Student Tyler Smith live on WSBU 88.3
Cassidey Kavathas / The Bona Venture
kavathacj20@bonaventure.edu
BY: TUCKER REILLY, ADVISORY EDITOR
Women’s basketball games are coming to The Buzz. Starting in November, the WSBU 88.3 station will be broadcasting women’s basketball games as part of a new deal with the athletic department.
Dylan Nuzzo, the university’s assistant director of athletic communications, described the history of women’s basketball on radio broadcast.
“Last year was the first year we didn’t have [games broadcast over the] radio,” said Nuzzo. “It was recently broadcasted by WGWE, which is a Seneca radio station out of Salamanca. They got bought out last year and we lost that. So it’s really nice to be able to have the radio back this season and really nice to be able to have it be with the students.”
Tom Seipp, a senior sports media major and station manager for The Buzz, expressed his excitement about the new agreement.
“This is something that we’ve wanted to do for a very long time. We’ve been trying to get live sports back on air at The Buzz because the last time that happened was the 2011-2012 season,” said Seipp.
Nuzzo described the work as a joint effort between Bonaventure, the radio station and Rick Karnath, an adjunct professor of journalism. Karnath is also the director of broadcasting at Bonaventure and runs the ESPN+ broadcast for multiple Bonaventure sports. The program allows journalism students to work on live game broadcasts, released nationally through ESPN’s official streaming service.
“Those two were a big help and it just came together really quickly. I’m really excited to get going,” said Nuzzo.
Seipp agreed, specifically thanking Karnath.
“Rick Karnath was tremendous in helping this agreement come to full fruition, we just had the opportunity and he helped us capitalize at the right time. So honestly we give a lot of thanks to him,” said Seipp.
The actual production of games will take place in a booth above the Reilly Center court. Staffed with a producer and technical staff, the station will offer live play-by-play and color commentary, with pre and post-game coverage.
“This is another good opportunity for our station to not only help our individuals continue to grow as broadcasters but also bring a lot of attention to our station,” said Seipp. “We have the equipment and people to do it.”
Enthusiasm is high between Seipp and Nuzzo, both for the radio station and for the women’s basketball team this season.
“I’m ready for this to get going,” said Nuzzo. “It’s a long season and we’re growing. But it’s fun, you get a lot of different experiences, get to visit a lot of different places. For me personally, this year I get to check off the three last Atlantic 10 spots. That’s big for me.”
For Seipp, a successful run with women’s basketball may branch into further sports opportunities for the radio station.
“The opportunity with basketball required us to update some equipment and with that, we’re going to be able to do other events,” said Seipp. “Events like the hockey game that we’re planning on doing, likely at the end of October. It’s the beginning of something that we hope to expand on throughout the academic year.”
