About Us

Michael Citro – Managing Editor

Michael is the founder and managing editor of The Mane Land, which he started as a free WordPress website in September of 2014. He was invited to move The Mane Land to SBNation just a few months after starting the blog. In December of 2014, he created The Mane Land PawedCast and has been the regular host ever since. Michael also publishes a multimedia music outlet called Michael’s Record Collection, which includes a newsletter, podcast, and video channel. He received his degree in journalism from The Ohio State University in 1996 and has written for publications such as the Amarillo Globe-News, Toledo Blade, Palm Beach Post, and Deseret News. He spent five years with the NHL’s Florida Panthers, managing the club’s publications.

Sean Rollins – Senior Columnist

Sean has been with The Mane Land since December of 2014, when it was still a free WordPress site. He remained on staff as a senior columnist throughout the site’s eight-plus years at SBNation. Sean has covered Orlando City B since its inaugural season in 2016 and the Orlando Pride since 2021. Additionally, he has contributed to Orlando City match coverage, breaking news, and feature stories for the site. Prior to joining The Mane Land, Sean earned a degree in English from Clemson University.  Aside from our founder, Sean is the longest tenured member of the TML staff.

David Rohe – Senior Columnist

David has been with The Mane Land since June of 2015, starting as a staff writer and working his way up to senior columnist. In November of 2016, he became the co-host of The Mane Land PawedCast. David’s work includes Lion Links, feature stories, and match coverage of both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. A graduate of Stetson University, David received his bachelor’s degree in English. He is the president of Olde Fields Battalion, the supporters group for Tallahassee Soccer Club (NPSL). In addition to his wife and children, he loves the Mailbagbox. 

Marcus Mitchell – Editor/Senior Columnist

Marcus joined The Mane Land in October 2016 as an editor but he also contributes as a writer. His contributions include Lion Links and match coverage. Marcus earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tampa and served as the sports editor and a writer for the school newspaper, The Minaret, for three years.

Ben Miller – Senior Columnist

Ben joined The Mane Land as a staff writer in August of 2017 and worked his way up to a senior columnist role. He has been the primary writer of the site’s popular Intelligence Report pieces and contributes Lion Links, feature stories, and game coverage. Ben received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Towson University and has worked as an athletic trainer at the high school level since 2018.

Dan MacDonald – Photographer

Dan joined The Mane Land staff in May of 2018 and contributes feature and action photos to the site, covering Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, as well as national team matches at Exploria Stadium. His work has provided TML readers with standout photo galleries since he joined the team. Dan’s talents also helped bring this new TML website to life.

Joshua Taylor – Staff Writer

Joshua Taylor joined The Mane Land staff in February of 2020. He primarily contributes to Lion Links but has also worked on game coverage during his time with the site. Joshua graduated from the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting at Full Sail University in April 2021. He served as a game-day operations intern with the Orlando SeaWolves in 2018-2019 and has covered the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for TheCup.us. After moving to Chicago, he worked with the NISA’s Chicago House AC, planning and producing video content for the club’s digital media needs. He also managed the broadcast operations for the club’s home matches and wrote weekly previews, recaps, and press releases.

Ryan Smith – Staff Writer

Originally from Tennessee, Ryan became an Orlando City season ticket member while living in nearby Melbourne. While looking for team coverage, Ryan found The Mane Land PawedCast and joined The Mane Land in March of 2022 as a staff writer. He played competitive soccer for 16 years, traveling throughout the Southeast at the club and collegiate levels. He later transitioned into coaching and has helped lead his teams to numerous state championship tournaments. He now resides with his wife and dog in Lexington, KY, where he is the director of operations for a world-class, rock-climbing facility. His contributions to the site include Lion Links and match coverage.

Nic Josey – Staff Writer

Nic joined The Mane Land staff in November of 2022 after relocating to Central Florida from Michigan in 2020 and becoming an Orlando City season ticket member. An emergency physician by day and an avid sports fan by night…well, also by day…his contributions include feature stories and match coverage.

Sam Denker – Staff Writer

Sam joined The Mane Land as staff writer covering the Orlando Pride in 2024 after several years as a season ticket member. Sam has been frequenting Pride matches since moving to Central Florida for his day job as an engineer at the Kennedy Space Center. Having grown up in Minnesota, his favorite MLS club is, unfortunately, Minnesota United, so he will stick to NWSL coverage.

S. Andrew DeSalvo – Staff Writer

Andrew joined The Mane Land staff in June of 2024 and contributes analysis pieces on both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. He is a lifelong soccer fan and played competitively at the club and interscholastic level for 15 years and coached for four years while working as a high school mathematics teacher. Andrew earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Rollins College and his master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, and resides in Oviedo with his wife and two children. His whole family knows that when it comes to soccer, Florida is purple.