Lalley: Matt Zimmer bringing local sports insight to Sioux Falls Live

SIOUX FALLS – We’ve got a bit of news at Sioux Falls Live.

More specifically, sports news.

I’m excited to welcome sports writer Matt Zimmer to our team.

Matt’s well known in the Sioux Falls community for his many years as reporter and columnist. Today is his first day reporting for Sioux Falls Live and the Mitchell Republic.

How does that work, exactly?

Sioux Falls Live is part of the Forum Communications network based in Fargo. The company also owns the Mitchell Republic, the Forum and WDAY-TV in Fargo and local news operations across the Upper Midwest, including in Grand Forks, Duluth and Rochester.

So it’s a big footprint.

Don’t worry. Matt will still write about South Dakota State University, as he’s done for many years.

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But he also has deep sources and understanding of college and high school sports in the Sioux Falls area. So also expect coverage of events and happenings at the metro high schools, Augustana University, the University of Sioux Falls or our local pro teams.

And yes, even my alma mater, the University of South Dakota.

I’ve known Matt and worked with him for many years. So it’s gratifying to again connect and, beyond that, be part of bringing his insight to the followers of Sioux Falls Live.

We’re just getting started.

We launched SiouxFallsLive.com about two months ago and the response has been fantastic. We’re growing our social media channels so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter .

My weekly newsletter is up and running, which you can sign up for now on the homepage.

That’s the groundwork.

We call it Live for a reason.

In the coming months expect more developments on the Sioux Falls television signal that Forum Communications purchased last year.

Plus, we’ll be doing more live digital broadcasting through our site and social media.

In fact, look for a conversation with me and Matt, hopefully later this week.

He hit the ground running on his first day with a column about his personal experiences with SDSU football coach John Stiegelmeier, who announced his retirement following the team’s victory in the national championship.

Be sure to read that here.

It’s an exciting time to be part of local media in Sioux Falls. This is a vibrant community where people want to know what’s really going on.

I believe what you’re seeing is the latest wave of what’s so well documented in the anthology “City of Hustle,” which I previously wrote about.

It’s the idea that if you want to see something happen, you can make it happen.

I see it every day in business, education and even government.

And it’s on display in the mountain bike trails financed and built by Falls Area Singletrack, a nonprofit group that continues to expand options for bikers, hikers and runners in the city.

Or Let’s Skate, which is on the cusp of constructing an amazing skateboard park at Drake Springs.

Or the many youth club teams in sports of all kinds, who spend countless hours in the pursuit of excellence, traveling the region and the nation, and excelling at every level. Those teams require an incredible amount of support from families and local businesses to make it happen.

And they do.

I’m blessed to witness and document this wonderful city and lucky to call it home.

Thankfully, I’m surrounded by colleagues like Matt Zimmer who share the love of community, but also the commitment to tell the stories — good and bad — that will inspire us and challenge us to keep it that way.

Welcome to the team Zim.

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