Thread by @Sports_Aaron, I am very proud of @RomeovilleKid for how he handles himself, especially [...]

I am very proud of @RomeovilleKid for how he handles himself, especially some of the challenges I threw at him the past few months. He's always been a strong writer and reporter but getting out of your comfort zone can be tough, and he handled it. Here are a few examples. 1/10

The theme of the year is how do you navigate a sports season with COVID-19. There was a lot of stress that came of that.

Humanizing the impact of attendance limits was told well by @RomeovilleKid with this piece that went A1. #NWIpreps 2/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/athletes-families-navigate-restricted-attendance-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/article_d05f656c-c07e-5fa5-a590-373b990a34e6.html

Athletes, families navigate restricted attendance amid coronavirus pandemic

"I just miss it so much," Marilyn Buczkowski said of watching her granddaughter play sports.

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/athletes-families-navigate-restricted-attendance-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/article_d05f656c-c07e-5fa5-a590-373b990a34e6.html

We can't forget about the officials, right? Without stripes, there are no games, and the depth of reporting, data, sources really told the story of the impact of COVID-19 on officiating. @RomeovilleKid #NWIpreps 3/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/watch-now-stripe-life-officials-make-tough-calls-personally-professionally-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/article_f1d9bfec-bd3a-5610-b6de-0f8fe7dedb6a.html

WATCH NOW: Stripe life: Officials make tough calls personally, professionally amid coronavirus...

Fans notice officials for significant calls but without referees there would be no season. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Times dives into what challenges have been overcome, a shortage and

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/watch-now-stripe-life-officials-make-tough-calls-personally-professionally-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/article_f1d9bfec-bd3a-5610-b6de-0f8fe7dedb6a.html

And then Indy hosting the NCAA Tournament allowed us an extra week, so I said go to Kouts on a Saturday and get a community story. It became a Hoosiers-like tale. @RomeovilleKid @KoutsMHS #NWIpreps 4/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/watch-now-kouts-residents-abuzz-over-boys-basketball-teams-upcoming-trip-to-state/article_f4c6d534-dc57-57ee-b73a-ce6f2243096d.html

WATCH NOW: Kouts residents abuzz over boys basketball team's upcoming trip to state

Residents of the small Porter County community can't wait to see their beloved Mustangs play for the Class A championship this weekend.

https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/watch-now-kouts-residents-abuzz-over-boys-basketball-teams-upcoming-trip-to-state/article_f4c6d534-dc57-57ee-b73a-ce6f2243096d.html

On short notice he turned a great story on longtime @CHS__Trojans softball coach LouAnn Hopson, a champion of high school softball, a few days after she died. @RomeovilleKid #NWIpreps 5/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/legendary-chesterton-coach-louann-hopson-remembered-as-trailblazer/article_8aeed6ee-b031-5c7a-856a-bf6b0564b4a3.html

Legendary Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson remembered as 'trailblazer'

"She was one of the few people who took the game from something the girls did in the summer time to making it an official IHSAA sport."

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/legendary-chesterton-coach-louann-hopson-remembered-as-trailblazer/article_8aeed6ee-b031-5c7a-856a-bf6b0564b4a3.html

And then @RomeovilleKid is a strong column writer, finding unique stories about people that will pull your heartstrings, like this one of @CNTWarriors' @Floresmark367. #NWIpreps 6/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/james-boyd-calumet-football-star-mark-flores-calls-college-scholarship-a-gift-from-late-mother/article_9f25fe5d-9dbc-57ac-8950-94481b519e2f.html

JAMES BOYD: Calumet football star Mark Flores calls college scholarship 'a gift' from late mother

"This is her way of telling me to keep going and keep moving forward and that she's not done watching."

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/james-boyd-calumet-football-star-mark-flores-calls-college-scholarship-a-gift-from-late-mother/article_9f25fe5d-9dbc-57ac-8950-94481b519e2f.html

And others that were, for me, educational or maybe humanized things in a better light, as this column he wrote last summer did and the OPEN DIALOGUE series that he did so well with. @RomeovilleKid 7/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/james-boyd-as-a-black-sports-writer-i-will-not-stick-to-sports-george-floyds/article_4af5bd3e-ad1d-5748-8f68-bc5642b15709.html

JAMES BOYD: As a Black sportswriter, I will not stick to sports; George Floyd's death is personal

"Before judging Black people based off our emotional reactions, you must first acknowledge and address the institutional and systemic racism that continues to light that fuse within us."

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/james-boyd-as-a-black-sports-writer-i-will-not-stick-to-sports-george-floyds/article_4af5bd3e-ad1d-5748-8f68-bc5642b15709.html

Then there was his reporting on the Lighthouse incident that drew national headlines. He turned a great folo because he was there and could accurately report with comments from all parties. @RomeovilleKid #NWIpreps 8/10 https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/ejection-of-lighthouse-coach-nick-moore-at-his-alma-mater-overshadows-inaugural-steel-city-showcase/article_e3812724-905c-5b13-b2b1-0a583752492f.html

Ejection of Lighthouse coach Nick Moore at his alma mater overshadows inaugural Steel City Showcase

Lighthouse coach Nick Moore, who won state playing for Bowman in 2010, was one of two people ejected at his alma mater on Friday. The IHSAA is investigating the incident.

https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/ejection-of-lighthouse-coach-nick-moore-at-his-alma-mater-overshadows-inaugural-steel-city-showcase/article_e3812724-905c-5b13-b2b1-0a583752492f.html

And then was able to follow up when Lighthouse fired Nick Moore, and then again on how the team responded following his firing. @RomeovilleKid #NWIpreps 9/10
FIRING: https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/gary-lighthouse/update-nick-moore-out-as-lighthouse-coach-ihsaa-places-program-on-probation/article_bf50e6e3-de30-5b0f-9bbf-58c5d0f5f49f.html
FOLLOW: https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/gary-lighthouse/undefeated-since-viral-incident-lighthouse-rallies-together-under-interim-coach-kendall-nichols/article_bc36e839-8650-5678-9a5b-f9f9ee3a2496.html

Undefeated since viral incident, Lighthouse rallies together under interim coach Kendall Nichols

"We just want to prove to everybody that doubted us and judged us that we really mean business. We really mean business, and we're really who we are — Lions."

https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/gary-lighthouse/update-nick-moore-out-as-lighthouse-coach-ihsaa-places-program-on-probation/article_bf50e6e3-de30-5b0f-9bbf-58c5d0f5f49f.html

All this to say, I know you're prepared to handle this new adventure, and I'll miss having you around reporting on the Region, @RomeovilleKid.

And to show #Illini fans they're getting someone who will keep them informed and also connect you with players and coaches. 10/10

You can follow @Sports_Aaron.

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