Phil Byrne

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Phil Byrne joined the KOTA Territory News staff in October 2011

as its Weekend Sports Anchor/General Assignment Reporter.

He comes to Rapid City from southeastern Michigan, where he's been a die-hard Detroit Lions fan since birth and remembers going to Lions games at the Pontiac Silverdome before he was in Kindergarten. And yes, he won't easily forget the 2008 season when his beloved Lions finished with an embarrassing 0-16 record.

Phil is a proud graduate of Central Michigan University (Fire Up Chips!) and has had his eyes set on covering sports since he was a little guy with an oversized Detroit Lions hat.

In college, Phil worked for four years as News Central 34's Sports Anchor. The program was rare, in that it was a Monday-Friday student produced nightly newscast. In 2009, Phil interned at WJBK Fox 2 News in Detroit, working under the best local sports department in the country.

He's been fortunate to have covered some amazing athletes and stories in his prep and collegiate sports broadcasting work. He's quick to tell everyone that he called 2009 Heisman Trophy winner (and High School classmate) Mark Ingram's football games in High School on his High School's cable channel, as well as cover his Chippewas' most successful four year run in its football program's history.

A native of "Hockeytown", Phil is absolutely ecstatic to cover the Rapid City Rush, but he thinks the best thing about his job is covering the fascinating stories KOTA Territory athletes have to offer with the "Subway Athlete of the Week".

Phil is still pinching himself that he is allowed to cover sports for a career. If you'd like to share a story idea, fantasy football advice (just joking!), or a recommendation for the 'Athlete of the Week' feel free to email him at: philbyrne@kotatv.com