The Voices of the Eagles

April 2017

Writer / Janelle Morrison

ZSN, a student-founded and operated, nonprofit club, was founded last year by Drew Bertram (graduated) and Lucas Fox (senior).
Fox and his co-host, Chad Garisek (senior) are the co-hosts on their new talk show that highlights Zionsville athletics and Indiana High School sports. The seniors host a weekly discussion with special guest hosts from the athletic department, coaches or student athletes. The games are live streamed online and are available for viewing for 30 days after.

Prior to the launch of the ZSN, Zionsville Community High School did not have a program in place that broadcasted games live and online. With the support of the Student Enrichment Grant awarded the Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF), donations made by the club’s members and from Dr. Scott Robison, superintendent of Zionsville Community Schools, the club was able to purchase the necessary equipment to stream their broadcasts.

“Bertram approached me with the idea of the ZSN and I said yes,” Fox said. “We wanted to get students involved in the real world experiences of sports media and allow the parents and fans the ability to watch live games when they could not physically attend.”
Fox explained that the club is made up of 20 students who have a variety of roles from commentators, photographers, article writers, cameramen, etc. The ZSN website is run through the school’s main website, making ZSN the only student-operated club to be incorporated into the main website and Fox the only student at ZHS to have an administrative role on the website. A privilege that Fox does not take for granted.

“We are grateful for everything that Dr. Robison and other staff members have done to help us,” Fox emphasized. “Before we started ZSN, I never thought about getting into broadcasting. I have been involved in sports throughout my entire life and now I plan to do something in the sports media industry in the future. I will be attending Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio and I will minor in sports broadcasting as well as play golf. I’m excited for that.”

Fox grew up an Indiana University fan and considers Don Fischer a role model for him. Fischer, an iconic radio announcer, has been calling IU games for 44 years. “I have grown up listening to the radio shows and to Don Fischer,” Fox said. “I’ve actually met him a couple of times and think that he’s a great guy. He is someone that I can look up to. I’d

like to do more with our talk show more before the end of the year. We really enjoy doing it
and want to see it continue after we’ve graduated.”

Tune in to the ZSN by visiting the ZCHS’s website at www.zhs.zcs.k12.in.us, under the “Athletics” tab and follow ZSN on Twitter at @ZvilleSports.