ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Carson-Newman University Athletic Communications Staff has been selected as the South Atlantic Conference Media Relations Staff of the Year, the conference office announced Monday

Voted on by members of the SAC Media Relations Directors Committee, the Carson-Newman staff consists of Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations and External Operations Adam Cavalier, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Michael Wottreng and graduate assistants Brian White and Richard Martin.  Also recognized are staff photographer Adam Greene and past members Danielle Whaley and Justin Franklin who left midyear for Villanova and the Rome Braves, respectively.

"Carson-Newman Athletics has been truly blessed to have such a dedicated and talented Athletics Communication staff," Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope said.  "While for most of this year, we have had to work with a few members absent, our staff continues to operate at an exceptionally strong level.  Under Adam Cavalier's leadership, Michael Wottreng, Richard Martin and Brian White have been tireless and diligent in their daily work not only for C-N sports but also in their efforts with the SAC Championships.   Our staff, with their attitudes towards service, represents the very best of Carson-Newman University and I am so proud to work alongside them.  This honor is well deserved for all they do."

The Carson-Newman Athletic Communications team works to provide accurate and timely content on its athletic website, keeping schedules, team rosters, coaches and player bios, game recaps, feature stories, and statistics posted and updated for all 21 intercollegiate sports sponsored by Carson-Newman on a daily basis.

"I've been so fortunate to line up with the best in the business," Cavalier said. "It's an honor to work with a crew so dedicated and driven to offering high-quality sports information. Michael, Richard and Brian, as well as Danielle and Justin are about the right things, not just as professional colleagues, but as people. We would not be where we are without their efforts."

Considered one of the top athletic communications departments in the SAC and Southeast Region, Carson-Newman won 12 CoSIDA Design Awards in 2020-21, including four best in the nation awards. The Eagle Athletic Communications team was also responsible for providing live video coverage of the 2022 SAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships and the 2022 SAC Baseball Championships.

Additionally, the office has produced 251 video streams/broadcasts and 792 video interviews/highlights/features in the last academic year.

All told, CNeagles.com has been visited 1.3 million times in the last academic year while the group's branded GIPHY channel has resulted in 282.4 million impressions since its inception in 2018. 

Cavalier serves as national voting member for the D2SIDA Men's Basketball Poll and the South Atlantic Conference's Competition and Scheduling Committee.  Wottreng is a national voter for the NBCWA Baseball Poll.  Whaley served on the SAC's Branding and Marketing Committee before leaving for Villanova. 

The office would also not be where it is without the help of its work study crews over the last year, and special thanks go to Luke Brenegan, Cliff Cole, Katie Denton, Aaliyah Durant, Mika Edwards, Antwon Harris, Gary Laprarie, KJ Laribo,  Helen Rader, Autumn Ritsko, Zach Telep, Mia Toribio, Mary Vandergriff, Danny Wiezcorek and Breanna Whitt for their efforts on the student staff.   

The Carson-Newman staff will be presented with the SAC Media Relations Staff of the Year award later this fall.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CARSON-NEWMAN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Patrick Britz, SAC, Commissioner

"Congratulations to Carson-Newman for being honored as the 2022 SAC Media Relations Staff of the Year. Adam and his staff do an exceptional job promoting the student-athletes and coaches at Carson-Newman, as well as producing some amazing content when it comes to broadcasting games. We are glad to have them as part of our conference and look forward to them continuing to do great work."

Dom Donnelly, Tusculum, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

"The Carson-Newman staff puts out an outstanding product and they go the extra mile in promoting the university and its student-athletes. Adam, Richard, Michael, and Brian do a great job year in and year out, and I am happy they are being recognized for the outstanding work they produce daily. Congratulations to my dear friends and colleagues in the C-N Athletic Communications office."

Jeremy Zalacca, Lenoir-Rhyne, Associate AD for Athletic Communications

"The Carson-Newman Media Relations team is one of the tops in all of Division II. The energy and effort they put into everything they do is unmatched. They have many strengths but the way they tell the story of their student-athletes in such great detail is first class."

Doug Jones, Tusculum, Vice President of Athletics

"Congratulations to Adam Cavalier and his staff on receiving this honor. He and his staff work very hard in representing and promoting the Carson-Newman athletic department and its student-athletes."

Bert Epting, Anderson, Vice President for Athletics

"Congratulations to Adam and his staff! There is no doubt the Carson-Newman team does a phenomenal job telling the Eagle story and does so with great quality, depth, and excellence. I am thankful to have them as part of the SAC Family and look forward to their continued success for years to come."