Zach Roberts of Perry helped lead the Loras College sport management program to a first-place finish this week at the 14th annual Sport Marketing Association (SMA) academic case study competition in Indianapolis, Ind.
“It was pretty grueling,” the Loras sophomore said, “but I was teamed up with some extraordinarily talented people, and we took first.” Roberts is the son of Brett and Trish Roberts of Perry.
“It feels good to be a part of a program that is so successful here at Loras,” Zach Roberts said. “This case study helped me take what I’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-life scenario. The Sports Management Program here at Loras is well known around the country, and I’m very excited to see what’s in store for me throughout my college career.”
This is the Loras College program’s fourth consecutive championship at SMA.
“We are extremely proud of the efforts of our students, who refused to lose and earned their place in the program’s history,” said Matt Garrett, Loras College professor of sport management. “These successes have been instrumental in our program’s ability to initiate relationships with national entities such as the Missouri Valley Conference and the Chicago Blackhawks.”
Along with Roberts, the first-place team included Dannon Anderson, a senior from Nevada, Iowa; Aaron Broege, a junior from Waukesha, Wis.; Jessica Dickhut, an Appleton, Wis., junior; and Megan Tews, a senior from Plainfield, Ill.
In order to win, the students created a comprehensive marketing strategy and presentation under the pressure of a 48-hour deadline. The strategy focused on increasing attendance for the NCAA Women’s Final Four Basketball Tournament.
The Loras team overcame first-round competitors from the University of Indianapolis and Kusztown University from Kusztown, Penn. The final round saw Loras beat Temple University from Philadelphia and Indiana State University.
Loras College has won the SMA five times and finished first or second every year since it began competing nine years ago.
