(January 2, 2020) Sydney Cariel has lived only in warm weather climates. However, a new career opportunity means she’s had to purchase her first winter wardrobe. An STAA member, Cariel is the new sports anchor/reporter at ABC12 WJRT in Flint, MI.
A native of sun-splashed California and a graduate of Arizona State University, Cariel spent the past two years as a sports anchor/reporter at NewsWest 9 KEWS in Odessa, TX.
While winter weather is new to Cariel, the fact that she has family in Michigan is easing her transition. “I do have family around so I don’t feel homesick or anything like that,” she grinned during an interview with fellow WJRT sports staffer Jason Lewis.
Ironically, Lewis is also an ASU grad.
In her new role, Cariel is covering high school and college sports, Flint Firebirds hockey, and the contentious Michigan-Michigan State rivalry.
Cariel joined STAA in June. The Flint opening was emailed to her in early November.
“Sydney is very talented,” says STAA Owner Jon Chelesnik. “She’s bubbly and energetic – a terrific blend of substance and personality.”
In Odessa, Cariel especially enjoyed reporting on Texas high school football. “The community and richness of it all was so authentic,” she says.
At Arizona State, Cariel covered Milwaukee Brewers spring training and won a student Emmy Award for sports reporting. She interned at NBC Sports Bay Area for two summers and worked for Cox Media as a high school football sideline reporter.
(Visit Sydney’s website).