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‘Nothing but love for the 209’: Record’s sports reporter off to pursue new adventure

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3 months ago

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‘Nothing but love for the 209’: Record’s sports reporter off to pursue new adventure

It almost doesn’t feel real but my time as the sports reporter for The Record has come to an end.

I was barely an adult when I arrived in the 209 two years ago, bright-eyed and eager to prove that I was a real journalist.

I was learning how to drive, living alone for the first time, and in my first “big girl” job out of college but despite all that, the Stockton community gave me a platform to grow.

Every coach, parent, athletic director and San Joaquin County sports fan I encountered didn’t mind telling me about the area’s history and all that I missed before becoming a part of the sports community.

As I learned about the city, I realized just how special and beautiful this diverse and adverse sports scene is.

The hot August Friday nights where I watched players leave their hearts on the field every night became the highlight of my weeks. Games with blue banners on the line were like holidays. Late-night basketball games with standing room only taught me how deep S.J. County rivalries ran — and that sportsmanship and the love for their craft ran even deeper.

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Covering the young and hungry athletes of this area made me fall in love with the city. Telling sports stories in Stockton gave me a chance to not only prove how lively sports are in the 209 but also just how special the folks behind the scoresheet are.

Along the way, with the help of our small but mighty Record crew, I was able to revitalize 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 over text, practice visits and post-game interviews helped me become a mini-expert of S.J. County athletes.

With so much love and gratitude I want to say thank you 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 guys helped me become the woman and the reporter I am today.

Thanks to this community I will be pursuing a new opportunity in the USA TODAY Network. I hope to bring dedicated reporting to this new sports community and highlight their young stars as I did here. This opportunity is getting me one step closer to achieving my dream of covering a professional sports team one day.

As I strive for my dream, I will never forget what has gotten me here. The athletes who made me truly fall in love with sports. The sports families who helped develop my drive. This community entrusted me with telling their stories and The Record took a chance on me.

You are all some real ones. This place and publication will always hold a special place in my heart. I have nothing but love for the 209 and I can’t wait to see from afar what you do next.

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