On February 9, 2026, Jeff Schudel, a seasoned sports writer for The News Herald, stood confidently in the middle of the journalism classroom at Mentor High School. Students sat scattered around, their bodies turned toward him as if drawn by his presence, eager to jot down each piece of wisdom he shared. Schudel spoke in a steady, commanding voice. “I warn you, it’s not a nine-to-five job,” he said. Reflecting on his 53-year career in journalism, he shared insights that left a lasting impression on the students, all the while showcasing his extensive experience.
As questions flowed and answers followed, one student asked, “What makes a story more than just a recap of the game?” Schudel said, “You need to get in and talk to the players—find out why the game ended the way it did.” He added, “Sometimes those interviews can be uncomfortable, but you can’t let that bother you.” Drawing from his own experiences that earned him the respect of players, he explained, “They know what I’m trying to do. I ask tough questions but not in an antagonistic way.”
Reflecting on how his career in sports writing began, he mentioned seeing a small ad in the sports section of the Geauga paper looking for sports writers. When he inquired, the editor gave him fake stats from a game and asked him to write a story. Schudel said, “They weren’t looking for a Pulitzer-winning writer. They just needed someone with good grammar and spelling.” Fortunately, he fit the bill and got the job. He credits his excellent English teachers for his writing skills, saying, “They would make us diagram sentences, but I don’t think they do that anymore.” Reminiscing, he said that reading great authors such as his favorite author, Charles Dickens, helped shape his writing as well.
He recounted how he would hitchhike from Kent State University back home so he could cover high school games taking place on Fridays and Saturdays for the Geauga paper. Then he would get a ride back to college from his parents. Ultimately he left KSU after being offered his first sports writing gig at The News Herald in 1972. He said, “I thought, why keep going to school to get a job as a sports writer when I’d already been offered it?”
Now he spends his days covering the Browns, Indians, Cavaliers, and Monsters. Among the highlights of his career were covering 18 Super Bowls, the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA championship run, the Indians’ 2016 World Series against the Cubs, and the Monsters’ 2016 Calder Cup win—moments that brought a nostalgic smile to his face.
As he immersed himself back into the scene, he described the rush—the thrill of the Monsters winning just five minutes before his deadline. He recounted building his story backwards as the game approached the third period, eyes darting to catch every detail. Then, with only 1.9 seconds left, a player on the Monsters scored, and his ears rang with the cheers and screams of celebration. He hurried to finish and fax his story to the paper and dashed back onto the ice for interviews, loving every second of the thrill. “I really like that pressure situation,” Schudel said. He emphasized that a passion for sports is essential to make the job rewarding.
