PITTSBURG, Kan. — Students in Pittsburg State University’s Communication Department are earning national recognition for their work producing live broadcasts of Gorilla Athletics events.
Students in the university’s Sports Broadcasting II course recently captured first place for Best Live Sports Broadcast at the 2026 National Student Media Convention. The award recognized their coverage of the Pittsburg State women’s basketball game against Fort Hays State on February 21.
Under the direction of Professor Troy Comeau, students gain hands-on experience producing broadcasts of football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and other athletic events. The student-run productions provide opportunities to operate cameras, manage replays and graphics, direct broadcasts and serve as play-by-play announcers.
Senior Brayton Lind, a native of LeRoy, Kansas, and former Allen Community College student, serves as a co-producer of the sports broadcasting team. Lind credits the program with helping him secure a position as sports director for Ad Astra Radio after making connections at a Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards ceremony.
“This was the best decision I’ve ever made when it comes to school and my future career,” Lind said.
Comeau, who took over the program in 2001, has steadily expanded its capabilities, adding live camera switching, instant replay, graphics and additional cameras. Students work multiple athletic events each semester, gaining experience in nearly every aspect of live sports production.
The program has also helped launch careers with major sports networks, including ESPN, FOX Sports and CBS Sports. Graduates have gone on to cover Olympic Games, NFL contests and other professional sporting events.
Lind, who is scheduled to graduate in December, says one of the program’s greatest rewards is helping younger students gain the same opportunities that helped launch his broadcasting career.
“My job as producer is to get these students the most experience possible in the time they have here,” Lind said. “I really love giving people opportunities because I was in their spot when I first got here.”
