacers), Wes Durham (Voice of the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech University), Paul Keels (Cincinnati Red broadcaster and Voice of The Ohio State University), Bob Licht (Voice of the New Orleans Hornets) and Bill Roth (Voice of Virginia Tech University).
Young continues his duties as the Radio Broadcaster/Director of Media Relations with the SwampDogs and looks to get better every day.
“We are very proud and excited for Adam,” said SwampDogs Asst. General Manager Jeremy Aagard. “His hard work has been evident since day one and for him to receive this honor is a testament to his character. We expect great things from Adam, not only this summer, but for the rest of his career.”
“I still have a lot of room to improve,” Young said. “I’m working hard every day to makes SwampDogs broadcasts informative and entertaining while also finding ways that I can get better. My time in Fayetteville has been unbelievable already.”
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