When Cedar Rapids native Kaylon Williams hit a buzzer-beater for Evansville last January, his amazing shot did more than break the hearts of the home cheering section at Drake’s Knapp Center. Months later, it may have helped propel Mediacom’s MC22 Des Moines sports production team to a regional Emmy Award.
“When Williams sank that shot, we knew we had captured something special,” said Lance Herbold, the MC22 producer whose coverage of the event earned the crew its recent Emmy Award at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ceremony at the Historic Pantages Theatre Minneapolis. MC22’s footage of the game-winning shot aired repeatedly as ESPN’s “Play of the Day.” And it inspired Herbold and MC22 to submit the telecast to the Academy for Emmy consideration.
MC22’s honor came in the category for Cable Television - Sporting Event/Game-Live/Unedited. It is one of only 6 regional Emmy Awards earned by Iowa-based organizations, and MC22 is the first winner in the new award category.
“To make this happen takes a strong team effort, and our crew produced the game at the same level as they do any others,” said Herbold. “Without question, the climax made this one stand out. We’re fortunate that our great television partnership with Drake made it possible.”
Despite the award-winning telecast’s outcome, Drake officials were pleased with MC22’s recognition. “Obviously, we would have loved to have a different game result, but we’re delighted to see the MC22 crew recognized for its excellent work,” said Dennis Francois, Associate AD for External Affairs at Drake.
