Taylor Mickelberry Writing Samples

1) Class sample, football game recap

2) Student newspaper feature story
3) Press Release for event where I served as media contact, though not sports
4) 2 Game recaps for Men's Volleyball at D3 EMastern Mennonite Univ.
 James Madison University
Athletics Communications
Taylor Mickelberry, Contact
380 University Blvd.
MSC 0404

For Immediate Release

DUKES DEFENSE HOLDS LIBERTY TO FIELD GOAL, MOVE TO 3-0

(Harrisonburg, Va., September 25, 2010) James Madison University won its third game of
the year Saturday as the Dukes marched to a 10-3 victory over the visiting Liberty
University Flames. Following a scoring-opening field goal by the Flames, JMUs defense
dominated, not allowing any further scores by LU, capped off by an interception by
Taveion Cuffee with 2:09 to go in the fourth quarter as the Flames were driving.

Offensively, the Dukes got key performances out of Scott Noble and Drew Dudzik. Noble
gained 89 yards on the ground while Dudzik racked up 80 yards rushing and 78 yards
through the air. Dudzik also shot a 25-yard pass to Griff Yancey in the second quarter for
the only touchdown of the game by either team. The score put JMU up at halftime and the
Dukes never looked back as they added a field goal in the third.

JMU was led throughout the game by its defense. Vidal Nelson had six tackles and Jakarie
Jackson had five tackles to help prevent Libertys running game from getting started. JMU
also had five tackles that resulted in 18 lost yards for the Flames offense. The Dukes
special teams had a pivotal field goal block in the third quarter as Cuffee got a hand on the
Flames Matt Bevins field goal attempt. The block was recovered by Nelson and directly led
to a JMU field goal on the other side of the field after the Dukes drove 54 yards.

Liberty quarterback Mike Brown had a good day through the air as he gained 203 yards
passing and connected with five different receivers with the longest pass of the day being
28 yards pulled in by Pat Kelly. Chris Summers had the most receptions and the most yards
receiving for the Flames with eight catches for 66 yards. The Dukes defense kept the
running attack in check, only allowing 61 yards on the ground. The ground crew for Liberty
was led by Brown with 26 yards and Korrey Davis led the running backs with 25 yards.

Following the game, fans attending the in-state battle enjoyed a fireworks extravaganza
presented by the University Outpost Bookstore.

James Madison now prepares for its first game against a CAA opponent. They will play the
University of Delaware Blue Hens. The Blue Hens are 4-0 and were ranked #7 prior to
Saturdays matchup against the University of Richmond. The Dukes were ranked #3 prior
to the matchup against the Flames and come in to face Delaware with a 3-0 record.
Graduating Star Leaves Legacy of Solidarity
Taylor Mickelberry

Like many JMU students, Mary Kate Lomady came to Harrisonburg and fell in love with the
area.

I mean look at it, its gorgeous, she said, staring out across the mountains.

But as a senior captain for the Dukes lacrosse team, Lomady has gotten a lot more out of
her four years at JMU than just good views of the terrain. Lomady has helped push JMU to a
new class of lacrosse program, culminating with last years CAA Championship and run to
the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. But Lomady says one of the most important aspects of
playing four years for the Dukes has been the family atmosphere that she has helped to
facilitate.

Weve been through thick and thin together and I just think its so important to build that
support group and have people there who are going to have your back through thick and
thin, she said.

Head coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe has seen Lomady pull that support group together
since the senior arrived on campus.

Mary Kate really just cares. Its not an act. Its something that she really focuses in hard
and its part of her foundation as a person. And so you see her take on a little bit of a
mother role for some of the girls. And just wanting to be there for them and support them
and help them in times of need, Klaes-Bawcombe said.

Lomady says her reasoning for making sure that new members of the team are welcome
stems from the fact that when she was a freshman, the atmosphere around the team was
not welcoming.

I just dont really feel like they made the effort to connect with us on a personal level as
well as player-to-player, she says of the 10 seniors that were on the team when she came
to JMU. I think the biggest thing for me as an upperclassman and as a captain is to build
relationships with these girls; making them feel welcome; making them feel comfortable;
Making sure they know they are part of the JMU lacrosse family, she said.

In addition to her contributions to the atmosphere of the team, Lomady has been
instrumental on the field as well. She tallied 46 goals and 10 assists last year and 35 goals
and 11 assists in 2009, her first year as a starter.

Shes just a finisher. Thats what Mary Kate is all about is finishing plays and really forcing
the defensive unit to make adjustments because of her. And when you can have somebody
have that kind of power on the attacking end, it allows you to have more flexibility within
your offensive set, said Klaes-Bawcombe.
Lomadys efforts garnered her national attention last year as she picked up awards for
being on the Intercollegiate Womens Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American third
team and the All-South second team. She also was named to the All-CAA Conference team
and the All-CAA tournament team. Her qualities as a player have helped shape the way
Klaes-Bawcombe coaches the team.

When I acquired the team, the team was very 1v1 oriented. And so we worked really hard
on trying to create that balance and trying to create that assisting game. And Mary Kate has
always allowed us to still have a focus on 1v1s because shes so quick. Shes just an
unbelievable dodger, said Klaes-Bawcombe.

In addition to her attacking skills, Lomady has been able to use her speed to take attention
away from her teammates, allowing more open looks at the goal for other players. She has
12 assists through 14 games this season and totaled 22 for her freshman, sophomore and
junior years.

If she can understand the power behind any dodges she has draw attention to her, theres
going to be a ton of people that are going to be open away from the ball and so we just
really tried as much as possible to give her confidence that she is going to dodge not only to
get a shot but shes going to dodge to create defensive slides. And then we can use our
balanced attack to find the open player away from the ball, said Klaes-Bawcombe.

But despite all of her on-the-field accomplishments, Lomady will prefer to be remembered
for something bigger than sports.

I would want people to remember me by my relationships with my teammates. We only

get to participate at the college level for four years. But relationships and friendships are
the things that are going to last for your life and those are most important to me, she said.

For now, Lomady will graduate on May 7 with a degree in history and she says she plans to
head back to Philadelphia and get certified to teach high school .

But dont expect her to stay away from the lacrosse field for long.

We have an alumni weekend every fall so I will be rearing to go, she says of returning to
watch the rest of her teammates-the same teammates that have meant so much for her
these last four years and the same teammates that she has formed an unbreakable bond
with. Our coaching staff and this program really prides itself on building relationships
because we really do think that it makes us that much more effective on the field as a unit,
she said.
 For Immediate Release
05/03/2012

MCRS Contact:
Taylor Mickelberry
540-672-8451
tm1886@gmail.com

Mock car crash in Madison before prom

In preparation for what is considered one of the most dangerous times for teenagers with
prom and graduation upcoming, the Madison County Rescue Squad is proud to present a
mock car crash at the Madison County Young Farmers Grounds (Madison County
Fairground) in Madison on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 9:30 AM.

This event will be in partnership with the Madison County Volunteer Fire Department, the
Madison County Sheriffs Office and the Madison County High School Students Against
Destructive Decisions (SADD). It will involve a drunk driver and other victims portrayed by
students of Madison County High School and will also involve heavy extrication of a vehicle
in order to reach victims trapped inside a vehicle, followed by their evacuation by medical
personnel.

Statistics from the CDC show that 60 percent of teen traffic fatalities are alcohol related and
the Virginia ABC cites statistics showing that one-third of all teen traffic fatalities happen in
the months of April, May and June. Teen traffic fatalities increased from three to 11 this
January in Virginia. Also in Virginia, 35 teenagers died last year due to traffic crashes.

Therefore, it is important to show teenagers the results of drinking and driving through a
mock scenario played out before their eyes. The bi-annual event is sure to leave a lasting
impression on students.

###
No. 5 Juniata Sweeps Past EMU Men

The EMU volleyball men lost at home to powerful Juniata College Friday night in
Harrisonburg. The Eagles, ranked No. 5 in this week's AVCA national poll, took a straight
sets decision for Eastern Mennonite.

The Royals (5-4, 2-3 CVC) return to the court Saturday afternoon for another conference
match, hosting Thiel College at 3:00pm. The Tomcats were also in action Friday night,
dropping a tight 3-1 CVC decision at Marymount in Arlington.

Set one with Juniata was tight early on, before the Eagles scored six straight to trigger a 14-
3 run, closing a 25-11 decision. JC had two big runs in set two, keying a 25-18 win. EMU
then found themselves in a 6-0 hole to start the third set. The men had a late 5-0 run to
make things interesting before the Eagles got a kill to close the night, 25-19.

Outside hitter Scott Brigham (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) led all players with 14 kills,
12 digs and three blocks. Tim Callahan (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Justin
Spanka (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) each added four kills. Russell Long (Hampton,
Va./Bethel) had 21 assists.

Micah Buller (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) added eight digs while Kyle Storc
(Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) had three block assists.

Justin Waldorf led a balanced JC attack with nine kills. The Eagles hit .317 as a team

Think Sneaks Past EMU In 5 Sets

The EMU volleyball men dropped a tight battle at home Saturday afternoon, falling 3-2 to
Thiel College in an important CVC contest. The Royals skid into a three-way tie for fourth
place in the league standings. Only the top four teams make the postseason conference
tournament.

Set one saw each team have some big runs before Eastern Mennonite closed out a 26-24
win by scoring the final three points.

Thiel took big leads early in both set two and set three, making each stick in a 25-17 and
25-19 decisions. The Royals worked out of an early hole in set four with a handful of short
spurts. Then they came from behind with the final points in a 27-25 win to force a deciding
fifth set.

EMU scored the first two points in the rubber match, but then fell behind 4-2. The Royals
fought back and forged a tie at 8-8, and again at 9-9 and 10-10. The Tomcats worked back
in front 12-10 before Eastern Mennonite skipped ahead with three straight. Kyle Storc
(Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) knocked down a kill to give the men a 13-12 lead, but
Thiel had the final run, scoring three in a row to steal the 15-13 clincher.
The Tomcats had an edge at the net in the match, both offensively and defensively, but EMU
stayed in it with their serving. The Royals landed eight aces with ten errors, while Thiel
had only four aces and 15 errors.

Scott Brigham (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) was the workhorse, firing a match high 25
kills on 72 swings, to go with his five service aces. Tim Callahan (Harrisburg, Pa./Central
Dauphin) added nine kills and three aces while Dan Lutz (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-
Antrim) had six kills with a .308 attack percentage. Russell Long (Hampton, Va./Bethel)
had 31 assists in three sets while Zach Guiciardi (Creighton, Pa./Deer Lakes) lofted 17 in
two.

In the back row, Micah Buller (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) picked up 21 digs. Marc
Lovell (Newport News, Va./Menchville) added 15, Brigham had 13 and Callahan had 12.
Lutz had a team best four blocks.

Michael Whitelock led four Tomcats in double figures with 16 kills. John Turner landed 14
with 17 digs and nine blocks. Colin Vitale had 22 digs while Regan Hess racked up 11 block
assists.

Eastern Mennonite's men, now 5-5 overall, head to the metro New York area for a Spring
Break trip, playing four matches in four days. The stretch starts Monday at John Jay, with
start time at 6:00pm