The rise of social media has allowed fans to connect with athletes on all levels, and the Wisconsin women’s hockey team has taken full advantage.
For the past few seasons, the team has created a blog on UWBadgers.com written by its own players, allowing fans to get a personalized recap of games and team happenings from a select member of the team.
This year, sophomore Baylee Wellhausen ran the team’s blog. Wellhausen was recommended for the job by her teammates, who knew she liked writing and believed she would excel at maintaining this channel of communication with Badger fans.
Wellhausen admitted she was nervous at first when it came to being in charge of communicating with Wisconsin fans.
“[In the beginning] I [thought], ‘I have no idea where to start this,’” Wellhausen said. “There was a lot of thinking going into it, but then I got into a rhythm.”
Wellhausen said she’s received positive reception from fans. Some fans complimented her during the Badger Skate program, saying they loved the blog and wanted her to keep up the good work.
Wellhausen knows that as a Division I athlete there needs to be an extra level of care that goes into what she posts on any form of social media.
“Being a [Division I] athlete, we always get taught to make sure that we’re putting out the right things on social media,” Wellhausen said. “I think that we’re always very conscientious of what we’re putting out there and making sure that it’s not offending anyone.”
Thanks @BadgerFootball for letting us borrow your axe!! #gotthatsweep pic.twitter.com/F2B28jTvNN
— Baylee Wellhausen (@bdangless21) December 6, 2015
Senior Molly Doner has also gotten her fair share of exposure when it comes to social media contact with Badger fans. She has guest-blogged in the past and knows having a public account means anyone can easily view anything she posts.
Done is aware plenty of younger fans look up to her and other Badgers and follow them on social media. She feels she has a responsibility on social media to make sure she is sending all the right messages to her younger fans.
Rings are in! #WCHAchamps pic.twitter.com/pxSI37tdrG
— Molly Doner (@molly_doner9) October 6, 2015
“One of the main guidelines that I follow with social media is [paying] attention to who your youngest viewers are,” Doner said. “There are a lot of younger girls that follow us and look up to us, so it’s always making sure that whatever we’re promoting or advocating is appropriate for the youngest viewers to see.”
