Jaydin Kroutil
My Stories
Avery Sapp’s Softball Career is Shaped by Teammates and Powered by Passion
Final Serve: Utah Beach Volleyball Program Ends After Years of Progress and Fight for Fair Play
Listen to my KRCL Feature:
Biography
A sophomore at the University of Utah studying communication and journalism with a minor in art technology, Jaydin Kroutil is passionate about women's sports, sports media, content creation, writing and fashion. Currently serving as both a University of Utah football recruiting intern and a football media intern, she is driven by her dream of becoming a social media coordinator and writer for an NFL or NBA team. Beyond her professional aspirations, Kroutil is deeply committed to making an impact on her community through the stories she writes, believing in the power of media to inspire and connect. When she's not at school or interning, you can find her spending quality time with friends and family, exploring new food spots or hitting the gym.
Reporter's Notebook
Every week, a panel of people connected to women’s sports came to our class, which greatly impacted me, not just as a writer and interviewer, but also in fueling my desire to become a better overall journalist. The profile story assignment also pushed me, challenging all the skills I needed to succeed in this field. I am a sophomore here at the U, studying journalism and arts technology with the desire to work in the sports media field.
During my experience working with my profile story, I worked with an athlete named Avery Sapp, a sophomore softball player at Utah Valley University. She’s accomplished numerous things, one of which was earning High School Female Athlete of the Year. I had a few conversations with Sapp, each of which became deeper and more meaningful. The biggest thing I learned from this experience was the importance of creating a relationship and trust, as it will make the subject feel safe, but also your story becomes stronger. Something I struggled with during the process of my profile story was finding a time for Sapp and her coaches to chat with me—practice times, away tournaments and meetings conflicted with possible call times. I brought the things I learned from the profile story into my enterprise story experience, where I covered the Beach Volleyball Team at the U.
When reporting on an athlete or a team, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that readers might not realize. Everything from attending practices and bringing a camera to scheduling interviews has to be approved and planned well in advance. I had to coordinate with coaches to ensure everything followed the rules. These behind-the-scenes logistics, often invisible to fans, are crucial in telling a story that’s both respectful and accurate.
These experiences, along with the in-class panels, reminded me how important it is to portray the women I cover as more than just athletes. I want to highlight their personalities, passions, and what truly makes them who they are beyond the game. The experiences I had this semester transformed not only how I view women’s sports but also how I cover them as a journalist and engage with them as a fan. I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the stories behind the athletes, the challenges they face, and the impact they have both on and off the field.