Former Daily Herald sports writer honored with IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award
Former Daily Herald sports writer Marty Maciaszek has been chosen to receive the IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award as part of the sixth class of journalists to earn the award.
A 1984 graduate of York High School, Maciaszek spent time on the baseball team and school newspaper staff as a Duke. The latter stuck, as he would join the staff of the Peoria Journal Star in 1987 as a senior at Bradley University. He went back north in 1990 and caught on with the Chicago Tribune, before moving to the Daily Herald in 1992. He served as preps sports coordinator for Cook County from 2000-2012.
He moved out of full-time newspaper work in 2012, but served as a correspondent for the Daily Herald through last spring and now holds that role for the Northwest Herald.
Maciaszek is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and has received media awards from the baseball and cross country/track & field high school coaches associations in the state.
"There is nothing quite like the excitement of a big Friday night football game or packed gym for a basketball game," Maciaszek said. "So many kids and coaches put so much time and energy into what they are doing that people don't see and they are doing it because it brings them great joy. The fact that the athletes and coaches are so accessible and willing to share their thoughts and stories made it tremendously appealing to me."
Maciaszek specifically recognized the schools in the Mid-Suburban League, as well as St. Viator, Maine West, Leyden and Christian Liberty for "being so accommodating and willing to share stories about themselves, their teams and their athletes."
A pair of Schaumburg state title teams (baseball in 1997 and boys basketball in 2001) stood out to Maciaszek from his career, as did Prospect's state title run (2001, 2002, 2005) in football.
Some of the student-athletes who still standout include Hoffman Estates hurdler Pierre Leinbach and Buffalo Grove's Tom Zbikowski, while Maciaszek also mentions the amazing stories of Rolling Meadows' Jimmy Garoppolo and Fremd's Scott Tolzien going from being lightly recruited high school players to NFL quarterbacks.
Professionally, Bob Leavitt of the Peoria Journal Star and Bob Frisk at the Daily Herald made their marks on Maciaszek and his career.
"My passion for covering high school sports was a direct influence from Bob Leavitt and Bob Frisk," said Maciaszek.
Maciaszek follows Frisk, the legendary and retired Daily Herald Assistant Managing Editor/Sports, and John Radtke, the Daily Herald's High School Sports Editor, in receiving the award.
The award presentation will take place at a Hersey vs. Wheeling basketball game, the date and time to be determined.