Meet IndyStar high school sports insider Brian Haenchen

Posted by Admin January 12, 2025 Sports

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It takes a staff of dedicated journalists to bring you the news from around Central Indiana. In this feature, the Indianapolis Star introduces readers to our newsroom staff — or, rather, we let them introduce themselves. Up this week is Brian Haenchen.

What’s your job title?

High school sports reporter

When did you join IndyStar?

July 2021

What’s your favorite part of your job?

The passion for high school girls sports is unmatched in Indiana and it’s been so much fun watching as that enthusiasm and support continues to grow. There are so many amazing people doing incredible things around the state — both within the game and beyond — and it’s been a joy getting to know them and an honor to have the opportunity to share their stories.

Why journalism?

I realized at an early age that I probably wasn’t going to be tall or fast enough to play sports beyond middle school, let alone high school. So I merged my love for sports with my passion for writing and gave journalism a try, beginning with research reports and short articles on the St. Louis Cardinals as a grade schooler — my dad still has a story I wrote and designed (like a newspaper article) on Bo Hart — and continuing with the student newspaper at my high school.

What’s your favorite Indy area restaurant or hidden gem?

Flatwater Restaurant

What do you do to unwind from a job that can be stressful?

I’ll take a bike ride on the Monon and/or talk through things with a friend.

What are you reading or streaming?

Interior Chinatown

What’s your favorite quote?

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

What song do you shamelessly jam out to in the car?

“Homesick” by Noah Kahn or “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton … but really “22” by Taylor Swift.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

Mr. Peterson, the faculty advisor for the student newspaper at CBC High School (The Turret), told me to write stories that grandparents would want to hang on their refrigerator. That’s stuck with me over the years and informs my approach to covering high school sports.

Do you prefer dogs or cats?

Dogs. We always had one growing up, and I’m hoping to adopt one of my own soon.

What’s the meanest tweet ever directed at you?

Too many to pick just one, but I get called short a lot and frankly, I think that’s unfair. (It’s not.) Most of those tweets have come from people I consider friends, which is probably why they’re so hurtful. My golf game is also unfairly targeted on social media.