In creating any new experiment, there must first be a spark — an ignition point from which creativity and ingenuity can grow. For Grandstand, our catalyst was our stories.
Each didn’t quite fit in any existing publication here: some may not have had a direct connection to the University of Florida, while others required too much time to fully report in depth for a class.
In the absence of that type of sports publication, the Sports@CJC faculty aspired to create something new. And now we're proud to announce the official launch of Grandstand Magazine, a student-run sports publication produced by those enrolled in Professor Ryan Hunt's new Advanced Sports Storytelling class.
Grandstand will publish digital features weekly, while our first print issue will go to press in March and will be released in April.
Our initial 12-person team came together this fall to help bring that vision to reality. We’ve added 11 more new staffers in the spring. Through it all, meticulous plans, spirited debates and overall brand development took place. Whether it be the logo or the typography, each thing you see in print and on our website was carefully selected to fit our Grandstand's ideals: engaging, in-depth sports content.
Care is at the core of this team. Each person on this team was selected because they care.
In a sports-media universe where hot takes are all too common, our members each aspired to create two projects, either through social media or writing. In a world where critical thinking often may not seem as valued, we challenged each other to find unique story ideas and approaches. We prioritized consistency and accuracy through late-night Slack messages and frequent group meetings.
By the time our first Grandstand feature story was published in November – a feature by Kevin Perez on former UF head football coach Steve Spurrier’s relationship with his hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee – we had created a community: a class that our student journalists wanted to attend. We are all proud to call ourselves Grandstand writers.
So, we lay our creations in the hands of you, the reader, to enjoy. Each member of this staff put their time, emotions and passion into each piece as our editing staff pushed them to reach their fullest potential. Beginning this week, we'll begin publishing our students' content weekly both here at grandstandmag.com and our own social channels (Follow us on X/Twitter and Instagram.)
If any story touches you and leaves an indelible mark, please consider reaching out. We would love to hear from you or have you join our team. These stories are only the benchmark of what’s to come.
From racing's virtual revolution to future stories of a PGA golfer who lost his child to pediatric cancer, this Grandstand launch team has ambitious expectations and high standards. It aspires to punch above its weight and challenge readers to think about what sports are: do they exist in a vacuum or are they the intersection of culture, life and community?
This Grandstand staff believes in the latter.
With confidence in what this project will become,
Liana Handler, Editor-in-Chief
Noah White, Managing Editor
Ryan Hunt, Faculty Advisor / Founder
Grandstand's 2025-26 Staff
* Curan Ahern
* Brooke Bastedo
* Adrian Carmona
* Jackson Colding
* Ainsley Davis
* Ava DiCecca
* Jessica Garcete
* Liana Handler
* Shelby Hickman
* India Houghton
* Tori Kitchens
* Matthew Lewis
* Ella Mizeski
* Riley Orovitz
* Daniela Ortiz
* Hailee Papa
* Angelina Pavlakis
* Kevin Perez
* Lily Perkins
* Bob Sager
* Caroline Walsh
* Noah White
* Sam Zimmermann
