Jared Johnston ‘20, has a passion for sports that has taken him from the tennis courts at Carrollwood Day School to the dynamic world of sports broadcasting. Jared, who graduated from CDS in 2020, and then majored in Broadcast Journalism at Syracuse University, is now a Broadcast Assistant for the Tampa Bay Lightning. His career is a testament to the lessons he learned as a Patriot and the drive he’s carried ever since.
Jared joined CDS in 7th grade with his twin brother, Joseph, and quickly found his footing in the school’s rigorous academic environment. "I loved the Theory of Knowledge class. It taught me autonomy and responsibility, and even though the curriculum was challenging, it prepared me for college."
Outside the classroom, Jared shined in athletics. As a member of the tennis team, he helped secure three consecutive district championships, creating some of his most cherished high school memories. Additionally, Jared discovered a passion for broadcasting through the AV Club, where he live-streamed sports games, foreshadowing the successful career that would follow.
In August 2023, during his senior year at Syracuse, NBC recruiters visited campus to scout talent for their Olympic coverage. Jared impressed the team, ultimately landing after graduation a role as a Swing Team Statistician specializing in shooting and taekwondo. Working remotely alongside nearly 2,000 colleagues stateside and overseas, Jared thrived in the fast-paced environment of Olympic broadcasting. He collaborated with producers, analysts, and play-by-play announcers to ensure their broadcasts were filled with accurate data, compelling storylines, and engaging visuals.
Now, Jared is bringing his expertise and enthusiasm back to Tampa as a Broadcast Assistant for the Tampa Bay Lightning. His responsibilities range from producing pre-game shows and podcasts to contributing on-air with radio features and interviews. Jared also manages @BoltsRadio across social media platforms, edits content for broadcasts, and helps with engineering select programming.
Through it all, Jared has remained grounded in the values he learned at CDS: responsibility, collaboration, and the drive to succeed. Whether he’s crafting storylines for Olympic events or creating engaging content for Lightning fans, Jared embodies the entrepreneurial mindset that CDS instills in its students.
Reflecting on his journey, Jared encourages students to embrace every opportunity CDS offers. From academics to athletics to extracurriculars, every experience can shape your future in unexpected ways. Jared’s journey is proof that with dedication and a strong foundation, the possibilities are endless. We are proud of Jared and look forward to cheering him on as he continues to make his mark in sports broadcasting!
We love sharing our CDS alumni achievements and are delighted to share Jared's updates with the alumni community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli Gauthier Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!
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