Montreat College

In August of 2021, Christian Zylstra was hired as the Assistant Sports Information Director for Montreat College Athletics. He was later promoted to Director of Athletic Communications in August of 2024. Zylstra enters his fifth year with the Cavaliers and his second as Director of Athletic Communications heading into the 2025-26 academic year.

PRIOR TO MONTREAT

Zylstra came to Montreat after a four-year stint at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa. It was at Dordt where Zylstra served as a station announcer and sponsorship coordinator for the university-owned radio station KDCR-FM. Among his many duties, Zylstra hosted 'The Good Morning Show' from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. each weekday, along with the 'Defender Football Pregame Show' on Saturdays prior to Dordt Football kickoffs. Zylstra also created and hosted a segment called 'Where Are They Now?' that featured interviews and conversations with notable Dordt Athletics alumni.

While in the Midwest, Zylstra picked up significant experience as a play-by-play radio announcer covering local high school and college sports. Zylstra acted as the No. 2 play-by-play announcer at KDCR for Dordt University women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball and football. There, Zylstra had the opportunity to broadcast Dordt University's lone appearance in the NAIA FCS Playoffs on April 17, 2021. Meanwhile, on the high school level, Zylstra broadcasted dozens of Northwest Iowa boys' and girls' regular-season and post-season basketball contests, as well as regular-season and post-season football games for Community First Broadcasting, a Midwest radio production and distribution conglomerate.

Zylstra also spent several years volunteering as a public address announcer for Dordt University Athletics. For two years, Zylstra was the primary public address announcer for home football games. He also filled in on dozens of occasions as a public address announcer for home volleyball and basketball contests.

Prior to his professional career, Zylstra earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Dordt University. While working toward his bachelor’s degree, Zylstra also spent time with the N’West Iowa Review and KSOO-FM, an ESPN Radio affiliate in Sioux Falls, S.D.  
  
Zylstra currently resides in Black Mountain, N.C.