By CHRISTINA EASTER

As a freshman at the University of Mount Union, Nathan Smee has been instrumental in kicking off broadcasting Holy Name baseball while in high school. From there, he expanded into creating his own business, Smee Sports which does live coverage of Northeast Ohio high school sports and Cuyahoga Community College baseball, four to five days a week. 

Smee would love the opportunity to broadcast a game on ESPN, but for now he is focused on obtaining his degree in sport business and finance with a minor in communication and sports media.

This all started for Smee in August 2021, in his sophomore year, at Holy Name where he played offensive and defensive lineman and sustained a concussion. 

“I ended my football career then and there,” Smee said. “I just could not risk another injury.”

This decision is what kicked-off Smee’s live broadcasting career. He was available and agreed to be the public announcer for Holy Name’s band at half time. Then when he arrived at the game 10 minutes early, he was asked to run the broadcast camera, which he agreed to do also. 

In 2023, Smee took what he learned about sports media in high school and started Smee Sports. Smee Sports is an Official Broadcasting Partner of Spectrum Channel 1022 Alliance and @holyname.baseball and is built on three pillars: faith, family and sports. 

“We take the angle of showcasing our athletes first,” Smee said. “That is what we pride ourselves on. We give good highlights, good plays, and clips which they can use for moving on to the next level to help them get recruited.”

Smee, as the owner and operator of Smee Sports oversees all operations which includes setting up and tearing down, broadcasting play-by-play coverage live, conducting interviews, and doing game day social media posts. He does a lot of the work himself but also gets interns from the career tech program at the schools he covers. 

In addition to live being a public announcer and broadcaster, Smee has worked as a journalist writing articles and a beat reporter. He says having a script helps him to pace himself and prepare for what to say during a broadcast. Smee also points out the difference between each job.

“When I’m announcing, I give my opinion and call the play as I see it at that time,” Smee said. “Field announcing is just who’s up to bat, setting the stage before the game, and announcing scores every so often.”

Smee says that writing is all after the fact.

“You have more time to think,” Smee said. “It’s not your unedited, unfiltered opinion. The beat writer might see something at first and let if linger in the back of their mind. Then when the write the article and say that’s how I saw it then, but this is how I see it now.”

While Smee has found a new angle on sports, he is preparing to work professionally in the sports media industry or be a stockbroker. His goal is to do what will allow him to work but also be at home with his family for the big moments.

“I have gone back and forth on this for a long time,” Smee said. “If I could have a good enough career and make enough salary that I could enjoy my life and be home with my family doing what I live and finding that balance, by all means.

“I would I love to be on ESPN one day calling sports, of course. But if that doesn’t happen and I can still call games even at the collegiate level, that’s still getting to do what I love and making a good living out of it.”

Smee Sports content is available at https://www.youtube.com/@SmeeSports

There are also full game, shorts and https://www.instagram.com/smeesports/.

You can also follow Smee Sports at @Smeephus2024.

Easter is a regular contributor to eyeoncleveland.com