The RPN x Megan Klose Interview (Harrisburg, PA)

November 29, 2024

The RPN x Megan Klose Interview (Harrisburg, PA)

Megan Klose pictured with family as she received the Jim McKay Schlarship award | Dallas, TX | November 15, 2024

HARRISBURG, PA -- Megan Klose is a media specialist and former collegiate softball player from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is known for her roles with the Harrisburg Senators (2022-2023), Arcadia University Athletics (2022-2024) and Stehman Motorsports (2024-Present). Klose is currently a social media specialist at WebFX, who's regarded as one of the top marketing agencies in North America.

RPN Director and the first of his name, Tyreese Smith caught up with the Dame on her student-athlete career and an update into postgraduate life.

Megan Klose Interview

Tyreese Smith: “Welcome back to the RPN, Meg. Have come a long way with building this as we didn't have an official name, nor logo years ago. How's everything going? When did your journey begin for you?”

Megan Klose: “Hi Tyreese! Everything is going well. My softball career started when I was 4. My parents made me play Tee-ball baseball because that was the only league available near us. As I grew out of Tee-ball, I joined our local rec softball program and absolutely never turned back. I spent the next 16 years playing the sport I loved and never looked back.”

Tyreese Smith: “To my knowledge, you graduated a year earlier from Arcadia. Where you were a student-athlete in the softball program and majored in Communications. How was your time at Arcadia, if you can break that down for me?”

Megan Klose: “I graduated college early in three years. I loved my time at Arcadia (University). I was really active in the department. Often taking photos at events, and staying after hours to talk to professors about the social media industry. In athletics, outside of being a student-athlete, I helped ran ‘The Hidden Opponent’, which is a mental health organization for athletes on campus as well as working as a social media admin and photographer for the athletic department.”

“My education from Arcadia was one of the most valuable assets of my life.” She continued. “The small class sizes, hands-on learning in the communication department, and top notch professors set me up for success. I can’t say enough about the Arcadia athletic department. Although, I went through three coaching changes in my time, my trainers and lifting coaches were a steady anchor in my life that were essential to my growth and development as a human. Shoutout to my trainer, Danielle Duffy. At the time, it was hard being away from Harrisburg and family, but the space allowed me to grow into my independence and grind for myself and really become who I am today.”

Tyreese Smith: “Playing in the MAC, you were in one of the better well rounded conferences regardless of Division. Can you break down the conference for me and to those who aren't familiar with the league?”

Megan Klose: “The conference was a tough one. We played on the Freedom side, but often crossed over to play in the other division. There was always good competition each year, and teams we had to play hard against. My freshman year we played in the championship game against Stevens. We were 30-5 and ended up losing, but got a bid to regionals and hosted them. That goes to show you how hard our conference was. Also, how important playing ranked teams in Florida is to having a good record and setting you up for success for NCAA’s.”

Tyreese Smith: “Now being out in the real world, it's a transition for a lot of us fresh out of college. I can relate as I just left Penn State. How has postgrad life been so far for you, though?”

Megan Klose: “Post-grad honestly has been amazing. I was so nervous about the transition from being an athlete to becoming a true adult and it turned out better than I expected. Of course, I miss playing softball and the team aspect of the game. But, the time I have now allows me to coach and mentor younger softball players, work in sports media, take up walking and hiking again. Can really make a name for myself in the photography world.”

“WebFX is awesome, by the way. I cannot say enough about my workplace. I found the job through Linkedin the fall of my senior year, and was hired by October of that same year. I am a social media specialist, so I run organic and paid social content for my clients. I have a roster of 14 clients now from all across the country, and my speciality industry is the construction and heavy equipment realm.”

Tyreese Smith: “The former player to media pipeline has been made popular throughout the 2020’s. How's the experience been so far in your roles?”

Megan Klose: “Turning to sports media was a must for me following college. I knew I wanted to live back at home, and pay off my loans, so not many sports full time jobs would be available to me. I have always been around the sprint car industry. I love spending time at the track, and my uncle works on a car. I started snagging photos for his team and making connections. I finally landed a part time job with Stehman Motorsports as their social media and PR representative. I love it. I get to post on social media, take photos, watch races, and even work on the car and get my hands dirty, so it is my favorite side hustle.”

“I will say, in addition to the sprint car job, the sprint car industry is such a small community. I really value working hard and making connections there for the future of my career. I talk to everyone I can and introduce myself to everyone because you never know what can happen down the line.”

Tyreese Smith: “You most recently traveled to Dallas to accept the prestigious Jim McKay Scholarship. An honor that awards $10,000 to learners who demonstrate achievement within sports communication. How was the event and knowing all your hard work continued to pay off?”

Megan Klose: “The experience was incredible. The NCAA showed us incredible hospitality, including flying me and my family down and providing us meal stipends and hotel rooms. The award ceremony was incredible. I was able to make a speech, and meet the board that selected me. I met some great people, made amazing connections and also was provided some job opportunities for the future.”

“The next morning, I spoke on a panel about life after sports. We shared our transition stories to the FARA board, and allowed the representatives to ask us questions about how to better assist them with their student athletes in the future.”

Tyreese Smith: “Seeing how close you are to your family and faith, you have been walking through life with a good head on your shoulders. If you would like to comment, what does support mean to you and also the relationship with your faith?”

Megan Klose: “Support to me is my family having my back through it all. I have always been go, go, go. Having my family motivating, encouraging, and supporting me means the world to me. In terms of other support, I don’t need it. I am an independent gal and I am totally fine with doing things no matter how crazy people think I am or what they think of me.”

“One non-negotiable for me is my faith. My faith is everything to me. Jesus is my king and my savior, and one thing I will never stray away from in life is Him. I have always been a Christian, but got really into my faith during COVID. I have two tattoos about my faith and am very vocal about my faith. My journey, bringing my friends closer to God and being the salt and light in this earth.”

Tyreese Smith: “I know for sure you're an active sports fan, but walk us through your favorite teams and how you came across to rocking with them.”

Megan Klose: “I am a Philadelphia girl at heart. Always have been and always will be. My dad grew up a Philly fan, and so I followed right in his footsteps. I would absolutely die for the Phillies and the birds, even Flyers too! As a Central PA native, I will always cheer on Penn State as well. In the sprint car world, I of course cheer on the teams I work for. I do love watching Corey Day out of California and Carson Macedo.”

Tyreese Smith: “I have been testing you all interview, but what would you say has been your most memorable experience by far?”

Megan Klose: “Most memorable experience within the sports realm of my life would be two things. Either watching the Phillies clinch the NLCS to go to the World Series with my dad at Citizens Bank Park in 2022, or hitting a 3-2, 2 out to go ahead home run in the top of the seventh against DeSales my senior year.”

Tyreese Smith: “Who would you consider your role models?”

Megan Klose: “My parents. My parents are hard workers, respectable people and the best representation of people of faith. I cannot imagine two better humans to raise me and I look up to them and their strength every single day of my life. I don’t know what I would do without them.”

Tyreese Smith: “Being a photographer, everybody thinks it's just taking pictures. Little do people think of, every picture tells a story. Discuss the science of photography in how you see it from your perspective?”

Megan Klose: “Photography is an art and a science. Not only do you have to come up with the ideas and content plans for the shots, but you have to factor in all the physical camera and lightning science aspects to it as well. Not only this, but photography is all about making memories. You will take hundreds of thousands of pictures in any given year, but you will take a few hundred that tell the perfect story. The high school senior taking a pic with his mom, the sprint car driver celebrating a win, the dancer crying after their final performance. That is what makes it so special to me.”

Tyreese Smith: "Thank you Megan for taking the time to talk with me once again. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people? Any last words?"

Megan Klose: “No, thank you this has been amazing. My motivation is just to go for it. Dream big and actually run towards your dreams. A year ago, I was a junior college softball player and student. In one short year, I’m six months into working at the best digital marketing agency in Pennsylvania, working my dream sports part time job, coaching little girls and teaching them how to play softball. Additionally, I have grown deeper in my faith, and recently earned a 10,000 dollar scholarship to fuel my graduate studies and overall living my life. Don't let anyone tell you your dreams and ambitions are too much. Prove them wrong.”