If you’re a regular reader of The Kewanee Voice, you may have already seen my name once before.
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to write for The Kewanee Voice about my experience covering Super Bowl 60 Media Week in San Francisco. Now, I’m excited to return to the publication, this time as a sports reporter covering high school athletics throughout the area.
For those who don’t know me, my name is Tyler Piester, and I’m from Galva. I graduated from Galva High School in 2022 before attending Bradley University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in political science in 2024. Most recently, I graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a master’s degree in sports journalism.
During my time at ASU, I had the opportunity to cover the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl 60 Media Week, Arizona Diamondbacks baseball and college athletics. I’ve also covered high school sports and previously worked with the Peoria Rivermen, where I gained experience in writing and social media.
As exciting as it is to cover a World Cup or the Super Bowl, there’s something special about covering high school sports.
High school sports are about more than the final score. They’re about the athletes who show up every day and put in the work, the parents and grandparents filling the stands, the coaches who dedicate countless hours to their teams and the communities that rally around their schools.
That’s what I hope to capture with my writing.
My goal is to provide readers with more than just scores and statistics. I want to tell the stories behind the games – the athletes, coaches, teams and communities that make local sports special.
Coming home and getting the opportunity to cover the communities and schools I grew up around is something I’m excited about. I know how important local sports are to this area because I grew up watching them and participating in them myself.
I’m excited to get started and to help tell the stories of the athletes and communities that mean so much to this area.
