Video: Vermont scores decisive touchdown at the 2024 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl
Vermont rallies with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win 26-21 over New Hampshire in the 71st Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
Hello everyone, my name is Judith Altneu and I am excited to start my position as the new sports reporter at the Burlington Free Press.
I am a native Marylander who grew up in the suburbs of Washington DC. I stayed in state for college, attending the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland and graduating this past May. I am excited to begin my career as a sports journalist in Burlington and live in a new area.
After surviving the fall 2020 semester without sports, I immediately got involved with some of the sports publications on campus at Maryland. When I got to college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in sports journalism, but didn’t know what exactly.
The first sport I followed as a local reporter was field hockey in Maryland during the 2021 spring season (since the fall season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). I knew nothing about the sport until it was assigned to me, but quickly became intrigued by it and began watching other games on Big Ten Plus.
I was the only female reporter covering the team, which helped me integrate into the group of about two dozen athletes and coaches. I couldn’t imagine a better team to cover and introduce me to sports journalism. I was a field hockey reporter for two more seasons. I’m happy to talk to anyone about college or U.S. field hockey. Covering women’s sports in Maryland has given me an appreciation for women’s sports at the professional level and I really want to expand coverage of women’s sports that get less coverage.
In addition to covering local events, I also ventured into television, pursuing my interest at Terrapin Sports Central, a student-run television organization and online publication. I learned how to operate a broadcast camera, edit video packages, and became the teleprompter expert for the weekly sports show while making some lasting friendships. Eventually, I realized that writing was my greatest strength, and I pursued that path with passion.
In addition to field hockey, I have had the privilege of covering football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and men’s lacrosse in Maryland.
My experience has led me to cover memorable games as a television reporter, including Ryan Ramsey’s perfect game for Maryland’s baseball team. I was in Nashville for the Music City Bowl. I witnessed the field being stormed after Maryland’s No. 3 basketball team beat Purdue and sat courtside to cover Maryland’s women’s basketball team in the NCAA tournament. I was there when Maryland field hockey coach Missy Meharg earned her 600th career win.
Studying in-state had its advantages, as I was often one of the few student reporters to attend games and media events in person right before and during college breaks, which gave me the opportunity to really grow as a reporter.
Despite my roots in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia), I grew up a New York Jets fan (my dad’s family is originally from New York). My interest in sports started when I would watch Jets games with my dad and learn the names of the key players (Darrelle Revis, Thomas Jones, and Braylon Edwards, to name a few). As I got older, I became more interested in the NFL as a whole and enjoyed watching any good or close game, which led to me being a fan of the JETS, Jets, Jets, Jets.
Besides the Terps, my favorite sports team in the DMV is the Washington Nationals. I became a fan around the time the Nats started competing for the World Series. I was in the parade after the 2019 World Series run. I’m also a fan of the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.
So far, Burlington has treated me well and I’m grateful for the many kind drivers who have let me turn onto the road. Coming from the DMV, I’m not used to friendly drivers. I’m excited to experience all that Vermont and New England have to offer, so if you have any recommendations for activities, restaurants, hikes, events, etc., please send them my way. My email is [email protected] and my Twitter/X handle is @Judith_Altneu. I look forward to meeting many of you soon.
Become a member of the Vermont Varsity Insider Facebook group at https://bit.ly/2MGSfvX.
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
