It feels almost unreal, but my time as a sports reporter for The Record is over.
I was barely an adult when I arrived at 209 two years ago, bright-eyed and eager to prove that I was a real journalist.
I learned to drive, lived on my own for the first time, and had my first “adult job” after college, but through it all, the Stockton community provided me with a platform to grow.
Every San Joaquin County coach, parent, athletic director and sports fan I met had no problem telling me about the history of the area and what I missed before becoming part of the sports community.
As I got to know the city, I realized how special and beautiful this diverse and challenging sports scene is.
Hot Friday nights in August, watching players leave their hearts on the field each night, became the highlight of my weeks. Games involving blue banners were like holidays. Late night standing room only showed me how deep SJ County rivalries ran – and that sportsmanship and love for their craft ran even deeper.
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Covering the young and hungry athletes in this area made me fall in love with the city. Telling sports stories in Stockton gave me the chance to prove not only how vibrant sports are in the 209, but also how special the people behind the scoreboard are.
Along the way, with the help of our small but mighty Record team, I managed to revive the Record’s sports coverage. Some people thought the sports section was dead, but together we brought it back to life. The phone calls, hundreds of links sent via text, practice visits and post-game interviews helped me become a bit of an expert on SJ County athletes.
With so much love and gratitude, I want to thank Stockton. Thank you Manteca, thank you Lodi, thank you Tracy, thank you Lathrop, thank you Escalon, thank you Ripon, thank you Linden and thank you Mountain House. You helped me become the woman and reporter I am today.
Thanks to this community, I will be pursuing a new opportunity with the USA TODAY Network. I hope to provide this new sports community with engaging coverage and spotlight their young stars like I have done here. This opportunity brings me one step closer to my dream of one day covering a professional sports team.
As I pursue my dream, I will never forget what got me here. The athletes who instilled in me a love of the sport. The sports families who helped me develop my drive. This community trusted me to tell their stories and The Record gave me a chance.
You are all true heroes. This place and this release will always have a special place in my heart. I have nothing but love for the 209 and can’t wait to watch from afar what you do next.
