The Journal Sentinel’s high school sports landscape encompasses 27 sports for several dozen high schools. Get to know Zac Bellman and Michael Whitlow.
Zac Bellman and Michael Whitlow cover high school sports for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Journal Sentinel’s high school sports landscape encompasses 27 sports for several dozen high schools. Get to know sports reporters Zac Bellman and Michael Whitlow:
Question: What is your origin story that brought you here?
Zac: Working in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sports department is the culmination of a goal I have had since I discovered I wanted to pursue journalism as a career around the time I was attending Hinsdale Central High School in the Chicago western suburbs. After earning my Bachelor's in Journalism from Marquette University in 2016, my first job out of school was as a general assignment reporter for the Beloit Daily News. I have not left the state since, covering high school sports and local government for the Trempealeau County Times, north of La Crosse for just over four years, joining the USA TODAY Network with the Stevens Point Journal for a year as a high school sports reporter before coming to the Journal Sentinel in 2022. Milwaukee was the first home I chose for myself when I attended Marquette, and returning to this city to give back through my journalistic exploits has been the greatest honor of my career.
Michael: When I first looked into pursuing a career in journalism, I never thought I’d end up in the state of Wisconsin. You can thank former Badgers great Sam Dekker for ruining Kentucky’s perfect 38-0 season in 2015 for that one. After graduating, I ended up in northwest Indiana (better known as "The Region") writing about La Porte County sports for a few schools in the area my father and his family grew up. But, after months and months of turmoil during a brutal pandemic across the globe while working rag-tag jobs around my hometown, the world slowly opened back up and my mind opened to the idea of writing about sports again. The next thing I know, I’m packing up my old Pontiac for Milwaukee to work at the Journal Sentinel in a state I had never even visited prior to my arrival. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Q: Why did you pursue journalism?
Zac: To paraphrase one of my journalistic heroes, the late Evan Wright, I became a writer because I "failed at everything else." By the time I was in high school, I was clearly more drawn to writing and history than math or science. Sports journalism to me was the marriage of my lifelong passion for sports and aptitudes in writing. In high school, I discovered one of Wright's books, "Generation Kill." The book and TV show it later inspired covered his time as an embedded reporter with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. I was struck by the honesty of Wright's storytelling, which captured the good and the bad, the triumphs and the mistakes. It enlightened me to the power of honest storytelling, and the reality that truly great journalism is oftentimes something that someone may NOT want published. Amidst the celebrations of local athletes and their achievements, what truly fills my cup as a journalist are stories that add context to issues facing high school sports and provide accountability for how they are handled.
Michael: The only thing I ever wanted to do was play baseball growing up. But, when the reality sets in that you’re probably not going to make the big leagues from a small Division-III program in northeast Indiana, it’s time to find a more reliable career path. My initial thought when pursuing a career was, “Well, if I can’t play sports, why not write about them?” I looked into finding a university that could provide what I needed to become a journalist and, after a bit of persuasion to my parents, I was on my way to Lexington, Kentucky, to support my beloved Wildcats and obtain a journalism degree. Despite a couple of stoppages because of life happenings around me, I found myself with a diploma. It came from what’s now formerly known as Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, but it sits in a University of Kentucky frame. (No, seriously. It does. Go Big Blue!)
Q: What is your favorite thing about covering high school sports?
Zac: High school sports coverage is so unique in that it is generally one of the last levels of sports where the vast majority of your interview subjects are actually happy to talk to you. Unlike college or the pros, where media availability can be seen as more of an obligation, there is a noticeable difference in how you are treated as a reporter at a high school game. I get a kick out of the moms trying to snap a candid photo of me talking to their son or daughter, or the occasional "Thank you for being here" comment after an interview. Bowling was my high school sport, and I can still recall how it felt to have a local reporter show up to a practice to put together a short "Get-to-know" bio on me. Seeing your name in print or recognized online can be a validating experience for a lot of kids, and it is an opportunity I try to give to as many worthy recipients as I can. I also firmly believe that high school sports coverage is an essential part of keeping a local paper "local." I am proud to work alongside many industry peers that work tirelessly at odd hours, not for their own glory, but for the celebration of athletes in the communities they serve.
Michael: It’s a simple answer really. It’s the kids. Without them, I wouldn’t have a job to begin with. But, watching them grow and become stellar athletes brings such joy into my own life. The best part is so many of them become great athletes and even better people. Being able to tell their stories is a blessing and a blast to do for a living. Whether it’s new Charlotte Hornets draft pick Kon Knueppel helping his team finish off a perfect 30-0 season or KK Arnold before she won a national title with the best program in college basketball history, or even the backup quarterback leading his team to a conference title out of nowhere, there’s always a story to tell. The thrill of pursuing those stories never wavers.
Q: What is the story you’re most proud of and why?
Zac: Picking a story I am most proud of is a bit like picking a favorite child. Several come to mind, including a story about University School of Milwaukee's Lucy Art recovering from a shark attack to later win gold at state swimming, which was recognized by the Milwaukee Press Club. Milwaukee Hamilton basketball player Simeon Murchison's story of finding community on the court while living with autism was another favorite, and was recognized nationally by the Society for Features Journalism. The story of a West Allis Hale girls coach finding strength and support from his team was one that involved a long interview on a rainy night after a game that I was proud to have seen through. Diving into Kenosha St. Joseph head boys basketball coach Jose Garcia's decision to leave the program midseason to pursue full-time ministry was a fascinating discussion yielding a powerful piece.
My feature on the late Franklin soccer coach Tomislav Markovic is the one I probably remain the most proud of, however. The production of that story involved half a dozen interviews about a man I had never met, but one I could tell had a significant impact on the soccer community in Milwaukee. The resulting transcripts were well over 10,000 words, some of the very last of which became my opening paragraph about his affinity for sausage-making. I have had several close associates of the late coach tell me I captured the essence of him and his legacy with that story, which is all you can ask for in producing that kind of piece.
Michael: There’s been a few stories I’ve written in my time here that I look back on and think about how fun they were to write, but also to watch.
One that comes to mind is Pewaukee girls basketball finally capturing its first gold ball in its third straight state title game matchup with Notre Dame Academy two seasons ago. The relief and joy those girls felt finally getting over the hump is something that’ll always stick with me.
Another was Slinger’s first of two incredible matchups with Lake Geneva Badger this past season in one of the best football games you’ll see. Owls coach Bill Jacklin and his family went through so much turmoil in previous months and for that game to seemingly vault his program toward a 14-0 season and a state title was something amazing to watch.
I could dive into the two classic five-set matchups with Divine Savior Holy Angels and Oconomowoc in the Division 1 state girls volleyball title matches during the 2022 and 2023 postseasons, but I might need five sets worth of time to describe what all happened. Those girls left everything on the court both times and it was incredible to watch both years as a neutral observer.
It probably sounds tacky and cliché to say, but my most proud story is my next one. Because I truly feel blessed to do what we do here. Journalism is important in every format. I’m immensely grateful for these kids, coaches and administrators that we communicate with year in and year out.
Reach Zac Bellman at [email protected], reach Michael Whitlow at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Journal Sentinel reporters Zac Bellman, Michael Whitlow passionate about preps
Category: General Sports
