A Long Island high school student is making waves in the local sports broadcasting scene.
A senior at Sachem North High School in Suffolk County, Alyssa Tappin, has received an unprecedented accolade for her involvement in reporting on local sports.
At just 17, Tappin is the first awardee of the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association Student Media Award. This recognition highlights how talented young girls like her bring creativity to covering sports events.
As the student station manager at 91.9-FM WSHR, Tappin expressed her newfound confidence, saying, “I feel more confident…I feel like I can speak up more.” She added, “People now recognize that I’m doing this work. They hear me on the radio, they see what we post online… it’s really amazing.”
Tappin has been instrumental in revitalizing coverage for her school’s football team, adopting a social media-savvy approach while broadcasting for a district-owned station that extends its reach beyond the school.
This aspiring broadcaster dedicates nearly an entire class day each week to prepare for shows and live events, showcasing her commitment.
WSHR General Manager Chris Vaccaro was so impressed by her efforts that he personally contacted the coaches association to bring attention to her work.
“I reached out to the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association because no one else is doing what Alyssa is doing,” he mentioned. “Nobody tells stories as consistently as she does… They thought this award was a fitting tribute.”
Tappin has shown significant improvement in aspects like hand placement and expressiveness, specifically shining with her grounded approach. Interestingly, she also dealt with some challenges; during the season, she suffered a stress fracture in her foot from volleyball. “I was in the boot for two months and really had to stop it. But that didn’t stop me,” she shared.
Instead of being sidelined, she spent her weekends covering games and taking notes from the bleachers. “When it comes to covering the football games, I didn’t really care,” she said, looking up to Erin Andrews as a prominent influence.
Tappin’s personal growth stands in stark contrast to her earlier experiences; she remembers how public speaking felt like a burden back in 10th grade.
During her sophomore year, a chance encounter with a microphone changed everything. She had fun doing a show with friends and realized her passion. “After that, my passion skyrocketed,” she recalled.
Her skills are not limited to sports, as she has provided opportunities for student reporters to cover various aspects of life at Zachem through WSHR.
“We did a show with political representatives and the superintendent,” Tappin reflected, contemplating her future in college broadcasting programs. She admitted, “It feels like I’m always at this station,” and even conducted interviews during a snowstorm recently.
Her enthusiasm has inspired fellow female students, many of whom now express interest in joining the vibrant elective program. “A lot of girls have been texting me…because they want to do something like this,” she revealed. While she feels a bit sad about them leaving next year, she holds hope they will discover their own passions as she did.
