Leading While Learning

By Eva Salzman '23, March 22, 2023

Graduate students work together to produce a panel discussion on mental health in athletics.

(L to R) Connor Buczek, Cornell University’s men’s head lacrosse coach; Blaze Riorden, a professional lacrosse player; and Katie Lever, a former Division I athlete at Western Kentucky University, spoke at the panel discussion.

(Photo by Eva Salzman '23)

On February 21, South Hill Entertainment hosted a “Strong Bodies, Strong Minds” panel at Ithaca College, inviting athletes to speak about their experiences with mental health and showing video testimonials from current Ithaca College student–athletes. The panel was moderated by Greg Shelley, former associate professor of exercise science and athletic training at Ithaca College and current senior director of sports leadership and mental conditioning at Cornell University.

South Hill Entertainment is a production company run by students enrolled in the college’s MBA program in entertainment and media management. Students in the program plan and host numerous events and distribute a variety of content. This event was produced largely by graduate students Christian Bassi, Blake Eischen, Brady-Ayn Lynch, Luka Radovich, and Sophia Titus.

As mental health in athletics has become an increasingly important topic of discussion, the goal of the student-organized panel and presentation was to offer attendees strategies to improve their experiences in academics, athletics, and life. Event panelists included Katie Lever, a former Division I athlete at Western Kentucky University and published author; Blaze Riorden, a professional lacrosse player; and Connor Buczek, Cornell University’s men’s head lacrosse coach.

The trio shared their experiences of keeping a positive mental state while competing in the high-pressure college athletics environment. Current IC student–athletes also shared prerecorded clips about their experiences. All of Ithaca College’s sports teams were invited to attend, as were teams from Cornell University and Ithaca High School.

The event was the culmination of significant work by the MBA students. In addition to the quintet who took the lead on the event, Bassi said that several other students contributed to the planning stages of the panel, and everyone was helpful and supportive.

“The philosophy of the MBA program is to have students self-direct the creative content that they choose to make. It’s more versatile because we can go and procure certain things or make arrangements internally with other departments at IC or outside organizations to bring resources that students need.”

Johnine McCartney, director, Ithaca College MBA program in entertainment and media management

“If we ever needed anything, they were there for us, which was great,” he said. “The first stage required a team effort.”

Bassi, Eischen, Lynch, and Radovich are all student–athletes at IC, in addition to being MBA students. The fact that the idea for this conversation was driven by the students is a key feature of the program, said Johnine McCartney, the program’s interim director.

“The philosophy of the MBA program is to have students self-direct the creative content that they choose to make,” McCartney said. “It’s more versatile because we can go and procure certain things or make arrangements internally with other departments at IC or outside organizations to bring resources that students need.”

Titus echoed this and said she appreciates the creative control that this project allowed.

“It really does allow us to have a lot more freedom than something like a class project. We’re given the opportunity to apply the skills we’re learning. It’s broadened all of our horizons and brought us leaps and bounds further than what we would have been without it.”

Sophia Titus, MBA '23

“It really does allow us to have a lot more freedom than something like a class project,” Titus said. “We’re given the opportunity to apply the skills we’re learning. It’s broadened all of our horizons and brought us leaps and bounds further than what we would have been without it.”

Bassi said this was the first live event he had ever put on. He said it was a positive and memorable experience, particularly due to the support he and his classmates received throughout the process.

“Being able to work with people who know what they’re doing and could help us get this going—that was all fantastic,” he said.