Staying Busy A Way Of Life For Zinser
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Mark Adkins-
The rising senior looks the part of his other 1,300-plus fellow students. However, few of the other 1,299 or so can say they handle the many roles he does on campus.
From doing public address for the Sport Management Club’s annual Primetime at the PERC event to working toward being a three-year starter on the Spartans’ men’s soccer squad, Zinser isn’t afraid of trying new things or keeping his schedule busy.
“I’ve always had (a busy schedule),” said Zinser. “I’d be kind of lost (without it). Even during the summer, I stay on the go, which includes working for a landscaping company this year.”
Anyone who knows his background would understand. A self-proclaimed “farm boy” from Guilford, Ind., a town located right outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, his youth was filled with chores, school and sports – and usually in that order.
“There wasn’t much time for anything else,” Zinser admitted. “My parents taught me the importance of working and helping out around the farm at a young age, as they had learned it (in a similar way). It’s helped me understand how important balancing a schedule is, which has been a big help (at the university).”
As noted above, he’s taken that advice to Manchester University. While he appeared in all 18 matches last fall with 13 starts for the Black and Gold, Zinser managed to succeed in a communications major and also continue his duties as WBKE-FM’s sports director for a second year.
“Radio is something I’m very passionate about,” said Zinser. “It’s a lot like soccer that way. I remember my first time visiting a radio station, we had to do an assignment for class. It’s just sort of stuck with me since.
“I owe a lot (of my success) at WBKE-FM to Casey Vallier (former sports director),” he added. “He was a really good at critiquing me during my freshman year and was and is someone who I bounce ideas off of.”
Zinser’s first play-by-play experience came at a basketball game during his sophomore year. It was a love at first sight situation, in his own words, which has led to opportunities to call high school and college sports, as well as work a men’s basketball game at Butler University last year.
“I used to just try and prep for about a half-hour or so early on,” Zinser said. “Now, I’m getting notes and working them well before event start times. It does help a lot once I get on the air.
“When I met with the Fox Sports’ television play-by-play guy and (former college and NBA star) Jimmy Jackson (at Butler), I noticed how much information they had at hand for their telecast,” he added. “It was awesome seeing that and also visiting with them to understand what else may lie in the world of sports broadcasting.”
As with his major and radio duties, Zinser keeps himself prepared for all situations on the soccer pitch, executing his role as a defender/outside back sweeper.
“I like playing (back there),” he said. “It’s great to be able to find guys up ahead and get the ball to their feet. It helps me take a good look at match situations which is what I enjoy (about the game of soccer).
“When I first started playing, I was at midfield and went back and forth between there and center back,” he added. “(Manchester University head coach Dave Good) needed someone for the sweeper spot when I got here, so I gave it a chance.”
For Zinser, the opportunities to learn and strategize the sweeper position on the pitch fit right in to his busy schedule.[[In-content Ad]]
The rising senior looks the part of his other 1,300-plus fellow students. However, few of the other 1,299 or so can say they handle the many roles he does on campus.
From doing public address for the Sport Management Club’s annual Primetime at the PERC event to working toward being a three-year starter on the Spartans’ men’s soccer squad, Zinser isn’t afraid of trying new things or keeping his schedule busy.
“I’ve always had (a busy schedule),” said Zinser. “I’d be kind of lost (without it). Even during the summer, I stay on the go, which includes working for a landscaping company this year.”
Anyone who knows his background would understand. A self-proclaimed “farm boy” from Guilford, Ind., a town located right outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, his youth was filled with chores, school and sports – and usually in that order.
“There wasn’t much time for anything else,” Zinser admitted. “My parents taught me the importance of working and helping out around the farm at a young age, as they had learned it (in a similar way). It’s helped me understand how important balancing a schedule is, which has been a big help (at the university).”
As noted above, he’s taken that advice to Manchester University. While he appeared in all 18 matches last fall with 13 starts for the Black and Gold, Zinser managed to succeed in a communications major and also continue his duties as WBKE-FM’s sports director for a second year.
“Radio is something I’m very passionate about,” said Zinser. “It’s a lot like soccer that way. I remember my first time visiting a radio station, we had to do an assignment for class. It’s just sort of stuck with me since.
“I owe a lot (of my success) at WBKE-FM to Casey Vallier (former sports director),” he added. “He was a really good at critiquing me during my freshman year and was and is someone who I bounce ideas off of.”
Zinser’s first play-by-play experience came at a basketball game during his sophomore year. It was a love at first sight situation, in his own words, which has led to opportunities to call high school and college sports, as well as work a men’s basketball game at Butler University last year.
“I used to just try and prep for about a half-hour or so early on,” Zinser said. “Now, I’m getting notes and working them well before event start times. It does help a lot once I get on the air.
“When I met with the Fox Sports’ television play-by-play guy and (former college and NBA star) Jimmy Jackson (at Butler), I noticed how much information they had at hand for their telecast,” he added. “It was awesome seeing that and also visiting with them to understand what else may lie in the world of sports broadcasting.”
As with his major and radio duties, Zinser keeps himself prepared for all situations on the soccer pitch, executing his role as a defender/outside back sweeper.
“I like playing (back there),” he said. “It’s great to be able to find guys up ahead and get the ball to their feet. It helps me take a good look at match situations which is what I enjoy (about the game of soccer).
“When I first started playing, I was at midfield and went back and forth between there and center back,” he added. “(Manchester University head coach Dave Good) needed someone for the sweeper spot when I got here, so I gave it a chance.”
For Zinser, the opportunities to learn and strategize the sweeper position on the pitch fit right in to his busy schedule.[[In-content Ad]]
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