SANDPOINT — Nearly one year ago, I introduced myself to the Bonner County community as the Daily Bee’s next city and education reporter.

Now, I’m writing to not only introduce myself as the Bee’s next sports reporter, but to reaffirm my commitment to local sports coverage. I had the privilege of sharing a newsroom with my predecessor, Max Oswald, for the last 11 months, watching his dedication and passion for this beat.  

I say all that to say; I’ve seen what it takes, and I’m not here to tear down what he built. This sports section is special and unlike many left in the nation. While my coverage won’t be Max’s, my mission is to continue that passion and continue to bring local sports coverage to your doorstep as often as I can. 

With that commitment made, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Jack Freeman; I was born and raised in California’s Bay Area, and this time last year, I was celebrating my graduation from Sacramento State University.  

I am a lifelong lover of sports. It’s been my passion since before I could walk, and I’ve almost certainly watched SportsCenter more than any other piece of media. As I’ve grown up, my passion for the medium of sports has only grown. Not just for the achievements and thrilling moments, but because every game, player, coach and fan has a story worth being told. 

During my time at Sacramento State, I covered the school’s football team and served as the sports editor for two years. I spent late nights covering games, following the Big Sky Conference and learning how tennis works while working on a tight deadline.  

While I’ve been a reporter here, I’ve also been freelancing at several online-only outlets covering the Colorado Buffaloes and the Seattle Seahawks for the last year. These experiences have kept sports writing at the top of my mind and allowed me to continue improving my skills.  

I could not be more excited to embark on this next chapter and continue to cover this through the lens of sports.  

However, this is not only my page, but yours as well. So please reach out to me at [email protected] with story suggestions, submissions and any other local content you’d like to see in the paper.