Any member of the journalism program at WHS knows the name Michael Liebermann, the father of Hi’s Eye Sports. As just a junior in high school, Liebermann and journalism teacher Shawn McDonald collaborated to create the esteemed program now known as Hi’s Eye Sports, an offshoot of Hi’s Eye. Not only did he help develop the curriculum, but Liebermann created the Hi’s Eye Sports website during the summer leading up to his senior year.
Let’s rewind a bit, Liebermann knew journalism was his passion from a very young age. He grew up enjoying sports and it eventually led him into the realm of sports writing. “In middle school I read this fiction book about someone who becomes a sports writer and I was like, wow that is cool,” said Liebermann.
Fast forward to junior year of high school, where Liebermann’s love and drive for sports journalism felt unfulfilled in the standard Hi’s Eye newspaper. This sparked an idea for both McDonald and Liebermann: what if there was a sports journalism class? With the two of them, and the help of other students, the process to start this online publication began.
McDonald said, “Every day I talked about it with Michael and then he and Drew [Kornfeld] shared ideas, and we finalized it all together. But, [Liebermann] came up with a lot of the ideas and the way it would run. He set up the whole website platform and he really helped me figure it all out and it was very fun.”
The process of starting the website came from Liebermann’s knowledge of a blog he began freshman year of high school. He started a blog devoted to the University of Virginia’s mens basketball team and used those skills to craft a brand new website for Hi’s Eye Sports. With help from a few YouTube videos, the website was molded and a corresponding class was created for WHS students.
Close friend and classmate Drew Kornfeld said, “Michael and I were staying after class in journalism. I had a free period, and we were talking with McDonald about the potential for this [online] publication. We suggested a sports section and then began to look more into it. Michael and I went to McDonald a lot to build the structure of the class.”
Liebermann did not just view running this newspaper as an individual job, instead it was a team effort. “One of the things that surprised me about [the way the program ran] was how much I loved the group; we were really tight. We used to say we were very dysfunctional, like a little family,” said Liebermann.
His highly driven and dedicated work ethic not only allowed himself to succeed in this program, but it also motivated his classmates as well. Kornfeld said, “The reason why we functioned so well with sports journalism was because of how serious [Liebermann] took it and that speaks on how he is as a student. He cared so much about the program.”
Aside from Liebermann’s leadership, his writing was particularly unique. His expansive vocabulary and niche storylines made his articles special. “When he writes, it’s like he is composing a song. He thinks about rhythm and cadence, which a lot of people, especially teenagers, don’t do,” said McDonald.
Liebermann did not just look at his writing as some words on a paper, but rather as prized possessions. He treated each piece just as important as the next and looked forward to different styles of writing. Whether this included a feature, commitment or a game story, he put 100 percent effort and thought into each of them. Liebermann’s passion and determination is apparent when reading his work. When asked which article was his favorite, his hesitation spoke volumes, “that is like picking between babies,” he said.
One article that he mentioned has had a long-lasting impact on many members of the WHS community, is his article “Created by Culture,” a story about the McKeon family and their impact on Westfield and WHS basketball.
Head boys basketball coach Jim McKeon described Liebermann as “special,” speaking of both his writing and personality. “I don’t know if anybody really wants to hear about me and my family, but he took the time to sit down with me and my sister. It kind of brings to light things that maybe people do not know about, which was special,” said McKeon.
Taking a closer look into Liebermann’s experience writing, he said, “On the writing side, I remember how pure it was. Since coming to college, it is a lot different in the ‘real’ world of journalism. In high school, I just wanted to write great and beautiful stories that captured the moment. I was very idealistic about journalism then, and that’s changed unfortunately, and also sort of fortunately because the real world is the real world.”
Some people describe Liebermann’s work ethic and personality in opposing ways. Kornfeld described him as a friend who is “super caring” and “easy going.” However, when it comes to his work ethic he is “very serious. He is very motivated and extremely driven.”
McDonald said, “Michael takes everything very seriously, which most of the time is an asset. He is very smart and intellectual. He thinks deeply and cares about what he says and how he says it.” Thanks to Liebermann’s example and passion, these qualities have shaped Hi’s Eye Sports into the way it is now.
Liebermann is currently a sophomore at the University of Virginia. As a freshman, he began writing for The Cavalier Daily and is now a co-editor of the sports page. Liebermann said, “Coming to college is a million times different. It is a hard learning curve, but the cool thing about journalism is it’s the same skills everywhere. Whether it’s a high school newspaper or a professional publication, if you can write and report you can create awesome stories no matter what.”
Xander Tilock, junior at UVA, is Liebermann’s co-editor for the sports section of The Cavalier Daily. Tilock describes working with Liebermann as a “great honor and privilege.” The two have grown close since working together, and Tilock has been able to watch Liebermann develop since he stepped foot on UVA grounds.
“It’s been really rewarding to see him grow from one of those wide-eyed first years to truly one of the most important leaders on grounds, especially for sports journalism. We have gone to basketball games together, and we’re going to Israel together this summer. Michael is one of the most important people in my life,” said Tilock
Looking forward, Liebermann hopes to become a professional sports writer. He spoke of trying different types of journalism such as magazine writing, podcasting and multimedia careers. “At the end of the day, wherever I can make a living by writing sports would be the goal. I just want to write,” said Liebermann.
To any future journalists reading this article, Liebermann said, “If you want to be a good writer, you have to read a lot. That is how you notice things. You read a game story in the Washington Post and you will be like, ‘wow, they’re doing the same thing that I’m doing’ or ‘here’s what they’re doing that I never even thought of.’ Reading is the number one thing; that is how I learned.”
Liebermann established a new outlet of journalism at WHS and laid the foundation for future students to explore their passion of storytelling within sports. Not only did he make an immediate impact in Westfield’s community, but Hi’s Eye Sports was one of the first high school sports journalism programs in New Jersey, inspiring surrounding schools to follow suit.
Through his leadership, passion and remarkable writing, Liebermann inspires excellence in young writers to nurture his legacy. His unwavering commitment and deep affection for the program is unforgettable, marking his name in high school journalism history.
2 comments
Smart kid with a bright future! The CD is lucky to have him.
Dear Amanda Williams and Maya Koslowsky:
I am Michael Liebermann’s grandmother, and I would like to thank you for a great article. To read about Michael was rewarding. I would like to highlight your part: You investigated time in this subject and researched all aspects. You went into detail to describe his contribution. Few people in this world take their job so seriously and make sure to look into the past and present before writing. Thank you for being so generous, and I wish you both continue this path.