To say that Tucson’s sports community is passionate would be an understatement.
This community endures 100-degree weather to watch games, wears eye black as a fan fashion statement and holds grudges over decades-long rivalries. They’re some of the most spirited community members in Tucson.
So, when the time came for the Arizona Daily Star to look at the big picture of our sports coverage, we realized something was missing — more community-focused reporting and hyper-local sports stories, especially in the high school sports scene.
That’s where I come in.
Hi, I’m Elvia Verdugo and I am the new Community Sports Editor at the Star.
(To clarify, I'm not the Sports Editor, but I am the No. 2.)
Elvia's Little League debut in 2001.
In this new role, I plan to expand and diversify our sports coverage, including high school and other non-beat sports coverage through community-centered storytelling.
Over the next few months you’ll see an increase in local sports stories, including profile stories, lists, guides, Q&As and more that highlight Tucson-based athletes, sports figures and the people who rally behind them. Plus, our usual in-depth University of Arizona sports coverage.
If my name sounds familiar, you may recognize my work with the Star’s sister site, #ThisIsTucson, where I wrote feature stories about all the people and places that make Tucson unique.
I’ve written a few sports-related stories while at the #ThisIsTucson that may ring a bell, such as the stories about the upcoming Cushing Street Skate Park and a group of female skaters bringing inclusivity to Tucson streets.
But long before I was “Elvia, the journalist,” I was just a 6-year-old girl playing Little League at Rudy Garcia Park on the city’s south side. Back then, I went by my middle name, Alexis, and in an attempt to fit in with the boys on my team, I went by “Alex” for short.
So, I guess you could say I was the original Alex Verdugo from Tucson.
Sports, especially baseball, are in my blood. My father played, and his father played before him too. My Tata (grandfather), who is in his 80s, still plays senior softball every weekend.
Elvia graduated from the University of Arizona where she double majored in journalism and history. She graduated summa cum laude.
My love for sports has only grown since I was a child. Over the years, I’ve played baseball and basketball and even became a figure skater. Unfortunately, I had to give up my athletic dreams due to medical reasons, but I always knew I was destined to be in the world of sports.
After getting to play the role of “Ruby Reporter” in a school play, I decided that I would one day become a journalist — and I never changed my mind over the last 20 years.
As a lifelong Tucsonan, my entire academic career has been here. I went to the old Gallego Elementary and Challenger Middle School and graduated from Desert View High School.
I delved into journalism at Pima Community College, where I took my first-ever journalism class and worked as a copy editor for the student newspaper.
By the time I transferred to the UA, I was positive I was going to start my career in sports journalism. But then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the world came to a screeching halt.
There were no ongoing sports and there were barely any classes, which meant I couldn’t get any experience in sports reporting. So, I pivoted. I shifted my focus to feature writing, which led to me earning an apprenticeship at the Star.
Funnily enough, the first story I wrote as an apprentice was a youth soccer story. I can still recall chasing 12-year-old kids down the pitch to get quotes for my story.
During my last semester at the UA, I accepted a position as a feature reporter at #ThisIsTucson.
Elvia Verdugo, digital features reporter for ThisIsTucson, Arizona Daily Star, in Tucson, Ariz. on April 23, 2024.
Since graduating from the UA summa cum laude, I have received numerous statewide reporting awards from the Arizona Newspapers Association and the Arizona Press Club, along with a national award in profile writing from the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.
Now, as the Community Sports Editor, it feels like time at the Star has come full circle and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
During my time with #ThisIsTucson, my appreciation for the community grew as I realized that Tucson is a special place filled with people passionate about their cause — whether that’s food, crafts, or sports.
As I find my footing in this new role, I’m excited to combine my love for community and sports in one job by sharing community stories that local sports fans care about.
Of course, to create community-centered stories we need the community, and that’s where you come in. Please feel free to send any story ideas or tips to everdugo@tucson.com. I’d be happy to hear from you.
Great things are coming, Tucson, and I can't wait for you to see what we have up our sleeves.
