When people think of great sportscasters, names like Hannah Storm, Holly Rowe, Sage Steele, and Erin Andrews may not readily come to mind without the assistance of a search engine. This is a fact that California State University Dominguez Hills senior Kristina Wheeler is determined to change. Her first step is by adding her name to that list.
A communications major, with an emphasis in public relations, Wheeler says it was how the public related to women’s sports in high school, where she played on the basketball team, that sparked her interest in female sportscasting.
“They wouldn’t come. People came out like crazy to support the boys’ team but nobody came to the girls’ games,” Wheeler said. Later on, she discovered that it was more than women’s athletic skills people cared less about. “From what I saw, people thought girls aren’t that good at sports and they don’t know what they’re talking about when it comes to sports.”
This overwhelming apathy towards female athleticism is what motivated Wheeler to set her sights upon more than just playing sports. “If I got injured playing [sports] and couldn’t do it anymore, I would still have my voice,” she said.
For Wheeler, her motivation comes from being inspired by listening to voices similar to hers that have been able to forge a successful path into the world of sports journalism. You can watch an interview with one of Wheeler’s biggest inspirations, Sage Steele, below as she discusses her upbringing, what led her into the world of sports journalism, and how she’s managed to successfully navigate such male-dominated waters.
With such motivation and determination, Wheeler is determined to forge a path upon graduation that will lead her straight tohaving an on-camera position at ESPN.
“I expect people to think I’m crazy for being a girl and wanting to be a sportscaster. It’s a rare goal that women set for themselves, which makes it all the more appealing to me.”
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