Student Spotlight

Lane Pywell

Photo of Lane Pywell

Lane Pywell
Sport Management Intern

蹤獲扦 Esports
Overwatch 2 Varsity

What made you decide to study Sport Management at 蹤獲扦?
I first came to 蹤獲扦 to study Game Design but after two years of doing so, I realized that it was not for me and so I looked at where my life was headed and realized that Esports was taking over a large part. After deciding that I wanted to pursue a life in Esports, the Sport Management program was the next step in completing that goal.

Tell us about any Internships you have done or are currently doing? What do you hope to learn from your internship experience?
I am currently doing an Internship through 蹤獲扦s Esports program for the duration of the 2023-2024 school year. I am currently working directly under our Director of Esports, Travis Yang, and our Assistant Director of Esports, Joeseph Mazzara. Im hoping to learn what it takes to run a successful varsity Esports program in a Division-I school. Event planning, team management, recruiting, and program growth are all areas that I hope to improve in and gain enough knowledge to properly work in the Esports industry.

What are your career goals?
My first career goal is to work my way up the corporate ladder in a professional Esports organization, in the end, hopefully becoming a CEO/Owner of an organization. If that does not work out, Plan B is to become a Director of Esports at a well-known collegiate program.

What has been your favorite course that you have taken during your time in Sport Management?
SMGT 461 Legal Aspects of Sport/Physical Activity is my favorite class so far. It was a very interesting course that dived into the behind-the-scenes, legal jargon that people do not normally attribute to sports or just completely uneducated in.

If a friend asked about your time in the program, what would you tell them?
Its been great. It was a completely different experience than the Game Design program. Everyone is super friendly, we all have a love for sports, and everyone is down-to-earth. Im extremely glad that I chose this program to study in.

What has been your favorite part of the program?
This may be corny, but my favorite part of this program has been the people I have met in my time here. There has not been anyone that Ive met that was not friendly and willing to help me with any issues I have come across, even if I never have taken their classes yet.

What do you plan to do after you finish the program?
Once I graduate, I plan on going for my Masters in Sport Management. While I work towards this degree, I still hope to work directly for Travis and Joe in learning everything I can before I finish the program and use the knowledge I gain to work on my career in Esports.

What have you learned in this program that you plan on taking with you once you graduate?
The biggest thing I have learned in this program is networking. Networking, what I have learned, is one of the most important aspects to master in Sport and I will take this knowledge everywhere I go, no matter where I go.

In five words or less, how would you describe the Sport Management program?
Fun, inviting, different, close, sports