In January, Tri-Valley fans flocked to Illinois Wesleyen's Shrik Center to watch the Vikings battle for the McLean County Tournament Championship.
But for fans who were unable to make it out to the game, the Shirk Center was brought to them, live, by the Viking Internet Broadcasting (VIB).

Student ownership
The VIB is run by Tri-Valley students and technology teacher John Pearson. It began almost ten years ago, and now broadcasts Tri-Valley football, baseball and basketball games live over the internet.
With Pearson's guidance, the VIB is run entirely by students. This year, juniors Nick Kauzlarich, Parker Timmerman and Austin Wiegand spend several hours outside of school each week to bring the broadcasts to Tri-Valley fans.
“The students have taken it and ran with it,” Pearson said, “We have highly motivated kids who bring quality broadcasts.”
When the Vikings play a game, Wiegand operates the camera with Timmerman giving play-by-play announcing and Kauzlarich providing color commentary.
Timmerman and Kauzlarich have both been involved with the VIB since their freshman years. They are both big sports fans and enjoy the opportunity to provide something for the community.
“It's something I've been interested in since Junior High,” Kauzlarich said, “I watch a lot of sports and this gives something fun to do outside of school.”

Benefit for community
The VIB averages over 30 viewers for their basketball broadcasts and over 50 for their football games. Pearson said many grandparents of players who have a hard time getting out to a gym are thrilled to watch a game from home on the computer.
Timmerman said he especially enjoys knowing people benefit from the broadcasts.
“A lot of people want to watch these games, and we want to give that to them,” he said.
Broadcasting the games live not only gives something to the fans, but also the players, who know there are more people watching than just those in the gym.
Pearson said another the VIB helped in a unique situation just a few years ago, when foreign exchange student, Vojtech Zurek, played for the Tri-Valley basketball team.
Zurek's parents, living in the Czech Republic would watch their son play at about 2 a.m. their time thank to the VIB.

How it started
The VIB started when a Brett Miller, a Tri-Valley student “fascinated by digital video,” met with Pearson over coffee about the idea of streaming games live.
“I thought it would be great for distant relatives and friends to be able to watch the basketball games from anywhere in the world...live,” Miller said.
In the first years, a few basketball games were shown as Pearson, Miller and Miller's father Steve worked out the technical kinks. When Miller graduated the idea lost a bit of steam until another student, Tim Ditman, was eager to get it going.
During the 2005-06 school year, Ditman and Pearson discussed VIB and decided to put a lot of energy into it.
“We really committed ourselves to the project,” Ditman said. “We explored ways we could broadcast games better and we also expanded into other sports.”
When Ditman graduated, other students filled in his place and the VIB has continued to grow ever since.

Benefit for the students
Ditman took his experience broadcasting games with the VIB straight into college, as he attended the University of Illinois as a broadcast journalism major. Now Ditman works with WDWS in Champaign as a news anchor and reporter. He covers both news and sports on the air.
“The VIB gave me a huge jumpstart. When I started doing the stuff in college I already had a good idea what I was getting myself into,” Ditman said, “My experience at Tri-Valley really shaped what my future would be.”
Some of the other students have gone on to pursue careers outside of broadcasting, but Pearson said the challenge of broadcasting has been beneficial for every student.
“This brings students confidence, and every student that's been involved I have seen transform,” Pearson said, “It's a special thing to see. I think they become more adult-like as juniors in High School.”
Timmerman is not sure where he will go to school, but does not plan to work in broadcasting. Kauzlarich plans to go to a Big Ten school, and pursue a business degree. He is considering a minor in broadcast.

Keeping it going
The VIB has seen changes throughout its history. Part of being run by students means every four years there will be completely new faces. The one constant in the process has been Pearson, who will retire at the end of this school year. But as the faces have changed in the past, the VIB has continued to grow and serve the community. And Pearson and students, past and present, expect that to continue.
“Mr. Pearson and the students have really taken it to another level,” Miller said.
“It's a part of Tri-Valley now,” Ditman said, “It's great to know the school and community are so committed to it. They really appreciate it and have come to expect it.”
With Pearson retiring, students will have to continue to keep the enthusiasm for bringing games to the public going. But Pearson believes it will continue to grow, because for him it has always been about the students.
“The VIB goes as the students go, because they have taken ownership,” Pearson said, “And that's a special thing as an educator when students own a project like that.”