The Faces Behind CSC's Recent Involvement with the 2025 World University Games

by Colby Shannon, CSC Intern

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"Over my 27 years in university sport, I've been fortunate to work on some incredible projects and student-athletes — and this experience absolutely earns a spot on the highlight reel.

"The words of longtime University of Waterloo photographer, Steve Brooks, sums up what the experience at the World University Games was like for many college sports communicators. CSC is proud to share that five members and affiliates of the organization took part in the International University Sports Federation's (FISU) event in Germany this past summer. 

An Olympic-style collegiate athletic event, the World University Games hosted by FISU takes place every other year and awards the best competitors in each college sport. In July 2025, FISU put on their 32nd such event in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany. CSC's affiliation with the World University Games first began in 2024 when UniUSA and College Sports Communicators officially partnered, allowing two members of CSC to hold representative positions on UnisUSA's board of directors. For the past 10 months, Will Roleson and Jeff Hodges have held these positions and created opportunities for CSC members to become involved with UniUSA.

One such opportunity was presented to Ethan Polak, a former intern for CSC who was contracted by UniUSA to cover almost all American team events in Germany. Polak worked within a media team headed by CSC member, Tyler Price. 

Price's experience with UniUSA began in 2021 where he accepted an adhoc position as a communications lead. Since then, Price has worked two World University Games including this past year's and 2023's. Unlike his previous experience at the Games, Price was given a media and communications team to assist with his work. 

Collaborating with other media professionals was one of Price's biggest takeaways from the event, "From the UniUSA staff, to USA volunteers, to coaches, administrators I have been able to work with some incredible people." He continued, "I feel like I developed some great professional relationships with several programs. I thoroughly enjoyed that."  

While Price reflected on the connections he built at the Games, Polak shared some of the success the UniUSA media team had during their time in Germany, "we reached over two million impressions across the digital platforms (including 1.5 million from Instagram), we gained over 1,500 followers (25% increase) on Instagram alone, and highlights of the event made it on ESPNU." 

Polak mentioned that traveling to Germany was his first time ever leaving the country, but that didn't stop him from feeling at home with the UniUSA team. Of all the successes Price's team achieved, Polak shared this his proudest accomplishment was the opening ceremony recap video that the team worked on. 

CSC was also represented at FISU within the Canadian team. Three CSC members proudly wore the red maple leaf during their time in Germany covering the competitors from Canada. Chris Cameron, the sports information and communications director at Acadia University, led the communications and media operations team for Team Canada. Cameron was joined by the expertise of the multi-faceted Steve Brooks (University of Waterloo) and president of the Canadian Cabinet of CSC, Connor Hood (University of Alberta).  

In Hood's words, this group "has a special bond now" because of their experience in Rhine-Ruhr. Cameron went on to speak about his team's collaboration saying, "the time we spent together in the Main Press Centre or on drives to venues was just as memorable as the games themselves. That sense of team chemistry is something I'll never forget."

Though the team worked together to create general content for their time in Germany, each member was assigned different events to cover and was left to work with a small team to highlight the athletes of their assigned sport. Hood was given the assignment of covering swimming and diving. He reflected on his time with the aquatic athletes saying, "While being on my own had pros and cons, it did allow me to really get to know the 12 Canadian swimmers we had competing." 

Steve Brooks was assigned to create graphics for each team, doing most of his work behind the lens of a camera or the screen of a computer. His dedication to both the sidelines and behind the scenes exemplifies the care that collegiate athletics communicators put into their craft across the world. 

With all of the professional development building, networking, and skill boosting opportunities presented through FISU's World University Games, each of the five distinguished media personnel associated with CSC shared that their favorite moments took place outside of the events. Cameron, Brooks, and Hood each shared that the pride of representing Canada was a valuable honor that they'll remember for the rest of their lives. 

Polak talked about how it was an honor to deliver content and information to fans across the country and that for a young professional like himself, the opportunity presented through UniUSA would be monumental for his career.  Each member said that they would 'hands-down' take the trip to Germany again to cover FISU's Games and left simple advice for any other professionals presented with this opportunity: "do it." 

FISU will be taking the World University Games to South Korea in the summer of 2027 and in 2029 UniUSA will host the 34th World University Games in North Carolina.