Jeff Arenz has been named sports editor of the Creston News Advertiser.
Arenz, a native of Streator, Illinois, comes to the CNA from The Hutchison News, where he worked as sports editor.
In addition to his duties at the CNA, Arenz will also serve as sports editor of the Osceola Sentinel Tribune, Adair County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer.
“I want to produce a sports section that everyone will enjoy no matter if you’re five or 85,” said Arenz. “I want to get to know the athletes and I want to share their stories ... I have some ideas and I want to make some changes to the sports section that I think people will like. I just want to make sure a wide variety of sports that are presented in the sports section to where everyone has something to read.”
In his 23 years of sports writing, Arenz said he has covered everything from Little League to professional sports.
“I’ve done a little bit of everything. I don’t think there is a sport that I haven’t covered,” he said.
Despite the wide coverage, Arenz said his first love is baseball.
“Only because I was an umpire for 13 years and it was the first sport that I became interested in when I was kid,” he said.
Even though Arenz grew up in north central Illinois behind “enemy lines,” the St. Louis Cardinals fan is not a fan of the Chicago Cubs.
“We don’t need to go into how I feel about the Cubs,” Arenz said with a chuckle.
Despite his feelings towards the Cubs, Arenz said he likes Chicago and its professional sports.
“I’m a Bears fan, a Bulls fan and a Blackhawks fan,” Arenz said.
When it comes to college football, Arenz roots for the home team.
“I know Hawkeye and Cyclone fans aren’t going to like that I root for the University of Illinois, which is my home state.”
To congratulate Arenz or to send him a story idea, contact him at jarenz@crestonnews.com, 641-782-2141 ext. 6439 or follow him on Twitter @CNASports.
