WOBN & Game Day: Pushing Buttons & Boundaries with Quinn VanderKamp, Cody Schurman, Fatima Correa Morales & Lindsay Walcott
03/16/25 • 59 min
Three years ago, the fan football experience at West Ottawa was traditional – you'd watch the game, listen to the Public Address Announcer, and perhaps enjoy some music from a CD player. Fast forward to today, and the difference is remarkable. With the addition of West Ottawa Stadium in fall 2022, a mobile live streaming studio already being utilized this year, and recently announced video scoreboards coming to the main gym in 2025, the Panthers are revolutionizing how their community experiences high school sports.
The transformation of the game day experience at West Ottawa High School has begun, involving students and adults in a purposeful, collaborative partnership.
The West Ottawa Broadcasting Network (WOBN) stands at the center of this transformation. Led by broadcasting teacher Lindsay Walcott, who has been with the school for 20 years, and supported by Athletic Director Bill Kennedy, the program has grown from just 13-14 students two decades ago to a full day of broadcasting classes. Students like Quinn VanderKamp, Cody Schurman, and Fatima Correa-Morales are the faces of this revolution – handling everything from play-by-play commentary to switching camera angles, creating graphics, and managing the music that energizes the crowd.
What makes this program truly special is how it combines authentic learning experiences with genuine contributions to the school community. These students aren't just practicing broadcasting in a classroom setting; they're running actual live events watched by hundreds of fans.
Perhaps most impressive is how these students have leveraged their creative control to enhance the game day experience. They've created video content for the Daktronics Jumbotron, coordinated with the band for live drum rolls, and curated music playlists that appeal to every demographic in the stadium – from current students to administrators to parents. As Bill Kennedy noted, "There's no one that even comes close to what we're pulling off."
As West Ottawa prepares to expand their video capabilities to the gymnasium in 2025, the foundation laid by these pioneering students will benefit future classes for years to come. While they won't be there to enjoy the new technology themselves, they take pride in knowing they helped build something lasting. As Quinn put it, "In football and baseball, we always say that we're building a program not for us, but for the people below us."
WOBN represents what's possible when schools invest in both technology and student empowerment. By trusting students with real responsibility and allowing them to make meaningful contributions, West Ottawa has not only enhanced their athletic events but also created authentic pathways to college and careers in broadcasting, sports management, and beyond.
This episode was recorded on March 11, 2025.
Podcasts now dropping at 5pm every Sunday evening for that late weekend chill, or listen Monday AM during that morning commute or workout. Please like, follow, subscribe, or leave a review. Even share with someone who might like to listen. Thanks for taking the time to get to know each other a little bit better. The people who make West Ottawa Athletics what it is. Go WO!
Special thanks to Laura Veldhof Photography.
Three years ago, the fan football experience at West Ottawa was traditional – you'd watch the game, listen to the Public Address Announcer, and perhaps enjoy some music from a CD player. Fast forward to today, and the difference is remarkable. With the addition of West Ottawa Stadium in fall 2022, a mobile live streaming studio already being utilized this year, and recently announced video scoreboards coming to the main gym in 2025, the Panthers are revolutionizing how their community experiences high school sports.
The transformation of the game day experience at West Ottawa High School has begun, involving students and adults in a purposeful, collaborative partnership.
The West Ottawa Broadcasting Network (WOBN) stands at the center of this transformation. Led by broadcasting teacher Lindsay Walcott, who has been with the school for 20 years, and supported by Athletic Director Bill Kennedy, the program has grown from just 13-14 students two decades ago to a full day of broadcasting classes. Students like Quinn VanderKamp, Cody Schurman, and Fatima Correa-Morales are the faces of this revolution – handling everything from play-by-play commentary to switching camera angles, creating graphics, and managing the music that energizes the crowd.
What makes this program truly special is how it combines authentic learning experiences with genuine contributions to the school community. These students aren't just practicing broadcasting in a classroom setting; they're running actual live events watched by hundreds of fans.
Perhaps most impressive is how these students have leveraged their creative control to enhance the game day experience. They've created video content for the Daktronics Jumbotron, coordinated with the band for live drum rolls, and curated music playlists that appeal to every demographic in the stadium – from current students to administrators to parents. As Bill Kennedy noted, "There's no one that even comes close to what we're pulling off."
As West Ottawa prepares to expand their video capabilities to the gymnasium in 2025, the foundation laid by these pioneering students will benefit future classes for years to come. While they won't be there to enjoy the new technology themselves, they take pride in knowing they helped build something lasting. As Quinn put it, "In football and baseball, we always say that we're building a program not for us, but for the people below us."
WOBN represents what's possible when schools invest in both technology and student empowerment. By trusting students with real responsibility and allowing them to make meaningful contributions, West Ottawa has not only enhanced their athletic events but also created authentic pathways to college and careers in broadcasting, sports management, and beyond.
This episode was recorded on March 11, 2025.
Podcasts now dropping at 5pm every Sunday evening for that late weekend chill, or listen Monday AM during that morning commute or workout. Please like, follow, subscribe, or leave a review. Even share with someone who might like to listen. Thanks for taking the time to get to know each other a little bit better. The people who make West Ottawa Athletics what it is. Go WO!
Special thanks to Laura Veldhof Photography.
Previous Episode
Three Injuries. Three Journeys. Three Comebacks: with Avery VanDellen, Brandon Berry & Collin Roelofs
A sports injury to end your season, and maybe take away your sport forever. It's the devastating news no athlete ever wants to hear. Depression, sadness and anger are all part of the process, isolation and doubt show up too.
In this episode, we are blessed to have Avery VanDellen, Brandon Berry and Collin Roelofs all come on The 29/1 and simply tell the truth, sharing their experience with you, the greater West Ottawa, and greater sports community.
These three West Ottawa High School Seniors open up about the hurdles they've faced, from torn ligaments and tendons, to surgeries, rehab and the emotional toll of time spent off the field. Their stories are not just tales of recovery, but of rediscovering purpose and community support in the face of adversity.
With everything they've gone through, they also share a light spirit and optimistic outlook toward the future. They share what they've learned, they detail their comeback and in the end, provide us all with the permission to feel the pain of loss, share it those around you, and when the time comes, move forward with determination and grit.
This episode was recorded on February 18, 2025.
Podcasts now dropping at 5pm every Sunday evening for that late weekend chill, or listen Monday AM during that morning commute or workout. Please like, follow, subscribe, or leave a review. Even share with someone who might like to listen. Thanks for taking the time to get to know each other a little bit better. The people who make West Ottawa Athletics what it is. Go WO!
Special thanks to Laura Veldhof Photography.
The 29/1 - WOBN & Game Day: Pushing Buttons & Boundaries with Quinn VanderKamp, Cody Schurman, Fatima Correa Morales & Lindsay Walcott
Transcript
Katten plows right through that offensive player and forces the moving screen call as she passes it in to Honeycutt . As she brings it up the floor , honeycutt passes the corner .
Speaker 1Brooke gets her own rebound after that shot and puts it up and makes the two
Speaker 1what ?
Speaker 2If you like this episode you’ll love
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