FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Claire Norfleet, Student Sports Information Assistant)

May 4, 2015 - With a lifelong passion of both competing and broadcasting different sporting events, junior Eric Gruber is a member of the North Central College men's golf team and Assistant Sports Director for the College's student-run radio station, 89.1-FM WONC.
 
Gruber is responsible for doing play-by-play announcing for football, basketball, baseball and softball games, spending an average of 10-15 hours per week, depending on which sport is in-season, and also including travel time for away football and basketball contests.
           
"When I graduate I would love to try and get a job at 670 The Score or ESPN 1000 and get into the broadcasting world," said Gruber, who worked as an intern for The Score during the summer of 2014. "It was a great experience so I am very excited to see what the future holds."
           
The broadcast communication major out of Lemont, Illinois started his golfing career at age five but has always had a love for basketball. For eight years, Gruber has been the coach of a fourth grade travel basketball team, considering the position more of a 'hobby' rather than a 'job.'
           
"Those kids get all of my focus in the winter because I am not in season for golf, which is nice since it keeps me going with my love and appreciation for the game of basketball," said Gruber.
           
Until his junior year at Lemont High School, playing golf at the collegiate level had never really been on the radar. Being close to home and staying in a city known for its unique collection of restaurants, stores and events, all factored into Gruber's decision to attend and compete as a North Central College Cardinal.
           
"I really love being able to play courses around here for tournaments because I am familiar with quite a few of them," said Gruber.
           
Being the only junior and oldest member of the team, Gruber has competed in 23 rounds throughout the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 seasons, with a stroke average of 81.2 and posting a season-best score of 74 this past Thursday in the first round of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships.
 
The Cardinals placed fourth at the conference tournament to finish in the top half of the field for the first time since the 1992 season.
           
"It was great to show what we could do at conference this year with so many young players," said Gruber. "This has all been such a great learning experience for me that is only preparing me for my future in athletics and academics."