Front Office

Anne Hanson
President
Email: president@watertownshamrocks.com / marketing@watertownshamrocks.com

Anne Hanson was elevated to President of the Shamrocks entering the 2026-27 season after originally joining the Shamrocks in their inaugural year as their Vice President. A Watertown native, Hanson graduated from South Dakota State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

In addition to working for the Shamrocks, Anne owns a marketing consulting firm, the Original Marketing Group. Anne resides in Watertown with her husband, Greg, and their 4 children. In her free time, she enjoys time with family, hiking, and traveling.

 

 

Blake Theisen
Vice President & Director of Broadcasting and Media
Email: media@watertownshamrocks.com

Blake Theisen was named the Vice President of the Shamrocks during the summer of 2026 to add to his original title of Director of Broadcasting and Media from when he initially joined the organization in their first season. Most recently, Theisen spent the 2022-23 season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. Prior to his time in Dubuque, he served as the broadcaster for St. Cloud State University men’s hockey for two years along with various forms of freelance work covering Minnesota high school sports and junior hockey.

Theisen graduated from St. Cloud State in the spring of 2022 with a degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in creative media. At St Cloud State, he was the Sports and News Director for two years at the campuses radio station, KVSC. He is a native of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

During his free time, Theisen enjoys golfing, video games, and spending time with his girlfriend and two dogs.

 

 

Sarah Cooper
Director of Social Media and Digital Content
Email: N/A

Sarah Cooper serves as the Director of Social Media and Digital Content. She joined the Shamrocks in 2025 as a Digital Content Intern. Cooper has experience in photography, videography, social media, journalism, and graphic design.
 
Originally from Raleigh, NC, she graduated from UNCW. While there, she was a photography intern for UNCW Hockey and covered club sports for Seahawk Central Sports. She received her bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in professional writing and minored in journalism and linguistics.  
 
Cooper spends her summers with the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. After aging out in 2024, she returned as part of the media team in 2026. In her free time, she likes to get outdoors and read.

 

 

Jenni Wirkus
Billet Coordinator
Email: billet.mom@watertownshamrocks.com

Jenni Wirkus serves as the Watertown Shamrocks Billet Coordinator. In her role, she serves as the bridge between the community of local families opening their homes to Shamrocks Players and the Shamrocks Hockey Operations staff.

As Billet Coordinator, Wirkus’ duties include arranging housing accommodations for players, handling questions and inquiries regarding new or existing billet experiences, and helping to coordinate player and family experiences outside of hockey.

Wirkus is a lifelong resident of Watertown and has raised four Watertown Laker Hockey players over the years. Hockey is her passion and she has been the South Dakota Amateur Hockey Executive Director for the last seven years. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and being able to play with her new granddaughter.

 

 

Abby Thomas
Billet Liaison
Email: liaison@watertownshamrocks.com

As the Billet Liaison, Abby Thomas serves as a primary point of contact for billet families and players and helps ensure that both have a positive experience throughout the season. 

Thomas was born and raised in Watertown and married her hockey-playing high school sweetheart, Nathan. They have 3 children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and travelling.  

Thomas said, “We chose to billet because my husband pursued the junior hockey route after graduating high school and briefly lived in a billet house. From then on, we always knew if Watertown ever got a junior hockey team, we would want to billet to give a supportive and safe space for these players as a home away from home.

As a parent, Thomas tries to put herself in the shoes of the families that trust our billet families with their kids. She hopes to bring comfort and support for these families and players to create the best possible experience while they’re in Watertown.”

 

 

Austin Thompson
Gameday Broadcast Producer and Technical Director
Email: N/A

Austin Thompson serves as the Gameday Broadcast Producer & Technical Director for the Shamrocks, leading the talented behind-the-scenes production team during home games. He is primarily responsible for setting up and managing the audio and video systems that power the team’s NATV broadcasts, while also supporting in-house production elements, including the Daktronics video displays. On game days, Austin serves as technical director, calling camera shots and executing graphics packages to deliver a professional broadcast for viewers at home.

A lifelong native of Watertown, Austin is a 2015 graduate of Watertown High School and an alumnus of the University of South Dakota. He works full-time as an Information Technology Technician for the Watertown School District, where he also assists with the production of Arrow activities and ArrowTV.

In his free time, Austin enjoys reading, tinkering with technology, listening to podcasts, watching crime dramas, and spending time with family and friends.

 

 

Olivia Sherman
Team Photographer
Email: N/A

Olivia Sherman returns to the Shamrocks as the 2025–2026 Team Photographer. A senior at Watertown High School, Olivia has been capturing dynamic sports moments for the Shamrocks in their inaugural year through her photography account @pics.by.liv.26. Her work showcases a keen eye for action and a passion for storytelling through images.
 
Beyond the Shamrocks, Olivia has expanded her portfolio to include football, basketball, lacrosse, softball, and track and field photography, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to the craft. She also does family and individual and portrait photography work. Balancing her academic responsibilities with her role as a team photographer, Olivia continues to hone her skills and contribute to the vibrant spirit of the Shamrocks community.

 

 

Ava Garza
In-Arena Host and On-Air Talent Intern
Email: N/A

Ava Garza joined the Watertown Shamrocks organization in 2026 as a digital media contributor and social content creator and in-arena host. Garza brings experience in live event coverage, sports reporting, social media strategy, and digital storytelling with a strong background in creating engaging content across multiple platforms.

Prior to joining the Shamrocks, Garza gained on-camera and production experience covering high school, collegiate, and professional sports through several media organizations. She previously worked with VYPE Media as a Sideline Reporter and Social Media Intern. Garza also serves as a host and interviewer for the In Off the Bench Podcast, conducting interviews with collegiate and professional athletes while adapting long-form conversations into engaging short-form digital content.

Garza has additionally worked as a Sideline Reporter for Space City Home Network, providing live coverage, interviews, and game analysis. During her time with LSU TigerTV Sports, she produced broadcast-ready sports packages focused on LSU athletics, contributing to script writing, editing, interviews, and multimedia storytelling. She also served as a Digital Media Ambassador for Jostens Inc., where she created promotional social media content and represented the brand at national events and conferences.

With experience in photography, videography, interviewing, live event coverage, and social media production, Garza brings creativity, energy, and a passion for sports media to the Shamrocks organization. Originally from Houston, Texas, she enjoys storytelling through digital media, connecting with communities through sports, and creating content that highlights the personalities and culture surrounding the game.

 
 
 
 

Emily Tomko
Braodcast Production Assistant Intern
Email: N/A

Emily Tomko is starting as this season’s broadcast production assistant intern. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Cleveland State University with a BFA in Film and Media Arts with a focus in cinematography and producing. 
 
She spent most of her time in high school involved in their broadcasting club, Comet Productions, and filmed almost every sports game, choir concert, and board meeting she could. She fell in love with the production aspect of things and decided to make that her career. 
 
With her background in Film, movies are a non-negotiable part of her free time. She tries to watch one movie at least every day. But she also loves to read, be outside, spend time with friends and family, and relax as much as she can!

 

 
 
 
 

Matt Schmidt
Motion Graphic Design Intern
Email: N/A

Matt Schmidt joins the Watertown Shamrocks as the 2026–27 Motion Graphics Intern. A senior at Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Matt has been creating motion graphics since his early teens, building a passion for animation, visual storytelling, and design. His role includes creating motion graphics featured on the Shamrocks’ video board and broadcasts, helping bring energy and excitement to the team’s game-day presentation.

Outside of design, Matt enjoys both indoor and outdoor rock climbing, video games, and reading. He is always looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow creatively and personally.