It’s funny how something can feel like it’s going to be forever, until one day, forever ends. Now, the TV studio is quieter, the four walls holding everything that was said, every small speed bump that was hit during this adventure. For a few years, Norwood High School TV Pregame has been something more than a pregame broadcast, but has been a mere safe space where athletes and the Norwood community can come together and feel heard and feel important by telling their stories and having fun. As the school year comes to an end in just a few months, so does an era for Pregames, shaped by the energy and leadership of two students, senior Brian Gagliard and Anthony Conidi. Their presence and personalities leave a lasting impact.
For Brian Gagliard, Pregames became something more than just a show to enjoy, but became an opportunity for personal growth and to gain connections.
“I never thought that it was going to be what it was. From going from a JV hockey guy to TV media guy.”
Even before the cameras rolled and the editing began, Pregame helped him reinforce something that will last forever. A friendship that went deeper than it showed. Brian shows the bond he formed with his co-host, Anthony Conidi.
“It’s made me and Anthony a lot closer… We just started hanging out and building our friend group, then pregame, I brought up the idea, and everyone thinks we’re thick and thin best friends.”
Even though the year comes to an end soon, the weight hasn’t fully sunk in.
“It hasn’t hit me yet that it’s over. My schedule is a lot more free. It’s bittersweet. It was a fun run. We were graduating; it had to end. But it never truly hit yet.”
For Conidi, the experience of Pregame was a lot more than just having cameras and interviews; it was the skill and courage he could build.
“The public speaking aspect of everything, even if you won’t do anything with it in the future, it is important to get that skill under your belt,” Anthony said. “Just being able to speak in front of a lot of people, live, where you can’t mess up, will be pretty important and help me in the future.”
Anthony also reflects on the relationships that shaped his high school years, with the mentors, friends, family, and the immense support.
“My favorite part of Norwood High School are the bonds you can create with some of the teachers and how much they care about you as a human being rather than just as a student and a letter grade in Aspen,” he said. “It is going to be my mom for a lot of support. Family in general… my older brother, he’s pretty cool and has my back.”
Both Conidi and Gagliard give credit to their longtime mentor, Ms. Kristen McDonnell, for her everlasting support.
“Of pregame, besides my family, NCM, and Ms. Schnatterly, Coach McDonnell is the biggest supporter,” states Brian
“In school, Ms. McDonnell… She’s been here since sophomore year, when we started,” said Anthony.
It’s clear that Ms. McDonnell has impacted them greatly.
“The excitement and energy they bring is contagious. They make it fun to watch, and they have positively impacted our culture and community,” said McDonnell
She even reminisces about how she’ll miss the boys when they leave for college and do incredible things.
“I’m going to miss their personalities. I think, if you’ve ever watched their Pregames, you know that they are fun, they are funny, they’re knowledgeable, they actually know what they’re talking about. I will one hundred percent miss having them pop into my office.”
Ms. McDonnell has been a helping hand for Brian and Anthony for as long as they can remember with this program.
“I was lucky to be asked to have Brian to come in and practice with the girls’ basketball team for a segment… and I’ve always loved watching what they did, so I wanted to support them in any way I could,” McDonnell said.
Brian and Anthony have gotten much help from others, but it was their own ambition that led them to success. Anthony offered a simple but powerful piece of advice:
“Just do it. Once you start, then you can take off from there. You’re going to have to fail; failure’s a big thing when trying to get to success.”
