By Janelle Davis
In the fast-paced world of sports journalism, Samantha Croston is making history as the first female sports director not just at CNY Central, but in Syracuse. For a city with such rich sports tradition, this groundbreaking appointment marks a significant milestone. But for Croston, it’s not about breaking barriers for the sake of it – it’s about making sports coverage better through diverse perspectives and authentic storytelling.
“I truly believe that having women in sports makes sports coverage better,” Croston says. This philosophy drives everything she does in her role overseeing sports coverage across three television stations: WSTM NBC3, WTVH CBS5, and CW6.
Croston’s path to sports journalism wasn’t a straight line. As a former NCAA Division I lacrosse goalie at Colgate University, she initially considered various career paths after graduation, including wealth management and Teach for America. However, when COVID-19 hit, it prompted her to reassess her direction. She applied to Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications – the only broadcasting school still accepting applications at the time.
“The second I got to Newhouse, I knew I was going to do this for the rest of my life,” Croston recalls. “Now that I’m in it, I feel like, how could I have ever thought I was going to do anything else?”
Her athletic background gives her a unique perspective in sports journalism. This firsthand experience allows her to approach stories with deeper empathy and understanding of student-athletes’ challenges, particularly the demands of balancing academics with athletics.
Together with weekend sports anchor Ashley Wenskoski, Croston leads a dynamic two-person department responsible for an impressive 31 shows weekly across three stations. They’re also breaking ground as the only all-female sports team in Central New York, producing two successful podcasts: “The Orange Zone” and “Why Am I a Mets Fan?”
The latter, launched in May 2023, has surpassed expectations, reaching 35,000 to 40,000 views per episode and attracting an international audience. While their viewership is 96 percent male, Croston takes pride in the fact that the talent is 100 percent female. “Sports talk is still a new space for women in sports,” she explains. “You see a lot of women at the national level who are the hosts, asking the male analysts how they feel. But on our podcast, Ashley and I share what we want to say, because we have plenty of opinions.”
Croston’s journalism journey included three years in news reporting and anchoring before becoming sports director. This experience proved invaluable, covering everything from community issues to breaking news and severe weather. “It made me more empathetic and changed my worldview,” she reflects. “Now when I cover sports stories, which are often news stories too, I’m asking better questions and I’m not afraid to ask hard questions.”
Her commitment to local sports coverage, particularly high school athletics, sets her apart. The station’s popular “Friday Night Lights” segment showcases local football games with an impressive 11-minute dedicated segment that brings the excitement and energy of high school sports to viewers across Central New York. Additionally, CNY Central’s “Athlete of the Week” segment celebrates not just athletic achievement but also sportsmanship and character. “The thought of an athlete and their parents and grandparents being able to watch that segment on a Tuesday night… that’s honestly why I do this stuff,” Croston says. “I’m the one who feels honored to cover them.”
Her connection to the Syracuse community runs deep, something she shares with coaches like Felicia Legett-Jack, Syracuse women’s basketball head coach. “When she says those things about coming back to Syracuse because of what Syracuse means to her, I understand why Syracuse is so important to her,” Croston explains. “Once you hear the stories about Syracuse, good and bad, there’s no way that you couldn’t fall more in love with it here.”
Despite the demanding schedule – often working 100 hours per week between her and Wenskoski – Croston remains passionate about their mission. She credits her success to both her partnership with Wenskoski and the support of News Director Sean Carroll, who took a chance on hiring the station’s first female sports director. Their collaborative approach has led to innovative coverage across multiple platforms, bridging traditional television broadcasts with digital content to reach audiences wherever they are.
“When you work in a place where the thoughts you can have and the ideas that you can present are limitless, and you feel supported to turn those ideas into reality, it really makes me feel like there’s no bounds to what we can accomplish,” Croston reflects.
As she continues to build her legacy in Syracuse sports journalism, Croston is proving that breaking barriers isn’t just about being first – it’s about using that position to elevate sports coverage for everyone, one story at a time. Through her leadership, she’s not only inspiring the next generation of women in sports journalism but also demonstrating how diverse voices can enhance and enrich sports coverage for all audiences.
