JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Associate AD for Athletic Communications/External Operations Adam Cavalier has announced the hiring of two individuals to the department's media relations team, as well as the promotion of a third.
Andrew Rogers receives the promotion to Assistant Director for Athletic Communications. He replaces Michael Wottreng who moves to Florida to broadcast professional soccer.
"We're thankful for Michael's commitment to us over the last decade and we certainly wish him and Heather nothing but the best as they make the move to the Sunshine State," Cavalier said. "His dedication to the craft is unparalleled and I know he will set himself apart as he broadcasts professional soccer. I'm grateful that we already had someone in the fold in Andrew to take Michael's role. Andrew has proven himself to be a more than capable broadcaster and has earned the opportunity for promotion based on what he did as a graduate assistant last year."
Rogers will take over as the Voice of the Lady Eagles. He will be the lead voice for Carson-Newman women's basketball and baseball. He will continue to broadcast soccer and volleyball, while aiding on pregame and postgame shows for the football program. Rogers will handle media relations duties for both soccer programs, the women's basketball team and baseball. Carson-Newman Director of Track & Field, and former C-N football QB coach David Needs will step into the football booth to handle Wottreng's vacant color analyst role on football broadcasts with Cavalier.
In addition to Rogers, former Carson-Newman Eagle Sports Network work study and beach volleyball player Mia Toribio will join the staff as a graduate assistant working with creative media. Meanwhile, Virgina Tech alum and Pulaski River Turtles voice Ryan Wilkes will take over Rogers' vacant graduate assistant position to become the department's third on-air voice.
Toribio will handle media relations duties for both indoor and beach volleyball, while Wilkes will have cross country, tennis and golf among his media relations responsibilities. He will also be the lead voice for the volleyball program in addition to broadcasting soccer, hoops, baseball and softball. Wilkes will also have hosting duties for the AEC Tailgate Show and Dominos Postgame Report on Carson-Newman Football broadcasts.
"Mia has done just about anything and everything with our office as an undergraduate student," Cavalier said. "It's always good to promote from within and I have the utmost faith that Mia is the next in a long line of work studies who will have come through and gone on to be successful as GAs."
"Ryan came highly recommended by two people I trust implicitly in former GA Richard Martin and VT women's hoops voice Evan Hughes. His tape is strong, I think our fans will enjoy what he brings to the microphone."
Toribio wrapped up her beach volleyball career at Carson-Newman with a 44-31 record, the second-most wins in school history. As a senior, she went 15-0 paired with Taylor Keeran before earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District At-Large honors.
With the athletic communications office as an undergrad, Toribio did everything from calling for volleyball stats, to shooting football highlights, running baseball social media and directing just about every sport under the sun.
Wilkes has spent the last two summers serving as the play-by-play voice of the Pulaski River Turtles in the Appalachian League. He also served as the media relations intern for the Roanoke Railyard Dawgs of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Additionally, he appeared on ESPN Blacksburg as a color analyst for Blacksburg High School football.
