TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati's ESPN+ broadcast crew has earned its second consecutive regional Emmy nomination from the Ohio Valley chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, this time for its coverage of the 2025 Xavier at Cincinnati Crosstown Shootout. The academy announced the nomination on June 5.
The Crosstown Shootout, one of college basketball's most intense rivalries, was broadcast on ESPN+ on Dec. 7. The Ohio Valley chapter nominated the broadcast in the live sporting event category.
The matchup highlighted one of the country's premier intracity rivalries. The broadcast opened with a cold open capturing what the game means to the city, both programs and the growing landscape of women's basketball. Other standout elements included scenic shots of the Kendle Cup, footage of newborns at the UC medical center dressed in "Beat Xavier" onesies, and a halftime feature on head coach Katrina Merriweather.
The live production team of 33 people was led by executive producer Trevor Towle, producer Jack Langen, director and editor Jack Bolander and associate producer Matt Noonan. Towle and Bolander were nominated last year for their work on the men's edition of the Crosstown Shootout. This is the first nomination for Langen and Noonan.
Of the 33 people on the production team, 23 were current Cincinnati students at the time of the broadcast and three were alumni. Former UC women's basketball players AB Stocks and Jillian Hayes served as color analysts alongside Cincinnati play-by-play announcer Anthony Mazzini. UC students, in partnership with the College-Conservatory of Music's media production major, controlled the cameras, replays, graphics and audio.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for July 25 in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Galt House.
// NOMINATION INFORMATION
Category: Live Sporting Event
Broadcast: Xavier at Cincinnati Crosstown Shootout
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Production crew: Trevor Towle, executive producer; Jack Langen, producer; Jack Bolander, director and editor; Matt Noonan, associate producer
UC staff: Joe Brackman, Mike Burke, Tim Hudson
Media production students: Aries Wickham, Landyn Hopper, Gabe Hensley, Troy Spitzmiller, Seth Gavalier, Ryan Penny, Katie Mowery, Skyler Ficklin, Alex Perez, Coco Charlton, Luke Jensen, Paul Nienaber, Derek Stacy, Luke Wiles, Ben Kegg, Noah Dammeyer, Tara Watson, Adam Briggs, Hayden Ducker, Emily Kammerer, Dan Foy, Davenae Fagan, Theo Williams
UC alumni: Nathan McKee, AB Stocks, Jillian Hayes