This past week, North students had the opportunity to meet with Clarkstown North alumna Tracy Wolfson, an event coordinated with Ram’s Horn Editor-in-Chief Aidan Dobrosielski. Wolfson graduated North in 1993 and went on to attend the University of Michigan, where she majored in communications. From there, her journey to where she is today is nothing short of inspiring– a story driven purely by determination, and the relentless pursuit of her dreams.
Her story is one of perseverance and success in a male-dominated industry, marked by her journey from a sports reporter at a small New Jersey station to becoming a lead sideline reporter for CBS, covering some of the biggest events in the sports world, including the NFL, NCAA basketball and more.
She is a 6-time Emmy nominee and was recently awarded the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sideline Reporter in 2024. Beyond her field reporting, she is also a co-host of We Need To Talk, an all female sports show that highlights women’s voices and perspectives in the industry– a project she’s very passionate about.
When speaking to North students, Wolfson detailed the challenges she faced early on: entering a field with few female mentors, constantly having to prove herself, and building a path where there wasn’t one. Despite challenges, her passion and persistence towards her dream never wavered.
Her initial break came from WZBN in Trenton as a sports anchor, and she then gained further experience as a reporter for Long Island News Tonight. Her path also crossed roles at MSG and ESPN, where she covered various sports. She described how her struggles breaking into the industry were forged by a lack of mentors and the need to create her own path.
Students at North had the opportunity to ask questions, sparking an engaging and exciting Q&A. Questions ranged from, “Who is your favorite player you’ve ever interviewed?” to “What was your favorite moment in the industry?” Other students were curious about her personal growth, asking,“What was your biggest ‘I Made it Moment’?” Wolfson responded with honesty, sharing stories about Super Bowl interviews and also talking about how she comes up with the questions she asks, how she picks who to interview, and last-minute sideline reports. One student asked if she still gets nervous, especially in major games. She admitted that she does, but she’s more excited to get on the field.
Her visit left students not only informed, but inspired too. Tracy Wolfson reminded everyone in the room that success isn’t always about where you start– it’s about staying focused on where you are going. And for Wolfson that was always the sidelines, getting to experience the sports she loves. Her story was a powerful reminder that with hard work, belief in yourself and willingness to take risks and go out of your comfort zone, anything is possible.
