Argus Leader reporter earns South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year honors

An Argus Leader reporter has been named the South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

Brian Haenchen, who covers high school sports and the University of South Dakota for the Argus Leader, was announced as the South Dakota winner Monday. Tim Smith of KMIT Radio in Mitchell was named the sportscaster of the year. 

The NSMA will honor its winners and Hall of Fame inductees during the organization’s 61st awards weekend on June 26-28  in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Haenchen, from St. Louis, Missouri, has worked at the Argus Leader for five years. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated from Saint Louis University.

Since joining the Argus Leader, he has spearheaded multiple projects, including "Rising Above the Reservation," which focused on the role basketball plays on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Argus All-Access, which took viewers behind-the-scenes at high school sports events and the Super Six, the annual high school volleyball team of the year for the Argus Leader.

"Superlatives don't seem to cover all that Brian means to our team and our coverage," Argus Leader editor Cory Myers said. "Does it all, force of nature, 5-tool player ... they all fit the bill but don't tell the whole story. He's tenacious, kind, a hell of a beat reporter and, honestly ubiquitous in the South Dakota sports landscape. Forever thankful for, and proud of, him being a part of the Argus Leader."

Haenchen was named the young journalist of the year in South Dakota in 2020. 

Before joining the Argus Leader, he covered Mizzou football and St. Louis Blues hockey for InsideSTL and CBS Sports 920 AM.