For most athletes, sports are about competition, camaraderie, and personal achievement. For Jay Schmoldt ‘27, marketing major, sports are also about storytelling, capturing the emotion, movement, and excitement that make the games unforgettable.
Schmoldt has quickly built a reputation as a creative force in sports media. A lifelong hockey fan and Capital lacrosse player, he has turned his passion for athletics into a growing career in videography and digital media. His journey, which began with a camera and a local lacrosse program, has already led him to one of his dream opportunities: working with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
“It was a pleasure having Jay as part of the Blue Jackets Digital Media team during the 2024-2025 season,” said Nathan Wiseman, manager of Digital Media and Content for the Blue Jackets. “From day one, it was clear that he was eager to learn and ready to seize every opportunity. Jay consistently impressed us with his ability to capture and edit cinematic moments that delivered a true ‘wow factor’ for our fans. His creativity and passion for hockey shone through in every piece he produced.”
Schmoldt’s creative journey began right out of high school with Resolute Lacrosse, a club program based in Columbus with branches across Ohio. What started as photography quickly grew into videography, where Schmoldt found his stride.
“That led me into doing something similar here at Capital with athletics,” Schmoldt explained. “As a videographer, I was basically running the video side of things, capturing game highlights, editing packages, and putting out whatever stories I saw happening on the field.”
Posting his work on his personal media page opened even more doors. One project led to the next, and soon Schmoldt was freelancing for other colleges, covering lacrosse and other sports, and even receiving opportunities with professional teams.
After his first year at Capital, Schmoldt applied for and earned a spot on the Blue Jackets’ social media team. The role gave him the chance to work alongside professionals, producing video, photo, and graphic content for one of the NHL’s most passionate fanbases. This upcoming season, he will return to the organization, this time focusing exclusively on video production.
As a student-athlete, Schmoldt knows what it means to juggle responsibilities. With Capital lacrosse practices nearly every day and Blue Jackets games averaging two per week, conflicts were inevitable. Schmoldt credits his coach and teammates for supporting his career goals, even when it meant missing practice.
“I sat down with my coach at the beginning of the season,” Schmoldt said. “He was all for it. He understood that academics and career come first. Lacrosse is incredibly important to me, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
The schedule wasn’t easy, classwork, practices, games, and editing sessions often left Schmoldt running on little sleep. Still, he thrived under the pressure.
“At some point, I just had to put things in order of what they were going to do for me in my future,” he said.
For Schmoldt, the heart of his work lies in storytelling. He doesn’t stage moments or script scenes. Instead, he captures raw, authentic plays as they happen and transforms them into something memorable.
“I almost enjoy creating content around sports as much as I do playing,” he said. “There are things athletes do on the field or the ice that I could never do. Being a small part of telling that story makes me happy. I want athletes to feel proud of their accomplishments, to see themselves in the spotlight, and to showcase what they’ve achieved.”
Looking ahead, Schmoldt dreams of continuing his work in professional sports, particularly with hockey, his lifelong passion. He also hopes to explore videography in the music scene, bringing his storytelling eye to concerts and performances.
But no matter where his camera takes him, Schmoldt remains committed to capturing moments that matter, highlighting athletes’ stories and inspiring fans through his lens.
“Hockey has always been in my blood,” Schmoldt said. “Getting to work with the Blue Jackets was a dream come true.”