Though only a first-year student at Gettysburg College, Pete Barrett has already seen his articles in the national media, heard his play-by-play commentary on an ESPN documentary, and found himself smack-dab between the real-life stars of his favorite sports film, Remember the Titans (above with Bill Yoast, left, and Herman Boone).

As play-by-play basketball commentator for Gettysburgsports.com, Barrett was at the mic when Gettysburg senior Cory Weissman made his courageous return to the court after a stroke, scoring his sole collegiate point. Barrett’s call became part of ESPN’s feature on Weissman, whose story received national attention.

The New York Times also turned to Barrett for coverage of Weissman. Barrett successfully pitched the feature he wrote for The Gettysburgian student newspaper to the Times’ college sports blog, which ran his article in its entirety.

Most recently, Barrett interviewed members of the original Titans when they reunited at Gettysburg College, where the football squad of the newly integrated high school T.C. Williams (Va.) conducted its first training camp in 1971, as depicted in the movie. In a story for Bleachereport.com, Barrett compared the Titans’ locker room to that of the present-day New York Jets. The strength of his story won Barrett a slot as a contributing writer to the website. Barrett also runs his own New York sports blog, nysportscookie.com.

Networking is a major factor in Barrett’s early professional development. NBC Vice President of Digital Media Nick Johnson, a 1990 Gettysburg College graduate, was instrumental. So were Gettysburg College Director of Alumni Relations Joe Lynch ’85 and John Gannon of the alumni office at Barrett’s alma mater, the Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y.

“John Gannon and Joe Lynch have taught me the importance of networking, the Titans have taught me the importance of working with people, and Cory has inspired me to believe that anything can be attained and the sky is the limit when it comes to accomplishing your dreams,” Barrett said.

Despite his personal accomplishments, the relationships he developed with student-athletes are what he will cherish most from his first year at the College.

“The most memorable event for me was not Cory Weissman’s free throw, but the hour or so one-on-one emotional conversation I had with Cory the next day,” said Barrett. “At the time of the free throw I knew bits and pieces of his story, but hearing in vivid detail all that he had overcome was overwhelming. The way that free throw brought our community together was something I will never forget and is such a great example of why sports are so great. Sports have the unique ability to bring out the best in people and bring people together.”

Contact: Braden Snyder, director of athletic communications