Meet Des Moines Register staff: Columnist Travis Hines covers all things Iowa State sports

Posted by author December 24, 2024 Sports

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Job: Iowa State sports columnist

Years at the Register: Five

I grew up in: Apple Valley, Minnesota

I live in: Des Moines

I graduated from: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Family: I’ve been married to my wife, Rachelle, for 12 years, and we have three children.

Email: thines@amestrib.com

Why journalism? I think it is essential for us to have people investigating and interrogating what is happening – and why – in the world around us, especially in a time of incredible and rapid change.

I like my beat because: Covering college sports allows me to be all sorts of different reporters: Iowa State athletics is a nine-figure business; its sports teams are cultural and entertainment touchstones; there’s often a cops and courts component; and the people that populate it are endlessly interesting.

Some of the major stories I’ve covered recently: I covered Iowa State’s historic 10-win regular season in football and its second trip to the Big 12 title game in four years, which left the Cyclones still without a conference title in modern history.

Some stories I’m working on next: I’ll be locked in this winter on the Iowa State men’s basketball program’s attempt to win a regular-season Big 12 title for the first time in more than two decades and then a March Madness run the Cyclones hope will end with their first Final Four appearance since 1944.

When I’m not working, I like to: Spend time with my three young children. That occupies most of my waking hours – which are most of them when you’ve got three kids under 6.

My favorite Iowa haunt: As a native of the Land of 10,000 Lakes, being able to get on the water at Lake Red Rock is always a nice getaway.

Fun fact about me: I attended the third-coldest game in NFL history, a playoff game between the Vikings and Seahawks in 2016 with a temp of minus-6 and wind chill of minus-25. A bit chilly.