Driven by a passion for sports and media, Harrison Steinberg ‘25 founded the Germantown Academy broadcasting club in his sophomore year. Since then, its members have covered a variety of GA sports, including football, basketball, soccer and lacrosse.
Many members of the club appreciate the opportunity to develop real-world skills as broadcasters. They also describe it as a fun and welcoming way to connect with new people who share similar interests.
“I really enjoy meeting new people and making new friends,” Max Levin ‘27 said. “Not only did I enjoy going to all types of sporting events, it made it so much better being with people I enjoy.”
Not only is the broadcasting club an exciting way to get involved in the GA community, but it also offers credits for those who want to be committed. Credits are supplied on a two-season system, meaning that members who broadcast for two sports seasons gain a school credit.
During the club meetings, members organize which games they plan on commentating, and Steinberg offers tips for the newer members.
At the games themselves, members often show up to games early to make sure everything is set up correctly for the livestream.
“There will always be two people on the mic,” Levin said. “Normally a cameraman, someone doing graphics, and for some sports, taking stats.”
As a club, the tight-knit bond that members share with each other allows for easy coordination of each person’s task. Furthermore, having broadcasters at sporting events allows recognition of different teams’ and players’ successes.
“I think broadcasting club is great,” Steinberg said. “Especially in giving a platform to a lot of athletes that are often underlooked.”
For example, athletes who want to get footage for college recruitment are often appreciative of the broadcasting club’s recordings and highlights.
“AJ [Towsen] and Cole Grim often tell me how much they appreciate me hyping them up on the broadcast,” Steinberg said. “It’s great because it gives them opportunities to use them in their clips for college.”
Furthermore, the broadcasting livestreams provide opportunities for students to showcase their appreciation for GA athletics.
“I enjoyed commenting on sports because it shows my support for GA athletics,” Cole Davis ‘26 said. “It’s always fun to watch that on videos and highlights with either me and Adrian Diem or Harrison Steinberg and really enjoying the game and showing my knowledge.”
Davis’s enthusiasm reflects a broader sense of pride among club members, who see broadcasting as a way to stay engaged with the GA community. Moreover, Steinberg highlights the way that broadcasting allows for athletic support, even when supporters are not able to attend.
“The livestreams give people who don’t want to come out to the games a chance to watch their classmates and their friends play,” Steinberg said. “I think it really plays an important role in boosting GA spirit during those away games.”
For many, the most memorable broadcasts are those that combine school spirit with high energy and a sense of school spirit.
“Personally, a broadcast I’m extremely proud of is the Make-a-Wish tournament this year. The stands were packed, the atmosphere was awesome,” Steinberg said. “We had over 200 viewers I think. I think I commented on the game really well.”
With Steinberg and many other senior participants graduating this year, there is more opportunity for underclassmen members of the club to gain leadership positions.
“I’m really looking forward to next year,” Levin said. “I’ll have a lot more freedom choosing which games I can be on the mic for, not just doing other jobs.”
In total, broadcasting is important in increasing GA spirit and student involvement within the school. It brings the community together and allows students to take an active role in shaping those special moments.
“The overall mission of broadcasting club is really just to have fun,” Steinberg said. “I treat it very seriously, just because that’s the person I am, but I really want people to just have fun and show their love for sports.”