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September 23, 2026

It’s not unusual for students to aspire to a job they want in the future, but it is rare that those goals are a straight trajectory. Just ask Marion Crowder.

This past summer, Crowder was named a reporter for SEC Nation, covering college football through stories about campus life, but it took several detours and a lot of hard work to get there.

“I was always very clear about how I wanted to break into this industry, what my strengths were to do that and what my end goal was,” Crowder says.

Crowder was a leading scorer on the University of Georgia Women’s Soccer Team while earning an undergraduate degree in sports management. When a career in professional soccer didn’t work out after graduation, she decided to pursue a master’s degree to work in sports broadcasting.

“My master’s degree was monumental to where I am today,” Crowder says of her degree which included a thesis about breaking into the spots broadcasting industry. “I wholeheartedly believe [my thesis] guided me toward the right decisions in my own career.”

Crowder also used her time back in Athens to work as a graduate assistant for UGA Athletics Sports Marketing and Production team.

“That taught me more about what it takes to get an event on television than anything else,” Crowder says of her time working for UGAA. “I am forever grateful to Grady and to UGAA for allowing me to receive such a comprehensive education and practical experience that has directly impacted my career.”

With her master’s degree in hand, Crowder accepted a position as a media relations manager for the Greenville Triumph, a League One professional soccer team in the United Soccer League, during the day and freelanced as an on-air analyst for SECN+ soccer in the evenings and weekends. When that schedule became hard to manage, she took a job as a manager at a health care company, NextGen Healthcare, so she could have more flexibility in the evenings and weekends for her freelance work and be more financially stable.

Juggling both the healthcare job and the freelance responsibilities was a challenge, even though she knew it was temporary, but she knew it was important to go about it in a logical manner.

“It’s okay to chase your dream responsibly and track small meaningful milestones that continue to light that belief in yourself,” Crowder advises. “I hope I can serve as a reminder that what is best for you is not the best for the person next to you, and your path into the industry won’t be the same as theirs.”

Along the way, Crowder was getting noticed for her soccer commentary and special assignments like covering Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, an event she says was the hottest she has ever been standing still.

She also covered the record-breaking attendance at the UGA vs. James Madison University women’s soccer match in Sanford Stadium this past August.

“It is so fun for me to say that the first game between the hedges that I covered was the recent UGA v JMU Women’s Soccer game,” Crowder says. “I was able to talk to Kirby Smart during the match and hope it is the first of many [conversations] to come.”

When asked if she will cover any UGA football games this fall she says she hopes so.

“As far as football and the show goes, there is an element of surprise because we don’t even know where we are going week to week, but UGA has a few potential home options for the fall season!”

(Left): Marion Crowder interviews Head Coach Chris Grassie of Marshall University during the 2024 Men’s College Cup on Dec. 13, 2024. (Photo by Josh LaValle / ESPN Images); (Middle): Marion Crowder, Ian Carry and Dari Nowkhah on the set of SEC Now. (Right): Marion Crowder and Jeff Dantzler in a media booth overlooking the UGA soccer field.

Author: Sarah E. Freeman, freemans@uga.edu

Mari Huglin

reporter@sippicanweek.com

MARION — The almost 200-year-old Marion General Store, located at 140 Front St., has officially re-opened under new management after being closed for four months.

This April, Jack Cheney and his family took a step back from running the store and closed it briefly until they could find new tenants to run the historical landmark.

New owners, Will Felder and Amy Baxter of Carver, took on the responsibility and officially opened the store’s doors on Saturday, Aug. 1.

The store was originally a church built in 1794 then converted to a general store in 1841. Cheney ran the beloved store for 52 years.

Felder said the community has been so supportive of the opening and he has enjoyed getting to know residents more. Felder remembers coming to the store as a kid buying candy.

“It's just more of a blessing and an honor to be part of something so historic,” Felder said.

The store did a soft opening on Thursday so the store team could work out some of the “kinks” beforehand.

Felder said he wants to make sure the store is the way the community wants it while upholding Cheney’s legacy.

“It would be like the biggest accomplishment to have my name even be part of this for half the time that it was for Jack [Cheney],” Felder said.

Ruth Griffin of Mattapoisett had been shopping at the store for years heavily relying on it during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She usually buys groceries and gifts at the store and appreciates its historical look and significance.

“It looks more like how an old store used to look so it goes with the tradition of Marion,” Griffin said.

The shopper said she is grateful that the store is now open on Sundays making it a perfect place for her to grab coffee with friends after church. She said she is happy the store is back.

“I hope they do well, I wish them the best,” Giffin said. “It's great to have new people involved.”

Mother and daughter Susan and Natalie Nilson have been at the store for the past three days it's been open. On Saturday, they were grabbing fresh bouquets from Small Axe Farm the store was hosting.

“It's a local gem and we're so happy to support the new owners,” Susan Nilson said about the general store.

Natalie Nilson reminisced on the memories she had of the store growing up. She said she would come to the store after school to grab ice cream, hot dogs and soda unbeknownst to her mother.

Both women said the store is a great place to see people and build community since it's the center of town.

“I think it's important that we support local businesses and that we have this as a gathering place for our community and we want them to be able to thrive in this location,” Susan Nilson said. “I can't imagine this being anything else but a general store.”

The Marion General Store is located at 140 Front St. The store will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m and Sunday from 7:30 am to 4 p.m.