With so many video games to cowl every season, the younger reporters at Rebel Report — UNLV’s student-run sports activities broadcast and social media outlet — are undoubtedly getting their reps in. Junior Dominic Lavoie is without doubt one of the UNLV college students who’re making their mark on the planet of sports activities journalism.

What impressed you to pursue sports activities journalism?

One random day after I was 13, I used to be enjoying an NHL online game with one among my buddies and we created our personal groups. I simply put them in opposition to one another and I simply let the computer systems play in opposition to one another. I watched it like a simulation sport and began doing a play-by-play, and I believed, “This is a lot of fun. I love doing this.” That’s when it struck me—I wish to do that for the remainder of my life.

So I began pursuing it. I used to be within the faculty newspaper at my highschool, and I began out writing articles for them. And in 2021, I began moving into video and modifying. And then ever since, I’ve simply been sort of doing my factor [sports coverage] on digicam.

When did you first become involved with Rebel Report? 

I joined within the spring of 2021 — I wrote articles all all through 2021, after which in late 2021, I began shifting to video. I spotted that I used to be writing my articles in the identical means I might write my scripts. I already had the mindset of writing for broadcast, so I needed to do extra of that. 

It was exhausting at first getting on video, however the factor that elevated my sport to the place I’m now was after I began working at a information station and speaking to folks within the broadcast trade and selecting their brains about every thing. It was a tough transition, studying how one can be on digicam — you’re your individual worst critic, you have a look at your self on digicam, and also you’re pondering, “Why did you move like that?” Over time I received used to myself and listening to my very own voice and accepting that if I did not do a great job that there could be one other sport to cowl to be higher. 

What sort of recommendation did you obtain that helped you are feeling extra comfy in entrance of the digicam?

You wish to be actually enthusiastic as a result of sports activities are enjoyable and it is best to act such as you’re speaking to your buddy and telling your buddy what occurred on the UNLV basketball sport or the hockey sport or the Raiders sport final week. Honestly, the most important factor that helped me loosen up was to only cease occupied with it. Stop making an attempt to be a brilliant buttoned-up information reporter and simply have enjoyable and simply act such as you love what you are doing and act such as you’re telling your greatest buddy.

What are a number of the most memorable video games or occasions that you simply’ve coated for Rebel Report?

When the Raiders performed in opposition to the Patriots this season. My household is from New England and I grew up a Patriots fan, so being at a Patriots sport was actually cool. And then the way in which the sport ended, when Jakobi Meyers lateral that received picked off by Chandler Jones and that he stuffed Mac Jones into the bottom and returned it for a landing and gained the sport. That’s undoubtedly going to be a core reminiscence for me.

And my first NHL sport that I coated. I grew up a hockey fan and solely had CHL hockey right here my complete life. I by no means thought that we’d get an NHL franchise right here and having the ability to be within the press field at an NHL sport and rubbing elbows with writers that I comply with on Twitter and strolling previous play-by-play announcers that I’ve watched on TV rising up was a “wow” second.

Is there something particularly that you simply actually love about doing stay hits and being part of the environment of a sport?

I believe the love for that comes from enjoying sports activities a bit of bit and feeling like a sporting second the place you are on the market and also you deal with it like that is the one likelihood you’ve received to only do it. It’s like that thrill that you simply get particularly after a extremely good hit the place you are like, “I nailed that.”

What do your future objectives in sports activities journalism appear like?

Right now, I’m sort of in between doing a play-by-play function and being a sports activities reporter on native TV — I’d love to do each. I can see myself working in Boston as a result of it is so particular and there is a lot happening on a regular basis. I simply love being within the metropolis. I really like the sports activities tradition there, and I’ve household again there. Definitely throughout the subsequent ten years, hopefully, I’ll be working at a community, like ESPN or NBC, making actually, actually good cash and carrying cool fits.