March 12, 2026
ATLANTA — Sport management majors from Trine University’s Ketner School of Business recorded their best team finish and equaled their best individual placement at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship.
Trine finished fifth as a team with Isaac Wilson, from Noblesville, Indiana, placing second overall in the Corporate Partnerships competition.
In addition, Josh Hartman, from Whitestown, Indiana, placed sixth overall in the Ticket Sales competition. Mason Slazyk, from Fort Wright, Kentucky, finished in the Top 16 in Ticket Sales and Beckam Pichardo, from Sunland Park, New Mexico, finished in the Top 32 in Corporate Partnerships.
Competing against top students
The NCSSC is a role-play competition that allows college seniors majoring in business administration and sport management the chance to compete against top talent from across the nation.
The event, held Feb. 24 and 25 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, included more than 250 students, recruiters and faculty members.
“To say I’m proud of these men would be an understatement,” said Zander Atwood, faculty advisor and assistant professor of sport management at Trine University. “The amount of hard work, time and energy they put into their role plays and presentations paid off in the end, and many different employers took notice. These guys were incredibly motivated to succeed and the results speak for themselves.”
The competition also offered the opportunity for the Trine students to network and interview with industry professionals. Atwood said one of the students was offered a full-time position with an NHL team during the event.
Trine University students learned about opportunities available with the Purdue Data Mine during a special presentation on April 10 in the Mark and Sarah Music/Ruoff Mortgage Esports Arena.
Trine University has received a lead gift from Dr. Rick L. James, alumnus and chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Dr. Vicki L. James, for a new building to house Trine’s business school.
Trine University’s esports teams won the Block House Esports League MIAA competition Sunday, April 12, the first time Trine has secured the title in back-to-back semesters.