WILX-TV Announces Sports Team Changes
(L-R) Fred Heumann and Tim Staudt
Gray Television’s WILX-TV (Lansing) has announced that longtime Lansing sports reporter Fred Heumann will take on the role of co-Sports Director with the WILX Sports Team on August 1, 2021. Heumann will play a pivotal role in the day-to-day operations of the sports department.
“We are fortunate to have Fred and Tim Staudt’s decades of sports reporting experience as we head into a busy fall sports season,” said WILX-TV Vice President and General Manager Debbie Petersmark.
On Monday, August 9, following the Summer Olympics broadcast on WILX, News 10 will re-launch a nightly sportscast in its 11 p.m. newscasts. Heumann will anchor the 11 p.m. sportscasts Tuesday through Friday. Kellan Buddy will anchor the 11 p.m. sportscasts Saturday through Monday. Heumann and Buddy will co-anchor the Friday night Sports Blitz. Natalie Kerwin will be dedicated to covering sports stories, supporting all WILX on-air and digital sports platforms. The WILX Sports team has almost 100 years in combined experience.
“I am honored to have this exciting opportunity to play a larger role at News 10,” said Heumann. “My first seven months at WILX have reinvigorated me. I look forward to teaming with Tim, Kellan and Natalie to reshape our sports brand in this terrific community. It will be a blast being back on the 11 p.m. news and I look forward to working with Ann (Emmerich), David (Andrews) and Andy (Provenzano), three broadcasting icons. I thank management at WILX for entrusting me with this challenge.”
“WILX’s commitment to covering sports is a commitment to covering our local communities, highlighting local athletes with amazing stories,” said WILX-TV News Director Mike Schram.
Fred Heumann has 39 years of broadcast experience in television and radio – all in Michigan. He started at WJIM-TV (now WLNS-TV) in Lansing as a sports reporter in 1981.
Tim Staudt is in his 51st year in broadcasting, the longest in Michigan history. Tim joined WILX in July of 1980 and is celebrating the 25th year of Staudt on Sports.