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