For the love of the game
As a petite, attractive girl with short brown hair wearing a white, collared, button-down shirt, Liz Buckner, at least appearance-wise, seems far from a sports enthusiast. But if you were to classify her just by her sophisticated style, then you would be very wrong.
A student at the University of Rochester, Buckner first thought she wanted to go into medicine. But soon she realized that her career would take her in a very different direction.
In high school Buckner suffered from a few knee injuries and because of this, she could no longer play sports.
“I want to stay involved if I can’t play,” said Buckner.
Because of her determination to stay involved in sports, she began managing the men’s soccer team. This upcoming season will be her fourth year.
“During the soccer season, you are there as much as the players are,” said Buckner.
The soccer team has not only made her feel welcomed and appreciated, she has received some of her most cherished support from the coach, Coach Apple.
“He is almost like a father figure,” said Buckner. “He is great for advice and support. He sat me down and said you have to do what you love.”
And what Buckner discovered is that her love was for sports and she had an interest in furthering a career in this field.
This summer, Buckner received a full-time internship with the Rochester Red Wings. Her duties range from in the office to active on the field.
“During the games we do a lot of promotions,” said Buckner. “In the office we do a lot more sales and marketing.”
But at first, Buckner’s experience wasn’t as sweet as it sounds. The first day she quickly learned that as a woman, making it in the sports industry may be a more difficult task then anticipated.
“The first day that I worked a Red Wings game, so many people said that girls won’t make it in the sports business,” said Buckner. “It is a male-dominated industry.”
Working with the Rochester Red Wings, Buckner has been involved with a tight knit staff that works hard.
“I can’t think of any other way to describe it, but they are like a huge family,” said Buckner. “They live and breathe what they do, and that’s why they have reached the level of excellence that they have.”
Through these close interactions with workers, Buckner has found one specific person who has given her the inspiration to march on and continue to work towards her goal of a career in sports, Naomi Silver, the chief operating officer.
“It’s such an inspiration to see a woman with a family and also maintaining a career in sports,” said Buckner.
Buckner recognizes that it takes more than the players to make your sports experience a good one.
“I think people underestimate how much work actually goes into it,” said Buckner. “People don’t realize that there are so many people working in the background to enhance your experience.”
This industry, like many others, depends on their workers to be motivated and most importantly, willing to put in the hours.
“There are long hours, and ups and downs,” said Buckner. “But I am pretty confident that this is what I want to do.”
