It’s never easy filling a big set of shoes

Dahlberg’s Power Play

Being in a new situation can be stressful for a number of reasons and it’s easy to think it’s an uphill battle that’s just you against the world. 

That new situation for me is being this paper’s sports editor. I feel like I was thrown into the deep end of shark-inhabited waters, if those sharks were equivalent to a virus spreading across the globe. 

Despite having been in the position for half a semester eight editions, it is still new to me. 

Full discloser, I have been enjoying every second of the job. I like getting to know coaches through interviews, and I’ve been able to expand my photography skills.  

But even though I have been enjoying it, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a completely new experience for me, and the still ongoing COVID-19 concerns don’t make it any easier. 

As many people have said in relation to anything, nobody has dealt with a situation like this, since the last global pandemic that is considered as big as COVID-19 was the Spanish Flu in 1918. Everybody is in a new environment: students, parents, workers and coaches. 

For me, pandemic complications include not knowing how to list an athlete’s class rank given their additional year of eligibility; not being able to meet and get to know members of the athletic programs because of the possibility of spreading the virus; and dealing with a constantly changing schedule. 

 Though, I wasn’t given as much preparation for this position as I’d have like. I can’t complain about what I have.

Devin Fulton, the former sports editor that graduated in December, did everything he could to prepare me for the position, but it was difficult given the minimal sports schedule of Fall 2020 being only a couple of sports and not being very reliable with cancellations due to COVID-19. I’ve also had to reach out to former editor and skilled photographer, Brandon Davenport, for tips regarding sports that I haven’t photographed before like softball and wrestling. 

These two former The Eagle editors made it a little easier to step into the big shoes that they left behind. Shoes I’m not sure I fit in yet. 

On top of filling the spaces that were left behind by two amazing people, I have realized that I haven’t given myself the time to write preview or feature stories over sports. For that I would like to formally apologize while I begin to figure things out and start writing more than just game stories. 

Looking at the positives, I’ve been able to build my relationship with coaches and some athletes, despite these rough times, and I’m very happy everyone I speak with is willing to work with me. They have all been a delight to work with, and I can’t wait to meet those coaches I have yet to interact with. 

I have also realized that COVID-19, though difficult to deal with right now, will help me in the long run because if I can deal with this, I should be able to deal with anything thrown my direction. 

Upon starting this semester as the sports editor, my father told me that he felt sports journalism was the section of a newsroom that I belonged in.

He probably felt this way because of my interests in watching sports. My family and I will watch the Minnesota Vikings on our couch, and try making it to a Minnesota Twins baseball game every summer.

We go to Tri-City Storm hockey games in Kearney, and we’ll cheer on the Minnesota Wild and Timberwolves even through bad seasons. I also try to make it to my younger brother’s sporting events because he like the support but I also enjoy cheering him on.

I’ve never been afraid to cheer loudly for my favorite teams. 

I didn’t realize then how right he was. Though I have a long way to go, I think this position is for me because I hadn’t felt like I was in right place like this even with my previous work with the Eagle.