The Reserves
Six lifelong friends band together to bring you a new wave of sports content that absolutely no one asked for.​
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In a world where sports content is as plentiful as it has ever been, why would you choose to listen to a few random guys with a little time to kill? After all, none of us are experts.
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It would be completely understandable to consider us the backups of sports content creators. You may even go as far to equate us to the benchwarmers on your favorite team. Or better yet, "The Reserves."​
We aim to bring quality, yet relatable content that will appeal to the casual fans and the diehards, and everyone else in between.
Dillon Draughn - Ex-College Athlete
Regardless of whether it is baseball, golf, ping pong, or playing the drums, it’s as if Dillon was genetically engineered to be annoyingly good at everything. Be careful sharing your hobbies with Dillon because he will be better at it than you within a week. Now, bringing his talents to the journalism arena, Dillon is due to put us in line for a Pulitzer at some point in the near future.
Fun Fact: Has a built-in guacamole bowl in his chest.
Favorite Teams: North Carolina State University, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Steelers, Sabrina Ionescu
Zach Hicks - Strong Man in Residence
If you have lifted something, Zach has probably already lifted it several times as a warmup and chuckled about it. Zach’s free time consists of lifting heavy things, reminding others how much he can lift, telling the athletes at his graduate assistantship how much stronger he is, and eating anything with a traceable amount of protein. Just as Gru wanted to steal the moon, Zach hopes to one day squat the Earth.
Fun Fact: Can lift more than you.
Favorite Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Appalachian State Women’s Basketball, Anthony Edwards
Adam Houston - Retired Minor League Bat Boy
For someone who claims to love football with a passion bigger than his head (that’s really big), Adam seems to let his once-debilitating fear of commitment get the best of him when it comes to picking an NFL fandom. His fantasy football study sessions rival that of a rigorous Ph.D. program, but has minimal success to show for it. If you have any grievances regarding the website design, please direct them at Adam… he’s responsible.
Fun Fact: Adam made one PAT attempt in his junior year of high school. He then made a joke about how funny it would be if he ended up being the only person in school history to score one point. The curse worked. Adam proceeded to miss every FG and PAT of his senior year, finishing with exactly… one point.
Favorite Sports Teams: N/A, Boston Red Sox, Appalachian State Football
Jesse Houston - Former Uninterested Band Kid Turned Bills Mafia
In one of the most drastic turnarounds in recorded human history, Jesse went from being unable to tell you the first thing about Tom Brady to knowing every Buffalo Bills player from their infamous back-to-back-to-back-to-back Super Bowl losses in the early 1990s. Although his passion runs high, Jesse has yet to truly be admitted into the Bills fandom as he refuses to jump through a table “because it would hurt.”
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Fun Fact: Has been fully convinced that this is the Bills’ year… for the past three years.
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Favorite Teams: Buffalo Bills, Whoever is playing against the Kansas City Chiefs, Not Patrick Mahomes
Charlie Smythers - Chief LeBron Officer
As a coach’s son, Charlie was practically born with a basketball in his hand. Just as he was getting used to the whole walking thing, the basketball world was also getting used to a novelty of their own, an 18-year-old phenom from Akron, Ohio: LeBron James. Charlie’s infatuation for his GOAT has never been shaken. In fact, it has only grown stronger, starting each morning with an hour (minimum) of highlights and the reciting of a self-written ode.
Fun Fact: Once took UNC legend Luke Maye’s ankles on a stepback three-pointer that would’ve made LeBron shed a tear.
Favorite Teams: LeBron James, North Carolina State University, Washington Commanders
Ian Tavano - Disgruntled New York Sports Fan
Every friend group has that one person whose favorite sports teams are also the bane of their existence. Whether it’s his beloved Giants or Islanders, Ian’s dedication through mediocrity and even downright atrocity needs to be studied. In addition to being our in-house hockey expert and bartender, Ian also serves on a pit crew in NASCAR’s Modified Series. Ian swears that he would be the next Richard Petty if only given the chance.
Fun Fact: Can consume four pounds of Peanut M&M’s in one sitting.
Favorite Teams: New York Giants, New York Islanders, Tequila