University News

WIU Sports Broadcasting Students Cover NCAA Women’s Tournament in Chapel Hill

March 24, 2026

Share Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL - - For two Western Illinois University Sports Broadcasting students, covering the Leathernecks in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament was more than a road trip. It was a firsthand look at the highest level of college sports media and a reminder of where hard work can lead.

WIU's Sports Broadcasting program in the School of Communication and Media secured two media credentials for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament matchup between Western Illinois and North Carolina at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The opportunity sent two of the program's most dedicated students, Caiden Strenz and Glen Novak to cover one of the biggest games in recent WIU women's basketball history.

WIU closed out its 2025–26 season Friday night (3/20) with an 82–51 loss to North Carolina, marking the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017. Facing a strong ACC opponent on the road, the Leathernecks stayed competitive early before North Carolina pulled away in the opening round.

For Strenz and Novak, the experience offered far more than a chance to watch March basketball up close. It gave them a chance to work within the realities of a national championship environment, where access is tighter, restrictions are different and the rules surrounding media rights and copyright are far more complex than at the conference level. As student journalists representing a non-rightsholder outlet, they learned quickly how to operate professionally, adapt to limitations and still find meaningful ways to report.

Rather than being overwhelmed by the moment, both students embraced it.

They observed how veteran journalists moved through a major-event environment, studied the pace and professionalism of national media coverage and built connections with ESPN broadcasters and other working reporters on site. The tournament atmosphere gave them a clearer picture of what the profession looks like at its highest level and what it will take to thrive in it.

For Novak, the trip felt like stepping into the world he has been working toward.

"It felt surreal to be there. I got to brush off with some big name journalists and cover one of the biggest games for the Leathernecks in years. I just feel like a kid in a candy store," Novak said.

Strenz and Novak were selected for the trip because of the consistency they have shown in the program. Both have built reputations as students willing to put in the time, handle responsibility and go beyond what is required in class. Their work has extended beyond sports coverage, as both have also stepped up at times to assist with news production and other storytelling assignments across the department.

That willingness to do more is exactly what the program aims to reward.

At WIU, opportunities like this are not reserved for students who simply sign up for a class. They are earned by those who show initiative, resilience and a genuine commitment to getting better.

Through hands-on production work, live-event coverage and real-world reporting opportunities, students in the Sports Broadcasting program are given chances to build experience long before graduation.

For more information on WIU's Broadcasting and Journalism program, visit wiu.edu/academics/majors/fine_arts_and_communication/broadcasting.php.




Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing