Greetings!
We started our Majority Rules podcast —aptly named for the Olympic Sports athletes that make up the majority of Mizzou’s student athlete population— two years ago and recorded 30 (!) episodes… last year, we got busy, and only recorded 8 (!!) episodes. We’ll do better this year, guys. Probably with some changes. Likely in the way of smaller, sport-specific pods. Stay tuned.
Anyway, that’s not really why we’re here.
The 2025-26 crew can’t stay together forever, though, and people graduate (Henry) and move
on to other endeavors (Hannah is the new ADOP at the Missourian)! Since I decided that beats would switch over on the arbitrary date of August 1, it seemed like as good of a time as any to introduce the crew and let you get to know the new (and old) faces, who are covering allllll the beats! Seriously… I think we are covering every Mizzou sport this year for the first time ever.
I’ve divided the group into several self-explanatory categories.
Head Lady in Charge
Karen Steger
I’ve been gracing Rock M’s digital pages since August 2019 after starting as a volunteer editor (I got this job by Twitter DM). Besides reading everything submitted —well, almost everything (sometimes we just put out too much content to keep up with)— I wrote Links/Morning Commute posts a couple times a week for years, and that has transitioned into a kinda “whatever I want to write about” post on Sunday mornings. Sometimes it’s about the sports I cover; sometimes it’s an Olympic Sports wrap-up. It might be a ‘Photos of the Week’ type of thing this year.
I added Mizzou softball as my first reporting beat after spending the 2021 Super Regionals out on the berm with my camp chair, iPad and a Logboat Snapper, and I decided to make it press-box official for the 2022 season (sometimes I miss those days, especially when Mizzou isn’t having a good season). In 2023, after attending a Mizzou gymnastics meet, I formally added that to my beat despite knowing next to nothing about it at the time, and I’ve also lightly waded (teehee) back into swimming coverage the past few years, as I’m a former swimmer and high school coach. Fun Fact— I won two team state titles as a head coach — one in NC and one in MO!
I’m originally from StL and went to school at Mizzou before moving to the Charlotte, NC area to teach elementary/coach high school for years. I originally moved back to CoMo in the summer of 2011 to teach and coach. After some other jobs (some I’d like to forget), I started working at the J-School, where I’ve been for four-plus years now and I am currently the Journalism Career Services Coordinator. I also teach an online PR & image management course that’s catered towards student-athletes and hopeful influencers. As a result of that, I can tell you more information about Alix Earle, Emma Chamberlain and Mr. Beast than I cared to ever learn.
I root for St. Louis teams, the Chiefs (Nicky Bolts 4ever!!!), the Bears (I love LB3) and a variety of NBA teams who feature Mizzou alums (except MPJ– noted hater here). I’m also massive women’s sports supporter and keep up with all things WNBA. I am a champion of the “little guy,” which is why I am so passionate about non-revenue Olympic sports at Mizzou and leading this team. When I’m not working, you can probably catch me at a Mizzou sporting event— I go to pretty much every football game and I have VB, WBB & MBB season tickets. I’m super excited about this crew and can’t wait to get started in what I think will be Rock M’s (and hopefully Mizzou’s) best Olympic Sports year yet.
The Newbies
Aaron Segal
Hi, I’m Aaron Segal, a senior at the Missouri School of Journalism from Las Vegas, Nevada. I currently cover men’s basketball for the Columbia Missourian after previously reporting on women’s basketball, and I’ve also covered softball for PowerMizzou. I will be covering Tennis, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, and Softball for Rock M this year. This summer, I’m interning with the UFC, where I write stories covering the fights and the fighters.
Outside of writing, I’m heavily involved in sports media and sports broadcasting. I broadcast games and host Service to Seven on KCOU, and I also co-host Play Her Story, a podcast with former Missouri volleyball player and Miss Boone County Colleen Finney, combining two of my biggest passions: storytelling and volleyball. (Editor’s Note: Aaron also is a Journalism Ambassador, and gives delightful tours of the J-School to prospective students and their families)
A fun fact about me is that I was recruited to play Division I tennis before pursuing journalism. When I’m not covering games or producing content, you’ll probably find me cheering on my hometown Las Vegas Aces, as well as the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Audrey Walker
Hi, everybody! My name is Audrey Walker, and I’ll be sophomore this year. I used to cover a lot of sports in high school, but I haven’t done any sports writing while at Mizzou. I’ve previously covered soccer, men’s basketball, football, women’s volleyball, and wrestling. I’ll be covering golf for Rock M, which is brand new to me!
I’m from a suburb about an hour west of Chicago, so I obviously love Chicago sports teams. I root for the Bears (even when they’re bad), Bulls, and Cubs. I also LOVE watching NBA games. My favorite teams are the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs. I used to be a runner, so I also try to keep up with the world of collegiate and professional running.
Jack Wiselogel
Hello! I’m Jack Wiselogel, a sophomore at Mizzou, and I’ll be joining Rock M this year as part of the soccer, women’s basketball and baseball beats. I began covering the Tigers with The Maneater last year, where I wrote about soccer, men’s basketball and track & field. This fall, I’ll return to the paper as one of its sports editors, carrying the torch passed to me by the great Colin Simmons.
I’m originally from Columbus, Ohio, and my sports allegiances are firmly rooted in the Buckeye State—mostly on the Cincinnati side of things. The lone exception is my devotion to the Detroit Pistons, a commitment that has tested my patience more than a few times. I’ve also been a passionate soccer fan for as long as I can remember, following both the U.S. national teams and Manchester United in the Premier League. I’m excited to join the Rock M team and can’t wait to get started with soccer in the fall!
The Photographers
Margo Jenkins
Hey, everyone! My name is Margo Jenkins, and I’m a rising sophomore at Mizzou and one of the contributing photographers for Rock M. I’ve been photographing for Rock M since the end of the 2025 football season, and since then I’ve had the opportunity to cover many of Mizzou’s competitive sports. Basketball has always been my favorite sport to photograph because of its fast pace and emotion, but there’s nothing like the energy of a packed football game.
I am from the heart of Music City, Nashville, Tennessee, and I first picked up a camera to photograph sports as a freshman in high school. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a passion that has continued to grow into a career path. To think I wanted to be a political scientist… I couldn’t even imagine that now. One of my favorite photography experiences so far was covering the 2025 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Tennessee Volunteers in my hometown.
Outside of photography, I love hiking, painting and finding new ways to be creative. I’m excited to continue growing as a photojournalist this year and can’t wait to capture more unforgettable moments for Rock M. If you would like to see some of my work, see my lovely Instagram at @margoj_photography
Dan Murphy
Hi y’all! My name’s Dan Murphy, I’m a rising sophomore, and I’m one of the contributing photographers here at Rock M. I also intern with Mizzou Athletics as a photographer, primarily covering Track & Field. I started contributing to Rock M in the fall of my freshman year, where I would send Sophie my photographs from cross country meets. I fully joined Rock M at the start of the ‘25-26 spring semester, where I’ve shot everything from March Madness to the NCAA Track & Field Championships.
I’m a born and raised Bostonian, and while I side with my hometown for the Celtics and Red Sox, I’m also a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. I started photography during my sophomore year of high school, where I found myself eventually covering high school sports and NCAA Championships for the Boston Globe. I came to Mizzou seeking the premier photojournalism institution in the country, and I’m glad to say it has not disappointed. I’m excited to see what a full year of Rock M will bring in terms of opportunities. If you’d like to keep up with my work, drop a follow on Instagram at @danmurphmedia.
The Returners
Colin Simmons
Hello, I am still Colin Simmons, and I am a rising junior at Mizzou. I am heading into my second year with Rock M, and you’ll see my work for football, men’s basketball and wrestling this season. During my freshman and sophomore years, I contributed to The Maneater (Mizzou’s student newspaper), covering soccer, volleyball, men’s basketball and football. I was the sports editor last school year, during which I had the chance to work with many developing writers. I am also in my second year interning with Brooklyn Nets On SI to round out my writing experience.
On the personal side, I am from Omaha, Nebraska (but I was raised on everything Mizzou). My parents met while studying at the University of Missouri’s Medical School and found their footing later in Nebraska. Being from a place with no professional sports teams, I identified with Missouri sports like the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. I am also a die-hard Indiana Pacers fan (Paul George was my favorite player growing up). I played sports throughout high school and still find comfort in shooting hoops or throwing a football around. I am excited to dive into some of Mizzou’s premier sports this year and grow as a journalist and person!
Sophie Silvers
Hey, everybody! My name is Sophie Silvers, and I will be a rising junior this year at Mizzou. As a returning member of the Rock M team, I will be covering cross country and volleyball this fall, followed by track & field and baseball in the spring. During my freshman and sophomore year, I co-wrote the cross country beat for The Maneater, MU’s student-run newspaper. In the spring, I wrote multiple features for The Maneater on various club sports around campus and gained an understanding of the experiences of non-D1 athletes as well.
Another place I like to call home away from MU is Los Angeles, California. I have lived there all of my life and chose to go to Mizzou because of the astounding opportunities and experiences I have had. Since high school, I have enjoyed writing about sports and started to follow in-depth the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ever since, I have been a die-hard fan. Throughout high school, I ran track & field and played softball, where I was able to find a passion for running and the tranquility it provides me. Sports have been a constant commodity in my life, and I cannot wait to cover new sports this year and tackle this wonderful opportunity!
The Vets
Dylan Heinrich
Hi, everyone! My name is Dylan Heinrich, and I will be a senior this year. I started with Rock M in the spring of 2024, and have covered soccer, volleyball, softball and women’s basketball in my 2-plus years with this wonderful blog. This year I will continue to work as a key contributor of both the women’s basketball and softball coverage, two teams that I think have major upside heading into my final year at Mizzou. I will continue to appear on the Majority Rules podcast, and can’t wait for year two with a some familiar (and new) faces! Olympic sports are a real passion of mine, and I’m excited that I have the opportunity to continue to cover some of my favorite sports at the SEC level.
Outside of writing Olympic Sports, I will be one of the four football beat writers for the Columbia Missourian! I look to follow in the footsteps of Rock M legends like Quentin Corpuel and Brandon Jenkins-Haynes in what should be an exciting season at Faurot Field. I will also help on the Missourian TA desk and continue to hone my editing skills as well as my writing. If I’m not busy writing you can probably find me in the basement of RJI working at the Equipment Lab. If you need any gear for your journalism classes, I’m your man.
Other fun facts is I’m originally from Fort Collins, Colorado; which means I am a big time Broncos, Nuggets and Avs fan. Since my time in Missouri, I’ve grown to love the St. Louis Cardinals, and am really hoping for a late playoff push! Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and I’m very excited to end my time at Mizzou on a high note.
Matthew Gustafson
Hello again! My name is Matthew Gustafson and I’m entering my fourth year with the site. I’ve taken on a variety of roles throughout my time with Rock M, including serving as a football and men’s basketball beat writer last year. I spent my first two years covering volleyball and wrestling, alongside a season of baseball. During that time, I was the creator and host of the Over The Net and Tiger Style Explored interview series as well as being one of the co-hosts of the Majority Rules podcast (I still make an appearance there whenever I get a chance to). While football and men’s basketball are my main beats again this year, I’m excited to also help out with wrestling coverage this season and return to my Rock M roots!
I’m a Chicago native and diehard Cubs fan, and many of you might not know that baseball is actually my favorite sport. I’ve worked in organized baseball for the past 10 years and spent this past summer as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Willmar Stingers in the Northwoods League. Rock M was my go-to site for Mizzou athletics news as I became interested in attending the J School, and going from a daily reader to a writer for the site has given me so many incredible opportunities and experiences. (Editor’s note: I still vividly remember Matthew’s J-School tour!)
