The Unsung Heroes of Harper College

Harper College students Andrew Gray and Matt Shepherd wanted to get involved in the Harper athletic program. Both started their journeys back in the fall of 2012.

Gray had a wide range of experience with athletics dating back to his days at Barrington High School and stills supports the athletic program there. It was there that he was the baseball team manager for four years, a manager/water boy for the basketball team for a year, and a video guy for the football team for a year. Shepherd, on the other hand, was a cross country and track and field athlete at Schaumburg High School. He also played a year of tennis, did marching band, and was the Saxon mascot for his junior and senior year.

Gray went the conventional route of applying for a position and was contacted by Wellness and Sports Center Manager and Head Baseball Coach Cliff Brown. For Shepherd, he had a classmate who was a soccer team manager, so he decided to email Head Women’s Coach Dwayne Cruz to ask if he could help out.

That fall, Gray helped out with running the scoreboard for volleyball while Shepherd served as a manager for the women’s soccer team. He traveled on the road with the soccer team and even got to make the trek to Dryden, New York for nationals, where the Hawks took sixth place that year.

In the summer of 2013, Gray worked on various projects in the athletic department. That fall, Gray served as a ball boy for the soccer games, and Shepherd continued in a managing capacity as well as doing some scoring and line judging for volleyball. Shepherd enjoyed being a part of the women’s soccer program.

“I was managing and felt the motivation to keep my grades. I’d have to stop showing up to games if I didn’t keep my grades up,” Shepherd said.

Perhaps Gray’s most significant opportunity came for the men’s basketball team at the 2012-13 season. He filmed the last few games and hoped for the chance to do it the next season.

Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak gave Gray the opportunity to film all games, home and away, for the 2013-14 season. He never missed a game.

“It’s fun. I find myself cheering on the team also while filming, and the road trips are fun,” he said.

Gray still recounts his favorite game that season, an 87-84 double overtime victory over Milwaukee Area Technical College, and describes it as a “heart-stopper”. He also enjoys contributing to the success of the athletic program and being a part of the team.

“I’ve gotten to know quite a few players. The coaches do a great job of making me feel part of the team,” Gray said.

Shepherd worked home soccer games this in the fall of 2014 as a ball boy. He plans to transfer in the fall of 2015 to either DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, or Southern Illinois University and major in statistics. He credits his Harper experience as a better opportunity coming out of high school as well as a huge money saver.

Gray tried his hand at filming men’s soccer games for the first time in the fall of 2014 and excelled in the role. He once again did not miss a beat in the 2014-15 basketball season, filming every single men’s basketball game as well as women’s basketball home games. To this date, the ironman behind the camera has filmed 65 straight men’s basketball games.

“Andrew has been unbelievably committed to the players, coaching staff, and program,” said first-year Men’s Basketball Coach Justin Welke. “He has definitely gone above and beyond the call of duty in serving our team. I guarantee there is no video coordinator in the country as committed and passionate about his work as Andrew is.”

Gray is hoping to graduate after the fall 2015 semester with an associate degree and is unsure of where he’d like to transfer, but he knows he wants to remain involved in filming. He applauds the Harper athletic department for giving him an opportunity.

“Athletics are some of Harper’s best-kept secrets and a real hidden gem. I think Doug’s done a great job at leading the program,” Gray said. “I’m very happy to be involved. It really exceeded my expectations.”