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Nathan Ecker

Welcome to my written word portfolio! I am a fall 2024 graduate from Northern Arizona University where I received my bachelor's of science in journalism with a minor in creative media and film.

Current: 

- Post-graduate freelance writer and photographer

Past:

- The Lumberjack (NAU School newspaper), Sports editor/men's basketball & cross country beat reporter

- The Lumberjack, Photographer & videographer

- Arizona Daily Sun (publication covering northern Arizona), Intern sports writer/Little League baseball beat reporter

- KAFF Sports (northern Arizona news outlet), Play-by-play & color commentator for baseball, softball, and football broadcasts

- KAFF Sports, Camera operator & broadcast producer

Events Covered:

- 24' PGA Phoenix Open

- 24' Spring NASCAR Cup Series

- 24' Fall NASCAR Championship

- 23' Guaranteed Rate Bowl

- Arizona Tip-Off College Basketball tournament

- 23' Big Sky Soccer Championships

 - NAU Athletics

- Flagstaff high school sports, i.e. football, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball

- Flagstaff Little League baseball

Arizona Daily Sun •

NAU's Burcar enjoys time managing Little League

In the dugout instead of on the sideline, Northern Arizona men's basketball coach Shane Burcar spent his summer with West Flagstaff Little League managing his sons' team. He is not new to this, as he led the WFLL All-Star team to the state quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023, as well as the round of 12 in 2021.

The highlight of his managing career came in June, when the WFLL All-Stars faced the Continental Little League All-Stars at Dawson Field in the opening round of the District 1 playoffs over the summer. Parking was difficult to come by, as parents, fans and much of the Northern Arizona men's basketball team surrounded the diamond for the rivalry contest.
KU Sports •

Neal has thrived with hometown program, helping shape it along the way

A sea of Kansas blue greeted the Jayhawks inside of Phoenix’s Chase Field on Dec. 26. The baseball stadium that permanently houses the Arizona Diamondbacks, complete with foul poles by the end zones and the smells of kettle corn and hot dogs wafting through the stadium, was transformed into a stage for long balls of another variety.

When it came time to play ball, passing dominated the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, an eventual 49-3
The Lumberjack •

High Altitude Roller Derby, fostering excitement and opportunity

The Flagstaff roller derby scene may not have the largest following, but it is one of the most exciting events in town.

Flagstaff’s roller derby league, High Altitude Roller Derby (HARD), has been around since 2012. The league had a solid footing in the community for many years until the pandemic forced it to a standstill. Recently, however, HARD has come back better than ever thanks to a community that refuses to see local roller derby die.

The sport of roller derby has existed for more than a century. Its roots are from the early 19th century as organized endurance races were held on flat and banked tracks. Eventually, roller derby transformed in the 1930s and became the high-intensity contact sport that is known today. In Flagstaff, and all across the country, the sport has become an outlet for individuals to express themselves.
The Lumberjack •

Creating a champion: the pressures of running at 7000 feet

The trails surrounding the finish line at the George Kyte Classic on Saturday were laced with spectators – all there to see for themselves the spectacle that is NAU men’s cross country.

Twenty-one minutes into the race, the crowd lined the last stretch in anticipation of a wave of blue and gold soon to turn the final corner. Though it was expected, the surprise when All-American Senior Drew Bosley appeared on the final stretch was palpable. With feathered hair and an unbroken stride, Bosley crossed the finish line with a time of 21:32.

It was a vast improvement over his victory at George Kyte last year when he ran a 22:09.

“Buffalo Park is sacred to us, so we can run hard on it,” Bosley said of the four-and-one-half-mile course his teammates were set to dominate.
The Lumberjack •

Doping in the world of pro running

Shelby Houlihan — an American middle distance runner, Olympian, ASU alumni and world record holder in the 4x1500m relay — received a four-year ban from professional running in June 2021. Houlihan tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone. The synthetic testosterone is an anabolic steroid used to treat anemia, osteoporosis and other conditions. It is also used by athletes to build muscle and improve performance.
The Lumberjack •

Kwinton Lassiter transcends the field in final year at Kansas

Not all scripts have a perfect ending, but for University of Kansas (KU) cornerback Kwinton Lassiter, the conclusion of his college career ended in storybook fashion.

The Chandler native found himself back home for Christmas — in a stadium he frequented often, on a field where he would run the bases and in a state where the Lassiter name resonates with fans who remember the heroics of a defensive back who single-handedly secured the Arizona Cardinals’ first postseason appearance as an NFL franchise in the Valley of the Sun.
Arizona Daily Sun •

CLL Gold wins two games to claim city championship Continental Little League Gold wins the 2023 Majors City Championship, 11-2. They had to win two games tonight to avoid elimination and take home the

Mark Grace Field was electric on Monday as Continental Little League Gold faced off against the West Flagstaff Little League Serpientes in the 2023 Majors City Championship. After 12 innings and more than four hours of baseball, CLL Gold emerged with the trophy.
The Lumberjack •

Lumberjacks build on home court success

Own Flagstaff.

That has been the mantra for NAU men’s basketball and head coach Shane Burcar during the
2023-24 season.

The Lumberjacks are 5-0 at home this season, marking the longest home winning streak for Burcar during his five years leading the team. NAU achieved three of those wins inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, including a 19-point victory over Big Sky No. 5 Portland State
University. The remaining victories came early in the season at Rolle Activity Center while the Skydome played host to football.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Spartans basketball looks to make playoff push this winter

Numerous banners fill the rafters and line the walls of the gymnasium at Northland Prep Academy. Cross country and soccer have their names printed everywhere, with multiple section and state tournament awards to boast. Though one sport that is noticeably absent is basketball.

In the school’s 28-year history, not much of the Spartans’ success has come from the boys hoops team. The best year in school history came in the 2012-13 season, which the team finished on a 20-9 overall record.
The Lumberjack •

NAU advances to Big Sky Conference Championship, stomp out Montana’s season

NAU soccer defeated the University of Montana in a semifinal matchup on Friday, 1-0, to advance to the Big Sky Conference Championship for the second year in a row.

Senior forward Allison Veloz knocked in the game’s lone goal in the 21st minute. A short pass in the box from senior midfielder Maddie Shafer drew Veloz toward goal, putting her in position to slide under the Grizzlies’ goalkeeper and tap the ball into the back of the net. Her leg acted as a billiards cue, striking the ball at the right angle to push it past the falling keeper.
Load More
Arizona Daily Sun •

NAU's Burcar enjoys time managing Little League

In the dugout instead of on the sideline, Northern Arizona men's basketball coach Shane Burcar spent his summer with West Flagstaff Little League managing his sons' team. He is not new to this, as he led the WFLL All-Star team to the state quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023, as well as the round of 12 in 2021.

The highlight of his managing career came in June, when the WFLL All-Stars faced the Continental Little League All-Stars at Dawson Field in the opening round of the District 1 playoffs over the summer. Parking was difficult to come by, as parents, fans and much of the Northern Arizona men's basketball team surrounded the diamond for the rivalry contest.
KU Sports •

Neal has thrived with hometown program, helping shape it along the way

A sea of Kansas blue greeted the Jayhawks inside of Phoenix’s Chase Field on Dec. 26. The baseball stadium that permanently houses the Arizona Diamondbacks, complete with foul poles by the end zones and the smells of kettle corn and hot dogs wafting through the stadium, was transformed into a stage for long balls of another variety.

When it came time to play ball, passing dominated the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, an eventual 49-3
The Lumberjack •

High Altitude Roller Derby, fostering excitement and opportunity

The Flagstaff roller derby scene may not have the largest following, but it is one of the most exciting events in town.

Flagstaff’s roller derby league, High Altitude Roller Derby (HARD), has been around since 2012. The league had a solid footing in the community for many years until the pandemic forced it to a standstill. Recently, however, HARD has come back better than ever thanks to a community that refuses to see local roller derby die.

The sport of roller derby has existed for more than a century. Its roots are from the early 19th century as organized endurance races were held on flat and banked tracks. Eventually, roller derby transformed in the 1930s and became the high-intensity contact sport that is known today. In Flagstaff, and all across the country, the sport has become an outlet for individuals to express themselves.
The Lumberjack •

Creating a champion: the pressures of running at 7000 feet

The trails surrounding the finish line at the George Kyte Classic on Saturday were laced with spectators – all there to see for themselves the spectacle that is NAU men’s cross country.

Twenty-one minutes into the race, the crowd lined the last stretch in anticipation of a wave of blue and gold soon to turn the final corner. Though it was expected, the surprise when All-American Senior Drew Bosley appeared on the final stretch was palpable. With feathered hair and an unbroken stride, Bosley crossed the finish line with a time of 21:32.

It was a vast improvement over his victory at George Kyte last year when he ran a 22:09.

“Buffalo Park is sacred to us, so we can run hard on it,” Bosley said of the four-and-one-half-mile course his teammates were set to dominate.
The Lumberjack •

Doping in the world of pro running

Shelby Houlihan — an American middle distance runner, Olympian, ASU alumni and world record holder in the 4x1500m relay — received a four-year ban from professional running in June 2021. Houlihan tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone. The synthetic testosterone is an anabolic steroid used to treat anemia, osteoporosis and other conditions. It is also used by athletes to build muscle and improve performance.
The Lumberjack •

Kwinton Lassiter transcends the field in final year at Kansas

Not all scripts have a perfect ending, but for University of Kansas (KU) cornerback Kwinton Lassiter, the conclusion of his college career ended in storybook fashion.

The Chandler native found himself back home for Christmas — in a stadium he frequented often, on a field where he would run the bases and in a state where the Lassiter name resonates with fans who remember the heroics of a defensive back who single-handedly secured the Arizona Cardinals’ first postseason appearance as an NFL franchise in the Valley of the Sun.
Arizona Daily Sun •

CLL Gold wins two games to claim city championship Continental Little League Gold wins the 2023 Majors City Championship, 11-2. They had to win two games tonight to avoid elimination and take home the

Mark Grace Field was electric on Monday as Continental Little League Gold faced off against the West Flagstaff Little League Serpientes in the 2023 Majors City Championship. After 12 innings and more than four hours of baseball, CLL Gold emerged with the trophy.
The Lumberjack •

Lumberjacks build on home court success

Own Flagstaff.

That has been the mantra for NAU men’s basketball and head coach Shane Burcar during the
2023-24 season.

The Lumberjacks are 5-0 at home this season, marking the longest home winning streak for Burcar during his five years leading the team. NAU achieved three of those wins inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, including a 19-point victory over Big Sky No. 5 Portland State
University. The remaining victories came early in the season at Rolle Activity Center while the Skydome played host to football.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Spartans basketball looks to make playoff push this winter

Numerous banners fill the rafters and line the walls of the gymnasium at Northland Prep Academy. Cross country and soccer have their names printed everywhere, with multiple section and state tournament awards to boast. Though one sport that is noticeably absent is basketball.

In the school’s 28-year history, not much of the Spartans’ success has come from the boys hoops team. The best year in school history came in the 2012-13 season, which the team finished on a 20-9 overall record.
The Lumberjack •

NAU advances to Big Sky Conference Championship, stomp out Montana’s season

NAU soccer defeated the University of Montana in a semifinal matchup on Friday, 1-0, to advance to the Big Sky Conference Championship for the second year in a row.

Senior forward Allison Veloz knocked in the game’s lone goal in the 21st minute. A short pass in the box from senior midfielder Maddie Shafer drew Veloz toward goal, putting her in position to slide under the Grizzlies’ goalkeeper and tap the ball into the back of the net. Her leg acted as a billiards cue, striking the ball at the right angle to push it past the falling keeper.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Flagstaff Eagles let Homecoming game slip away to Winslow Bulldogs, losing 14-13 at home Flagstaff forces a turnover following a play in which the Eagles recovered a fumble, but the runner was ruled d

The Flagstaff Eagles football team found itself in a familiar predicament Friday night against the Winslow Bulldogs as once again a fierce rivalry came to a head and resulted in a physical contest in the Walkup Skydome.

A hobbled quarterback in sophomore Chase Brown and a strong Eagles defense were able to halt the Bulldogs for a majority of the game, but a solid rushing attack in the second half was the difference as 3A Conference Winslow won the battle for a third consecutive season, 14-13, spoiling Flagstaff's Homecoming night.
Load More
Arizona Daily Sun •

NAU's Burcar enjoys time managing Little League

In the dugout instead of on the sideline, Northern Arizona men's basketball coach Shane Burcar spent his summer with West Flagstaff Little League managing his sons' team. He is not new to this, as he led the WFLL All-Star team to the state quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023, as well as the round of 12 in 2021.

The highlight of his managing career came in June, when the WFLL All-Stars faced the Continental Little League All-Stars at Dawson Field in the opening round of the District 1 playoffs over the summer. Parking was difficult to come by, as parents, fans and much of the Northern Arizona men's basketball team surrounded the diamond for the rivalry contest.
KU Sports •

Neal has thrived with hometown program, helping shape it along the way

A sea of Kansas blue greeted the Jayhawks inside of Phoenix’s Chase Field on Dec. 26. The baseball stadium that permanently houses the Arizona Diamondbacks, complete with foul poles by the end zones and the smells of kettle corn and hot dogs wafting through the stadium, was transformed into a stage for long balls of another variety.

When it came time to play ball, passing dominated the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, an eventual 49-3
The Lumberjack •

High Altitude Roller Derby, fostering excitement and opportunity

The Flagstaff roller derby scene may not have the largest following, but it is one of the most exciting events in town.

Flagstaff’s roller derby league, High Altitude Roller Derby (HARD), has been around since 2012. The league had a solid footing in the community for many years until the pandemic forced it to a standstill. Recently, however, HARD has come back better than ever thanks to a community that refuses to see local roller derby die.

The sport of roller derby has existed for more than a century. Its roots are from the early 19th century as organized endurance races were held on flat and banked tracks. Eventually, roller derby transformed in the 1930s and became the high-intensity contact sport that is known today. In Flagstaff, and all across the country, the sport has become an outlet for individuals to express themselves.
The Lumberjack •

Creating a champion: the pressures of running at 7000 feet

The trails surrounding the finish line at the George Kyte Classic on Saturday were laced with spectators – all there to see for themselves the spectacle that is NAU men’s cross country.

Twenty-one minutes into the race, the crowd lined the last stretch in anticipation of a wave of blue and gold soon to turn the final corner. Though it was expected, the surprise when All-American Senior Drew Bosley appeared on the final stretch was palpable. With feathered hair and an unbroken stride, Bosley crossed the finish line with a time of 21:32.

It was a vast improvement over his victory at George Kyte last year when he ran a 22:09.

“Buffalo Park is sacred to us, so we can run hard on it,” Bosley said of the four-and-one-half-mile course his teammates were set to dominate.
The Lumberjack •

Doping in the world of pro running

Shelby Houlihan — an American middle distance runner, Olympian, ASU alumni and world record holder in the 4x1500m relay — received a four-year ban from professional running in June 2021. Houlihan tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone. The synthetic testosterone is an anabolic steroid used to treat anemia, osteoporosis and other conditions. It is also used by athletes to build muscle and improve performance.
The Lumberjack •

Kwinton Lassiter transcends the field in final year at Kansas

Not all scripts have a perfect ending, but for University of Kansas (KU) cornerback Kwinton Lassiter, the conclusion of his college career ended in storybook fashion.

The Chandler native found himself back home for Christmas — in a stadium he frequented often, on a field where he would run the bases and in a state where the Lassiter name resonates with fans who remember the heroics of a defensive back who single-handedly secured the Arizona Cardinals’ first postseason appearance as an NFL franchise in the Valley of the Sun.
Arizona Daily Sun •

CLL Gold wins two games to claim city championship Continental Little League Gold wins the 2023 Majors City Championship, 11-2. They had to win two games tonight to avoid elimination and take home the

Mark Grace Field was electric on Monday as Continental Little League Gold faced off against the West Flagstaff Little League Serpientes in the 2023 Majors City Championship. After 12 innings and more than four hours of baseball, CLL Gold emerged with the trophy.
The Lumberjack •

Lumberjacks build on home court success

Own Flagstaff.

That has been the mantra for NAU men’s basketball and head coach Shane Burcar during the
2023-24 season.

The Lumberjacks are 5-0 at home this season, marking the longest home winning streak for Burcar during his five years leading the team. NAU achieved three of those wins inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, including a 19-point victory over Big Sky No. 5 Portland State
University. The remaining victories came early in the season at Rolle Activity Center while the Skydome played host to football.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Spartans basketball looks to make playoff push this winter

Numerous banners fill the rafters and line the walls of the gymnasium at Northland Prep Academy. Cross country and soccer have their names printed everywhere, with multiple section and state tournament awards to boast. Though one sport that is noticeably absent is basketball.

In the school’s 28-year history, not much of the Spartans’ success has come from the boys hoops team. The best year in school history came in the 2012-13 season, which the team finished on a 20-9 overall record.
The Lumberjack •

NAU advances to Big Sky Conference Championship, stomp out Montana’s season

NAU soccer defeated the University of Montana in a semifinal matchup on Friday, 1-0, to advance to the Big Sky Conference Championship for the second year in a row.

Senior forward Allison Veloz knocked in the game’s lone goal in the 21st minute. A short pass in the box from senior midfielder Maddie Shafer drew Veloz toward goal, putting her in position to slide under the Grizzlies’ goalkeeper and tap the ball into the back of the net. Her leg acted as a billiards cue, striking the ball at the right angle to push it past the falling keeper.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Flagstaff Eagles let Homecoming game slip away to Winslow Bulldogs, losing 14-13 at home Flagstaff forces a turnover following a play in which the Eagles recovered a fumble, but the runner was ruled d

The Flagstaff Eagles football team found itself in a familiar predicament Friday night against the Winslow Bulldogs as once again a fierce rivalry came to a head and resulted in a physical contest in the Walkup Skydome.

A hobbled quarterback in sophomore Chase Brown and a strong Eagles defense were able to halt the Bulldogs for a majority of the game, but a solid rushing attack in the second half was the difference as 3A Conference Winslow won the battle for a third consecutive season, 14-13, spoiling Flagstaff's Homecoming night.
Load More
Arizona Daily Sun •

NAU's Burcar enjoys time managing Little League

In the dugout instead of on the sideline, Northern Arizona men's basketball coach Shane Burcar spent his summer with West Flagstaff Little League managing his sons' team. He is not new to this, as he led the WFLL All-Star team to the state quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023, as well as the round of 12 in 2021.

The highlight of his managing career came in June, when the WFLL All-Stars faced the Continental Little League All-Stars at Dawson Field in the opening round of the District 1 playoffs over the summer. Parking was difficult to come by, as parents, fans and much of the Northern Arizona men's basketball team surrounded the diamond for the rivalry contest.
KU Sports •

Neal has thrived with hometown program, helping shape it along the way

A sea of Kansas blue greeted the Jayhawks inside of Phoenix’s Chase Field on Dec. 26. The baseball stadium that permanently houses the Arizona Diamondbacks, complete with foul poles by the end zones and the smells of kettle corn and hot dogs wafting through the stadium, was transformed into a stage for long balls of another variety.

When it came time to play ball, passing dominated the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, an eventual 49-3
The Lumberjack •

High Altitude Roller Derby, fostering excitement and opportunity

The Flagstaff roller derby scene may not have the largest following, but it is one of the most exciting events in town.

Flagstaff’s roller derby league, High Altitude Roller Derby (HARD), has been around since 2012. The league had a solid footing in the community for many years until the pandemic forced it to a standstill. Recently, however, HARD has come back better than ever thanks to a community that refuses to see local roller derby die.

The sport of roller derby has existed for more than a century. Its roots are from the early 19th century as organized endurance races were held on flat and banked tracks. Eventually, roller derby transformed in the 1930s and became the high-intensity contact sport that is known today. In Flagstaff, and all across the country, the sport has become an outlet for individuals to express themselves.
The Lumberjack •

Creating a champion: the pressures of running at 7000 feet

The trails surrounding the finish line at the George Kyte Classic on Saturday were laced with spectators – all there to see for themselves the spectacle that is NAU men’s cross country.

Twenty-one minutes into the race, the crowd lined the last stretch in anticipation of a wave of blue and gold soon to turn the final corner. Though it was expected, the surprise when All-American Senior Drew Bosley appeared on the final stretch was palpable. With feathered hair and an unbroken stride, Bosley crossed the finish line with a time of 21:32.

It was a vast improvement over his victory at George Kyte last year when he ran a 22:09.

“Buffalo Park is sacred to us, so we can run hard on it,” Bosley said of the four-and-one-half-mile course his teammates were set to dominate.
The Lumberjack •

Doping in the world of pro running

Shelby Houlihan — an American middle distance runner, Olympian, ASU alumni and world record holder in the 4x1500m relay — received a four-year ban from professional running in June 2021. Houlihan tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone. The synthetic testosterone is an anabolic steroid used to treat anemia, osteoporosis and other conditions. It is also used by athletes to build muscle and improve performance.
The Lumberjack •

Kwinton Lassiter transcends the field in final year at Kansas

Not all scripts have a perfect ending, but for University of Kansas (KU) cornerback Kwinton Lassiter, the conclusion of his college career ended in storybook fashion.

The Chandler native found himself back home for Christmas — in a stadium he frequented often, on a field where he would run the bases and in a state where the Lassiter name resonates with fans who remember the heroics of a defensive back who single-handedly secured the Arizona Cardinals’ first postseason appearance as an NFL franchise in the Valley of the Sun.
Arizona Daily Sun •

CLL Gold wins two games to claim city championship Continental Little League Gold wins the 2023 Majors City Championship, 11-2. They had to win two games tonight to avoid elimination and take home the

Mark Grace Field was electric on Monday as Continental Little League Gold faced off against the West Flagstaff Little League Serpientes in the 2023 Majors City Championship. After 12 innings and more than four hours of baseball, CLL Gold emerged with the trophy.
The Lumberjack •

Lumberjacks build on home court success

Own Flagstaff.

That has been the mantra for NAU men’s basketball and head coach Shane Burcar during the
2023-24 season.

The Lumberjacks are 5-0 at home this season, marking the longest home winning streak for Burcar during his five years leading the team. NAU achieved three of those wins inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, including a 19-point victory over Big Sky No. 5 Portland State
University. The remaining victories came early in the season at Rolle Activity Center while the Skydome played host to football.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Spartans basketball looks to make playoff push this winter

Numerous banners fill the rafters and line the walls of the gymnasium at Northland Prep Academy. Cross country and soccer have their names printed everywhere, with multiple section and state tournament awards to boast. Though one sport that is noticeably absent is basketball.

In the school’s 28-year history, not much of the Spartans’ success has come from the boys hoops team. The best year in school history came in the 2012-13 season, which the team finished on a 20-9 overall record.
The Lumberjack •

NAU advances to Big Sky Conference Championship, stomp out Montana’s season

NAU soccer defeated the University of Montana in a semifinal matchup on Friday, 1-0, to advance to the Big Sky Conference Championship for the second year in a row.

Senior forward Allison Veloz knocked in the game’s lone goal in the 21st minute. A short pass in the box from senior midfielder Maddie Shafer drew Veloz toward goal, putting her in position to slide under the Grizzlies’ goalkeeper and tap the ball into the back of the net. Her leg acted as a billiards cue, striking the ball at the right angle to push it past the falling keeper.
Arizona Daily Sun •

Flagstaff Eagles let Homecoming game slip away to Winslow Bulldogs, losing 14-13 at home Flagstaff forces a turnover following a play in which the Eagles recovered a fumble, but the runner was ruled d

The Flagstaff Eagles football team found itself in a familiar predicament Friday night against the Winslow Bulldogs as once again a fierce rivalry came to a head and resulted in a physical contest in the Walkup Skydome.

A hobbled quarterback in sophomore Chase Brown and a strong Eagles defense were able to halt the Bulldogs for a majority of the game, but a solid rushing attack in the second half was the difference as 3A Conference Winslow won the battle for a third consecutive season, 14-13, spoiling Flagstaff's Homecoming night.
Load More