A New Chapter in Black and Silver: Finding My Way Home to Pickerington North

Let me start this piece by stating the obvious: my time with Pickerington North Girls Soccer has been nothing short of special.

It’s wild to think that a simple phone call back in early April led to such a memorable run—one full of new connections, new friends, reconnections with old colleagues, and partnerships that have me genuinely excited for the future.

To understand why Pickerington North feels like home, it helps to know where I came from.

Back in 2018, I met with then–Ohio Dominican Women’s Soccer Head Coach Aimee Haywood after being connected through a mutual friend. I had made it known that I wanted to break into collegiate athletics, and she offered me that first opportunity. I became what we called a “brand manager,” handling internal communications and telling the stories of the players.

As is the case in small college athletics, the role grew quickly. I took on analytics, assisted with recruiting, and drove players to games and events—anything that needed to be done, I did it. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

Coach Haywood later put in a good word that helped me move into a Graduate Assistant role at ODU, working in the Sports Information Department alongside my then-boss and now-friend, Tyler Jester.

Those two years flew by, but I learned an incredible amount from Tyler and watched our teams succeed. I even had the privilege of inputting statistics for the NCAA Division II Women’s National Championship during the chaos of COVID. Another highlight was our ODU Softball G-MAC Championship run, which resulted in the conference title ring that still sits proudly on my office shelf.

After ODU, I spent time at a local soccer academy before landing at one of the premier coeducational country day schools in the nation, right here in Ohio. I was ready to thrive—and in many ways, I did. I built strong connections, made close friends, and produced some of the best work of my career.

The first two years went smoothly. I even stepped into the classroom as a substitute teacher in both the Upper and Middle Schools. But by the start of my third year, things began to shift. Expectations evolved, communication styles changed, and despite my best efforts, I found myself increasingly out of sync with the direction leadership wanted to go.

While I continued to grow the school’s digital presence, earned praise from families and alumni, and took on every task asked of me, I was ultimately placed on a PIP. It was presented as a tool for development and a pathway toward full-time consideration, but it also made it clear that my long-term future there might look different than I had imagined.

One of the most challenging parts was that the person walking me through the process was someone I cared about and respected deeply. They were put in a difficult position, and I never blamed them—they handled it with as much grace as anyone could.

In the end, the experience taught me a lot about fit, communication, and listening to that inner voice that tells you when it’s time to look ahead. And ultimately, it pushed me toward something better.

I moved on and found a role I’m deeply passionate about with the State of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Public Safety—a role that allows me to be inquisitive, social, and challenged daily.

Now I get to tell the stories of the men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the people of the Buckeye State safe and healthy. I also have the privilege of serving as a photographer for Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel—and that will never stop being cool. Getting to work alongside and help tell the story of a man I admired as a kid, and someone my late father admired as well, is an honor I don’t take lightly. I know his time as LG is short, but I’m cherishing every moment.

This job is awesome, and I’m genuinely grateful to have landed in a role with supportive leaders who give me the freedom to chase my dreams and passions creatively.

Which brings me to Pickerington North.

Earlier this spring, a former supervisor from my time with The Sherwin-Williams Company reached out wanting to grab a beer and share an opportunity. I ended up getting sick with a bout of hay fever, so we never met. Instead, he called and said, “I know you wouldn’t take money, so my wife and I bought you a sponsorship for Pickerington North Girls Soccer. Would you be up for photographing a few games this year?”

The answer was an immediate yes.

What followed was an incredible journey. I worked alongside one of the most genuine, authentic coaching staffs in Central Ohio. I connected with parents who fiercely love and support their daughters. I re-established relationships with school administrators from my ODU days. And, for the first time in a long time, I felt a spark—rekindling a feeling I thought had died.

During our end-of-year banquet, I felt real pride seeing the photos of these incredible young women doing what they loved. If I hadn’t been there, many of those stories would have gone untold, and those critical moments might have been lost in time.

I am overjoyed to be part of the Pickerington North community. It’s a school that thrives on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. I’m happy to share that I’ve been invited back for the 2026 season—and I’ve accepted. There may even be additional responsibilities on the horizon. You never know.

And no, I’m not done at Pickerington North this school year.

I’ll be joining the Girls Varsity Basketball team to tell their story, and I’m already in discussions with school administration about supporting them in other ways as well. I can’t wait to help continue building the already sterling reputation of Panther athletics within the OCC and across Central Ohio.

Thank you again to the Pickerington North community for welcoming me with open arms. I felt the love immediately, and I cannot wait to get to work for you.