BOSTON, Mass.—UMass Boston Athletics has enjoyed an incredible start to the 21st century. Over the past two decades, the Beacons have reached new milestones on-and-off the field.
 
Starting on October 30th, UMass Boston Athletics is proud to begin releasing the department's "Top 20 Moments of the 2000s." Each week, we will feature a new significant or historic moment for the athletics department. For each moment, we will interview two to three Beacons who were present for that moment to give an insightful look into what that moment meant for them and athletics. The moments will be released in chronological order beginning this week.  
 
Creation and Evolution of the Beacons Broadcast Network (2011-present) 
 
Dear reader, 
 
This is one of the hardest moments to write about and wrap my head around. Unlike a lot of the other Top Moments of the past 20 years, this event isn't limited to a few days or a single season and there are no recaps or stats to look back on. So I've decided to try a different format for this week's recap: a thank-you letter. 
 
It all started in the fall of 2011, when Sports Information Director David Walberg joined the department with a plan to create a webcasting and video presence. Prior to Dave joining the department, our webcasting capabilities were virtually non-existent. The only sports that were webcasted were basketball and hockey and both broadcasts included a single camera, with no commentary and no scoreboards.  
 
Dave inherited a staff of two student-workers and no broadcasters with a plan to start broadcasting more and more UMass Boston games. 
 
In 2011 the BBN broadcasted the first-ever UMass Boston produced volleyball match and women's soccer games, in addition to broadcasting the whole men's and women's basketball and hockey schedule (with a broadcaster and scoreboard). 
 
In 2019 (because 2020 isn't the best example), we broadcasted over 120 UMass Boston athletic events, including almost every home game for volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey, baseball, softball and lacrosse. We've broadcasted Indoor Track & Field meets and even a single women's tennis match in the past and want to try expand our coverage even more going forward. 
 
The massive evolution that the Beacons Broadcast Network (BBN) has made over the past decade would be impossible without the contributions of so many people. 
 
The first people that I want to thanks are the members of the athletics administration that believed in the impact of the BBN and consistently backed us. From Vice Chancellor of Athletics Charlie Titus to Senior Associate Athletic Director Terry Condon, to the current leaders of our department, Interim Athletic Director Darlene Gordon and Senior Associate Director of Athletics Stephanie Dollar, all of these individuals not only backed our vision but also have gone above-and-beyond in investing in the equipment we thought would do the best job of showcasing our student-athletes. Also a special shutout to former Athletics Finance Whiz Paula Ayers, without her finding extra money in the budget in 2013, I don't know if we would be anywhere close to where we are now. 
 
The second group that has been pivotal to our success has been the broadcasters that have worked for us over the past nine years. I still can't believe how many talented individuals we've been able to bring in to tell the story of our student-athletes. While some have only spent a few months or a year with us, others have broadcasted on the BBN for five or more years and they have all become members of the UMass Boston family. It's been amazing to see the quality of broadcasters that have stepped through the Clark Athletic Center's doors, with those broadcasters going on to become the voice of Olympic events, a professional sports team, Division I schools, minor league baseball teams and sports-talk hosts. 
 
The most important reason that the BBN has been successful though, is the student-athletes who have worked the games. The Beacons Broadcast Network at its core is a student-run broadcast, with the students working to showcase their fellow student-athletes. 
 
From the first broadcasts in 2011, when we had two student workers who attended every home game and performed a variety of tasks, to today when everyone has a set role on game day, it's been the students who have made everything possible. 
 
These student-athletes have consistently given up their Friday nights, their Saturdays, their free time, a chance to get away for the weekend. They show up early to games and stay late afterwards: all to put on the best possible show. I still consider many of these former workers as friends and probably have spent more time with them during a weekend or particularly busy week than my roommates or family.  
 
It's not just that each and every new group has shown up and worked hard, it's that they've made sure that the product we put out is even better than it was just a year or two before. They've been the ones who have sat next to me in the office, or the gym, or the rink, or Monan Park learning new equipment, suggesting ways that we can improve and training the next generation on how to run a broadcast and why paying attention to the details is so important. 
 
I want to thank everyone who has played a part in making the BBN in to one of the best broadcasts in all of Division III. I'm just glad I've been a part of the ride and can't wait till our first broadcast in 2021. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Seth Orensky
Beacons Broadcast Network Director/Sports Information Assistant 
 
P.S. I'd like to give a special shout out to just some of the student-athletes who have made a significant impact on the BBN. All of these individuals have gone above and beyond in the hours and hard work they've put in working for the BBN. 
 
Sha Anwar ('21) 
Ryan Augustine ('14)
Gigi Braga ('20)
Alex Carusotto ('18)
Jason Cholish ('14)
Bri Colucci ('20)
Matt Consiglio ('13)
Steve Consiglio ('16)
Alli Crawford ('22)
Kelly Danahy ('21)
Alyssa Fugiel ('19)
Dan Gambill ('12)
Elizabeth Glavan ('17)
Nick Grassetti ('12)
Kayla Harris ('18)
Charles LaPaglia ('15)
Rachel Maslach ('19)
Matt Meisenbacher ('15)
Jamill Moquete ('14)
Mary Jo Murphy ('22)
Jose Pena ('14)
Kyle Penney ('20)
Karl Poss ('16)
Anthony Searles ('17)
Kyle Thebado ('14)
Steve Witkowski ('18)