Man Behind The Camera

Hi, my name is Russell Conwell. I am a graduate of Benton, Illinois, and currently a freshman at SIU-Carbondale. I’ve been an avid sports fan my whole life, starting with my dad, who poured sports into me and always had us watching SIU basketball, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and high school basketball. He was a big part of who I am today. He passed away when I was 10, and ever since then, sports have felt like a connection to him. Pursuing a career in sports media is something I’ve always been inspired to do, and my dad was definitely one of the strongest reasons.

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A little bit about myself: I’m a fan of the Memphis Grizzlies, St. Louis Cardinals, Kentucky Wildcats, SIU Salukis, and of course my hometown team, the Benton Rangers. I love covering sports because I find it fascinating. You can have one team that is better on paper, but there is always that uncertainty of who is going to win. That, along with the friendships you build, the lessons you learn, and the incredible atmosphere, makes sports truly special to me.

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Not only are sports and my dad important parts of my life, but the biggest part of my life is God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that He will one day return. I was saved when I was 9 years old at my grandma’s house. I had been asking her questions for a while, and she helped me understand.

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Faith, family, and sports have shaped who I am today and they continue to guide me toward my dream of making an impact through sports media.