Grant Stimmel Interning with the Wilmington Hammerheads in North Carolina Class of 2015
I’m doing my internship with the Wilmington Hammerheads, a professional soccer team in Wilmington, N.C. Working with the Hammerheads has provided me with many unique opportunities this summer. Where else would I get the chance to slip into the cozy outfit of the Hammerheads mascot, Sledge, for a fan appearance?
Now by cozy, I mean unbearably hot. I wandered around for two hours waving at children who screamed and clutched their parent’s legs as I approached. They would have been equally disturbed had they been able to see inside the shark costume, where I was sweating more than a freshman with a weekend-ready fridge during a surprise parent’s visit. I emerged from the suit humbled and three pounds lighter.
I certainly didn’t savor that experience, but I’ve agreed to everything the Hammerheads have asked me to do this summer. That attitude has definitely led me to some less than desirable “opportunities,” but it has also opened the door to many enjoyable experiences as well. During the games I’m able to sit mere feet from the sideline, where I assist the fourth official with substitutions.
I’ve witnessed the Hammerheads five home wins this year from the best seat in the house, simply because I always say “yes.” I’ve learned to approach tasks as if nothing is below me, so when desirable opportunities do arise, I’m the staff’s go-to guy.
During the week I aid the sales, marketing and operations coordinators in their attempts to increase fan interest and attendance. I’ve made group sales calls, wrote blog entries and contacted half-time performers, but my favorite activity stems from the Hammerheads grass roots marketing efforts.
Sure, Facebook has its place in marketing, but we like to keep it old school out here on the coast. Therefore one Friday afternoon, I headed to Wrightsville Beach to personally distribute flyers and free tickets. The smiling faces of anxious beach goers quickly turned to scowls as they saw me ready to pounce on them with my cleverly worded sales pitch. I was amazed how many people miraculously lost their ability to hear as they walked right by me stone-faced, immune to my charm.
Despite the occasional unreceptive beach goer, my internship with the Hammerheads has been a blast. I never quite appreciated the old phrase “somebody’s got to do it,” until that “somebody” was me. If you make it down to Wilmington this summer, come on out to a game and bring the mascot a moist towel - he’s roasting in there!
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