Ryan Straub’s college decision rested on whether he wanted to attend a larger university and forgo playing sports or enroll at a Division III university where he could continue playing the sports he loved. He chose the latter and played soccer and basketball for Immaculata University. Straub never regretted his decision to attend Immaculata and is set to graduate this May with a degree in communication and dual concentrations in public relations/journalism and digital media, along with a minor in sports communication.
Communication Major Secures Two Valuable Internships
Growing up in Broomall, Pennsylvania, Straub attended Marple Newtown High School, where he was a three-sport athlete for all four years. Saying that Straub is passionate about sports is an understatement. In fact, his dream job is to be a play-by-play announcer, for one of the Philadelphia sports teams, although, he acknowledges that he’s open to any career involving sports.
During his junior year at Immaculata, Straub gained broadcasting experience as an intern at Beasley Media Group-Philadelphia, where he contributed to 97.5 the Fanatic sports radio and 92.5 XTU, a country music station. His duties included writing web articles, notably covering the Eagles, and broadcasting live.
“The first time on-air, I was a little nervous. In a massive market like Philadelphia, there are so many people listening to you. But after the first time, it kind of became second nature,” he said.
Following that internship, Straub spent the spring semester of his senior year interning with Immaculata’s sports information staff, where he served as the play-by-play announcer for live-streamed baseball games. In this role, he researched the Mighty Macs and their opponents for each game, compiled stats to use during the broadcast and created intriguing story angles. He appreciated the preparation that goes into calling games and the internship opportunities that provided Straub with real-world, hands-on experience that only deepens his desire to enter the broadcast sports industry.
Getting the Most from His Classes and Athletic Endeavors
Balancing school, sports and a social life was a challenge.
“I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew it would be a rigorous schedule playing two sports back-to-back—going fall right into winter, soccer to basketball,” Straub stated. His saving grace was his excellent time management skills, which gave him the confidence to take on these challenges and the stress of playing two. It worked, as Straub maintained a 4.0 GPA to start his senior year.
It helped that Straub enjoyed all of his classes, especially the broadcasting courses. He admits that his absolute favorite class was Sports and Society, which allowed him to look at sports from different perspectives including the financial, racial and societal aspects.
Recently, Straub talked to potential new communication students about his Immaculata experience during Accepted Students Day. Additionally, he represented the men’s basketball team as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, where he and the other student-members voted on NCAA rules for the upcoming season and discussed issues and policies related to the University’s athletic department. He credits these two opportunities with helping to develop leadership and presentation skills.
Growth and Graduation
Straub notices distinct improvements within himself and his teammates. He said that he and his five soccer friends, teammates and roommates came to Immaculata as freshmen to play soccer and get an education. He is pleased to see the growth, not only in himself, but also his friends and peers. Although graduation is bittersweet, Straub, with the education he has received and the internships he’s completed, feels prepared to start his career.
Reflecting back on his four years at Immaculata, he understands why people told him it would fly by. “The sooner you realize that and the sooner you’re able to understand that it’s a quick four years, you’ll have a better experience and not take any moments for granted,” Straub said.
UPDATE: In June Ryan reported that he started a new position as play-by-play commentator at the Sports Fan Base Network (SFBN).