Hidden behind the camera and keyboard as the interim sports information specialist, Cara Heise tracks all 18 Comet sports programs, recording final scores, capturing photos and the quiet in-between moments of Palomar College athletics.
Fans remember the athletes, but few think about the person who turns those moments into stories. Heise manages everything from statistics to photography and social media, often handling multiple responsibilities in a single game night.
Her connection to Palomar began long before she took on the role. Heise grew up around the campus and its courts while her mother, Flecicia Heise, worked as a Comet athletic trainer. Returning as an adult meant working alongside coaches and employees who had known her since childhood.
“It was strange at first, but it pushes me to prove myself as a professional,” Heise said.
But the path back was not always smooth.
While pursuing a master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in sports media, a professor told Heise she was not cut out for the field.
Even so, she persisted. She turned that moment into motivation, earning her degree in 2019 and keeping that focus in everything she does now.
“I just kind of took that as fuel and said, ‘I’m going to prove you wrong,’” Heise said.
At Palomar, Heise captures everything from game highlights to the quieter moments most people never see — athletes taping ankles before games, comforting each other after tough losses or laughing over inside jokes during away-game trips.
The best part of the job for her is not buzzer-beaters or game-winning goals, but understanding the everyday realities student-athletes face. Many juggle multiple jobs, injuries, family responsibilities and personal challenges while still competing at a high level.
“People don’t always see what they go through,” Heise said. “But it makes you respect their wins even more.”
Heise is often the first person athletes meet on media day and one of the last they see before graduating or transferring. Those bookend moments have become another highlight of her job.
Working with athletes is only part of it, so when working with coaches and reporters Heise adjusts accordingly. With athletes, she stays relaxed. With coaches, she keeps things direct. When larger media outlets cover Palomar, she serves as the bridge between the campus and outside press.
Athletics Director Daniel Lynds described her as “exceptional,” pointing to the way she approaches coverage of student-athletes with care and attention.
Lynds said Heise’s impact is seen in the day-to-day operations rather than in any single moment.
“Her passion and talent show up in the work,” Lynds said. “She is a strong contributor to the athletic department and an advocate for our student-athletes.”
She has also learned when to act quickly and when to pause. Game recaps and photo galleries move fast, but some updates require collaboration and careful review.
“You learn what needs another set of eyes,” Heise said. “It’s not just content, it’s people’s lives.”
After nearly 7 years of capturing games, setbacks and everything in between, Heise finally feels she’s built her own identity at Palomar.
“I think people know me for me now,” Heise said. “Not just Flecicia Heise’s daughter. And that means a lot.”