MBS Sport Management Students Win First Place at National Case Competition
A team of Maine Business School Sport Management students demonstrated their analytical and strategic expertise by securing first place in a prestigious case competition at the annual College Sport Research Institute (CSRI) Conference in South Carolina. Competing against top programs from across the nation, the team was tasked with advising a Power-4 athletic department on how to distribute $20 million in revenue-sharing funds for student-athletes—navigating the complexities of equity, competitive success, and financial sustainability in the evolving landscape of college athletics.
The winning team—Brianna Townsend, Noah Chretien, Elaina Panagakos, and Cooper Williams—was advised by MBS faculty Dr. Nick Swim. Their proposal carefully balanced fair athlete compensation with the university’s strategic priorities, factoring in sport-specific revenue generation, Olympic sport success, and existing NIL funding. Using a data-driven model, the students devised a solution that ensured financial support based on success for all competing athletes while maintaining the long-term competitiveness of the athletic department.
“The students created a unique and equitable case solution,” Dr. Swim says. “They took into account a lot of various important factors currently impacting college sports in today’s landscape. It was a pleasure to advise them throughout the case study preparation.”
The competition required students to present their solutions in 10 minutes, followed by a five-minute Q&A session with judges. As the top undergraduate team, they earned the honor of publicly presenting their case study solution to all conference participants.
Preparation, Research, and Real-World Application
“Our students pushed themselves beyond the classroom, focusing on research, strategy, and presentation refinement,” Dr. Swim says. “They approached this case with the same level of intensity and creativity that top industry professionals would, demonstrating their ability to tackle complex, real-world challenges in college athletics.”
“We researched the implications of Title IX, how other schools were planning to distribute revenue, the House settlement itself, and South Carolina’s success over the 2023-24 season in order to apply our success points model,” explains Brianna Townsend, a member of the UMaine Field Hockey Team.
Their preparation included multiple practice runs, strategy meetings, and design sessions to refine their presentation.
“Our presentation involved extensive discussions, late nights designing compelling visuals, and plenty of practice to ensure we delivered our message effectively,” says Noah Chretien.
A Different Kind of Competition
For Elaina Panagakos, a student-athlete on UMaine’s track and field team, the competition was an exciting opportunity to channel her competitive drive into an academic challenge.
“I was excited to compete in an academic challenge,” Panagakos says. “I drew from my own experiences as a college athlete to inform our proposal. It was fascinating to hear different perspectives from other schools and receive insightful feedback from professors.”
Beyond the competition, students valued the opportunity to network with Sport Management students and faculty from across the country.
“Conferences like CSRI are an incredible way to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting,” Panagakos notes. She and Townsend also shared how the experience deepened their interest in sport research and inspired them to consider graduate school.
By combining rigorous research, innovative thinking, and real-world application, this first-place victory not only highlights the strength of the MBS Sport Management program but also prepares these students to be leaders in the future of college athletics.