From left to right, sports analytics majors Tyler Bollebruch, Marissa Schneider, Nicholas Kamimoto, and Colin Kneis compete in the Business Analytics division of the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship in Dallas, Texas. do.
Four students from the Faulk College of Sports and Human Dynamics' Sports Analytics program will travel to Dallas, Texas, from February 21-22 to compete in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship and defend Syracuse's national title. .
The event, hosted by the NBA's Dallas Mavericks at their home arena, American Airlines Center, will feature seniors Colin Nice, Nicholas Kamimoto, Tyler Bollebruch and Marissa Schneider representing Syracuse University. . Students compete in the business analysis category. Syracuse University won the Game Analytics category in 2023, but the category did not participate this year.
“They are a true inspiration because they have taken on this challenge, willingly put themselves in the arena, and continually strived to improve their skills and themselves,” said Scott, Director of the Sports Analytics Program and Faculty says Professor Rodney Paul. Falk University Sports Management. “They are role models and leaders for our young students and great representatives of Falk College and Syracuse University.”
The championship in Dallas is the second half of a national competition in which more than 150 college students from across the country participate. In the first half, which was held virtually, students were given a prompt and had to prepare and present their analytical work to the judges.
“The students in our program are our greatest asset,” says Paul, the team's coach. “We are extremely proud of Colin, Nicholas, Tyler and Marissa’s outstanding performances and look forward to seeing them perform on the national stage.”
The trip to Dallas was funded by a gift from University Trustee and alumnus Andrew Berlin ’83, who continues to support student-centered initiatives in sports analytics.
Before they head to Dallas, we asked Kneis, Kamimoto, Bollebruch, and Schneider about representing Falk and Syracuse in this national tournament, their first-round success, and their expectations for the finals. Here's what they said:
From left to right: Colin Nice, Nicholas Kamimoto, Marissa Schneider, and Tyler Bollebruch.
Q: What is it like representing Falk College and Syracuse University at this prestigious national event?
Kunais (Double major in Sports Analytics and Economics, minor in Sports Management): It feels great to represent Syracuse and Falk University. Syracuse is a great place and has helped me in many ways, so I'm happy to represent the university now.
Uemoto (double major in sports analytics and economics, minor in sports management): I am honored to represent Faulk, Syracuse, and the sports analytics program at the championship. Syracuse has been my home for the past four years and it feels incredible to finish my time here with a championship appearance. I learned many skills from my Syracuse professors that I will be able to apply during this event.
Bollebruch (Double major in Sports Analytics and Economics, minors in Finance and Mathematics): I am grateful to be able to represent Faulk and Syracuse on a national level. I look forward to the opportunity for all four of us to bring another trophy home to Falk College and Syracuse University.
schneider (Double Major in Sports Analytics and Economics, Minor in Sports Management): I am extremely proud to represent Faulk, Syracuse, and the Sports Analytics program at the championship. This is a very honorable experience as not everyone can participate in this competition.
Q: Can you briefly explain what you did in the first round and your reaction when you saw the final standings?
Kunais: In the first round, we were given data and asked to create a presentation within three days, which we ended up presenting to two analysis judges over Zoom. When everything was complete and I was receiving (congratulatory) emails from many of my professors and advisors, I was proud of my work and excited to see my name among them.
Uemoto: In the first round, we created a ticket price model based on the number of days before the event. We looked at how ticket prices and quantities change across all levels of the stadium when tickets are purchased up to 7 days before the event and when tickets are purchased 7 or more days before the event. Looking at the final standings, I was so proud of my accomplishment and the entire team as everyone finished in great positions.
Bollebruch: In the first round, we created a model that shows how the demand for tickets changes as the game gets closer. I was confident in this analysis and expected all 4 of us to do very well, but all 4 of his students, along with all the students who participated, were in the top 20. was even better than I expected.
schneiderA: I was very proud of myself and of course my colleagues who also placed in the top ranks. I've never done anything like this before, so I felt proud of my work and I hope to have the same success, if not more, at the championship in Dallas.
Q: How do you feel about your opportunities in Dallas and do you know what challenges you will receive in the competition?
Kunais: I was very nervous going into this tournament, but after seeing the qualifying results, I felt confident in my abilities and my chances in Dallas. We know that the data includes recycling and trash data, so we're starting to brainstorm what we can do and hopefully move forward soon.
Uemoto: I feel good about my chances in Dallas and I need to continue to do my best job there. We know we'll be working with energy and sustainability datasets, and we're excited to get there and get started.
Bollebruch: I have gained confidence. With our seeding, we have a good chance of finishing as the No. 1 school. Now it's time to show up and perform. We recently received the study guide and practice dataset for this competition. It will probably focus on sustainability and energy at various sports venues. So it'll be interesting to see what everyone comes up with for that.
schneider: I am confident in my own potential, and I am confident in the potential of my colleagues. We all received a study guide for the championship that stated we would receive data on water and waste. The championship will have the same format as the virtual round, where each participant will be required to give a 5-minute presentation based on a designated prompt that everyone will receive. Each participant will be given several hours to create a presentation that provides venue insights to improve sustainability performance.
