Classmate profile rough draft

Hockey lovers revel in the chill of the ice, the resound of skates slicing across the rink and the rush of unfiltered fights rising out of nowhere. 

But for Taylor Lupetti, the thrill doesn't come from being on the ice.

She takes satisfaction in the lights, camera and action behind the scenes.

"I've been going to Sharks games since I was about three years old and hockey was the first sport I ever fully understood... I knew then that it was something I always wanted to be around," said Lupetti.

After being a huge fan her whole life, Lupetti took her love for the San Jose Sharks to an entirely new level.

"I turned that passion into a career and my love of hockey combined with that to make me want to become a broadcaster for the Sharks."

Last semester, this dream came true when Lupetti became an insider for the San Jose Barracuda, the American Hockey League affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.

"I started writing with the Barracuda last fall as a steppingstone to get to the Sharks. It's been really great because next fall I get to start with the Sharks media team in broadcast."

Knowing the in and outs about hockey helps Lupetti to thrive in her job. Being able to know what questions to ask and all the correct terms to use is a vast advantage. 

"It's something that I am really proud of because you don't know a lot of girls who know hockey the way I do."

For Lupetti, a love of sports wasn't something that came out of the blue. It runs in the family.

"I grew up the daughter of a sports producer so I was always around [sports]. My brother never got into sports so I turned into my dad's 'jock' and played everything."

Growing up, Lupetti dabbled in soccer and basketball before falling in love with softball, dance and cheer. 

"I started dancing when I was 2-years-old and competitively when I was 8. At 9 I was ranked nationally in solo competitive tap dancing and was able to hold that title until I was 12."

Lupetti had full support from both of her parents when it came to softball and dance.

"I started playing softball when I was 2 and eventually became an all-star player," Lupetti said. "I played third base because that was what my dad played and he was my coach... I had my dad with me at softball and I had my mom there to teach me dance and cheer."

Lupetti's dad, Pete, says that although he definitely was an influence in his daughter's love of sports, he always encouraged her to do her own thing.

"Her mom and I never pushed her into sports, it was something that she always gravitated to," said Pete. "I'd like to think it's because her mom and I were both athletic but she really has a mind of her own."

Pete is an established sports producer for KTVU in Oakland. Taylor says she grew up visiting her dad in the studio and fell in love with the lifestyle. 

"I never thought she'd want to follow in my footsteps of sports journalism but it's always a great thing to have your kid tell you that they want to do what you do in life," said Pete.