Posted
November 07, 2024
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Danny Ottiger '25 of Rocky River grew up dreaming of sinking shots on a pro court. As a freshman and sophomore, he played basketball for the Eagles. However, after joining St. Edward's Sports Business Club, his aspirations shifted from shooting hoops to shooting photos!
Now, the athlete-turned-artist and entrepreneur has built an impressive portfolio of creative work. Through his design, photography, and videography skills, Danny elevates the social media presence of his clients—including the St. Edward Eagles.
Before enrolling at St. Edward, Danny attended St. Bernadette School. He is the younger brother of Jake ’21, and has a twin brother—Ryan ’25.
The Sports Business Club gives students the chance to dive into sports-related business projects and hear directly from industry leaders. One standout guest speaker was Zach Gayer, the director of social media for the Golden State Warriors, who inspired Danny Ottiger to explore the exciting world of sports social media. Inspired by Gayer's insights, Danny started designing graphics for the Eagle volleyball Instagram page, and his interest in sports media ignited!
Athletic Director Pete Kahler ’02, who moderates the club, played a key role in guiding Danny toward his newfound passion. “Once he joined the club, he ran with it,” Kahler recalls. “Danny is self-taught. He exemplifies that if you put in the work, St. Ed’s will accelerate your career path.”
In a short period of time, Danny built an impressive portfolio, which led to an internship with Catch the Blitz, a popular social media platform for football fans. Danny worked for both Catch the Blitz and the St. Edward Office of Athletics, covering Eagle football throughout the 2023 state championship season. “I was able to travel with the varsity team to every game, design social media graphics, and meet some great people along the way,” Danny said.
One of my favorite memories was when I made a social media graphic featuring a senior player. After the game, I showed it to him and his whole family was there, too. His mom and grandma teared up, and they gave me a big hug. I hadn’t realized how much something so simple could mean to others. Moments like that truly show the brotherhood, community, and family we have at St. Ed’s.
As his skills developed, Danny began offering videography services as well. His clientele grew to include St. Edward basketball and baseball teams, as well as some local small businesses.
This past September, an exciting opportunity came his way. Mr. Kahler informed Danny that adidas would be shooting a commercial at St. Edward High School, featuring Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell. Danny was offered the chance to intern on the professional set, gaining behind-the-scenes experience in lighting, production logistics, and more.
For three days, I worked on a professional set with producers and directors from across the country. I had the opportunity to network with and learn from them—all without leaving campus! It was incredible!
Danny with Tom Bender, founder of Merci.
Needless to say, Danny Ottiger '25 has a bright future ahead of him. Along with building a thriving small business, he is also pursuing the prestigious IB Diploma. He serves as co-president of the Sports Business Club and is a councilman in the National Honor Society. Danny is applying to a number of prestigious colleges, including Northwestern, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Michigan, Florida, and Ohio State, with plans to double-major in economics and an arts-related field.
Reflecting on his journey at St. Edward, Danny appreciates the wide range of opportunities the school provides. “St. Ed’s is a place where you can create your own journey. If you keep pursuing your interests, there’s no limit as to where you can go.”
Danny with Ohio State football players Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau.
To see more of Danny’s work, visit his website.