Meet Dave Purpura, high school sports reporter, from the Columbus Dispatch

(Editor’s note: This article is part of a weekly series highlighting Columbus Dispatch journalists and the work they do in our community.)

Dave Purple covers high school sports for The Columbus Dispatch, monitoring the performance of teams and athletes at more than 100 schools in central Ohio.

Purpura, a graduate of Independence High School and the University of Toledo, has several awards to her credit, including from the Associated Press Society of Ohio and the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. He also writes for The Dispatch. weekly high school sports bulletinavailable only to subscribers.

Below he answers some questions about his work.

Why I became a journalist

I have always enjoyed writing – and talking – and my original career goals focused on the latter. Since I was 5 or 6 years old, I wanted to be a sports commentator. When our family will be present Cincinnati Reds games, I always listened to games on the transistor radio and paid them the same attention Marty Brennaman AND Joe Nuxhall in the broadcast booth, just like I did with the players on the field. In the late 1990s, I was the sports director of the University of Toledo student radio station for two years, but when it came time to graduate, my contributions to the student newspaper paid off. Newspapers rang faster than radio stations, and I had been writing for almost 25 years.

I still get paid for occasional calls, considering I’m a manager Central Ohio High School Athletic Awards every June.

What do I like most about my job?

Variety and the chance to tell funny stories. Personality pieces have long been my favorites. And when it comes to high school sports, if you’re ever ready at the end of one season, the next one is just around the corner. I’m grateful that I’ve met a lot of interesting people in my quarter-century of reporting high school sports, and that that pipeline won’t be drying up any time soon.

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A story I worked on that had a lasting impact on me

It was funny and personal at the same time.

Photojournalist Barbara Perenic and I had the opportunity in September 2023 to travel to little Maria Stein, Ohio, home of the Ohio high school football team, Marion Local. The Flyers entered this season on a 48-game winning streak and 14 state championships, all dating back to 2000, and look poised for a 15th-place finish. It’s amazing that almost 90% of the boys at the school play football and it’s not a youth program there.

Why is it so personal? Some of my best childhood memories come from visiting my grandparents in nearby St. Marys, one of the few cities in the region with its own strong football pedigreeand I traveled many of the same roads going to and from Maria Stein on that beautiful Friday afternoon and evening when my grandfather and I used to drive in our youth, just to do something.

Several names on the Marion Local squad were familiar to me, although I didn’t know any of the players personally. Work ethic and a sense of heritage are strong everywhere, but that night was particularly acute for me, something I don’t always get to experience, even working in my hometown.

Dave Purpura’s Deep Dive: From the rural town of Maria Stein, soccer powerhouse Marion Local towers over Ohio

Famous people I met or interviewed as a journalist

Archie Griffin, Jim Lachey, Paweł KeelsJoe Nuxhall i Jim Tressel come to mind immediately. As an unapologetic Buckeye fan (it’s my hometown team, after all), this certainly led to a few pinch-me moments.

As for the “I knew them when” moment, it might have been the quarterback I worked with at Stratford High School in Houston early in my 26-month stint in the Lone Star State. I introduced myself to the signal-caller after a big game, told him I had just moved from Ohio, and before I could ask a question, he happily mentioned that his dad was from Cleveland and asked about my path. Maybe he sensed homesickness on my part. More likely it was genuine selflessness.

His name? Andrzej Happinessfuture No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

The biggest challenge I face as a journalist

It’s simple – unreturned messages. They are the worst and ultimately deserving athletes won’t get the support they deserve if others don’t support them. With over 100 high schools in our coverage area, it is a fact that coaches and athletic directors will double up as publicists. I can’t tell you how many great ADs and coaches I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 24 years. I wish they would give lessons to everyone else.

And one more thing: I don’t have the chance to write every story I want.

What I like to do when I’m not working

Spending time with family and friends – at least when they can find the time, considering we’re at an age where many people go through that hectic teenage phase – walking, playing golf (not as often as I’d like, but therefore, not so good) and watch sports. Lots of sports. I am also fascinated by the weather, and storms always attract my attention. Perhaps the most important thing on my bucket list is to visit every current Major League Baseball park. I’ve been stuck in the dozen for too long.

Favorite Columbus-area event or tradition

I think so Ohio State football counts as a Columbus area tradition, so that’s my choice. I go to games when I’m lucky and get a ticket. It is a shared experience that goes beyond the match itself. Every year, my wife and I participate in the so-called Irish Festival in Dublin, Oktoberfests in Columbus and Pickerington and Columbus Italian Festival. Some combination of food, drinks, music and people keeps us coming back.

Why journalism is important

Because it gives me and my colleagues a chance to share your stories. The subject is the expert. I am just one person who accurately describes their story. If someone brings this to my attention and is delighted with the results, it would be a great honor for me. I have never considered myself an activist or a change agent. I like telling stories and if something good comes out of them, even better.

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