Media of the Year - 2006

RYAN NOONAN
Manhattan Mercury

Ryan Noonan of the Manhattan Mercury is a winner of the Media of the Year award for his efforts covering Manhattan High School wrestling. His coverage efforts included match coverage, preview stories, feature stories, and wrestler profiles.

Noonan, who graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.A. in Communications in 2002, only worked for the Mercury for one year before accepting a public relations job in Overland Park. He previously was assistant sports editor for the Great Bend Tribune for three years. Noonan had also covered Golden Belt wrestling, including schools such as Hoisington, Larned, and Great Bend.

“The passion and dedication that wrestlers put into their sport rivals that of any other at the high school or college level,” Noonan said. “While media coverage is on the rise, it is a process that involves coaches, wrestlers, and sports writers to ensure wrestlers are getting their due recognition. There are good stories everywhere, but sometimes they need help to come to the surface.”