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Marissa Kraus

Colorado Springs Gazette sports reporter. University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum. Missouri native.  Always striving to be the best storyteller I can be. 

What I Do

Journalism is about storytelling, and I am committed to producing impactful storytelling in my sports writing. To do so, I strive to find the human connection that draws readers to subjects in sports. Sports is often dubbed the "universal uniter," after all. 

I have always aspired to be an impactful journalist and take any opportunity to further both my reporting and multimedia skills. In fact, it has become necessary to learn multiple facets of the industry to share and produce stories in the best way possible. As a former student-athlete, I enjoy covering college sports and am particularly passionate about women's sports. However, I feel confident in my ability to cover all levels of sports, whether it is game coverage or an in-depth explainer on a trending topic. 

I am a sports reporter for the Colorado Springs Gazette, covering high school, college and professional sports in the area. My primary beat is Air Force men's basketball. I recently had the opportunity to cover the U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. 

As a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I worked for The Daily Nebraskan as an assistant sports editor,  sports reporter, and photographer. Since then, I have gained valuable writing and reporting skills and a passion for sports writing from working in multiple large metro newsrooms. During the summer of 2024, I interned at the L.A. Times in Los Angeles on the sports desk, covering the L.A. Sparks WNBA team and writing various features and news items related to L.A. sports. 

I have previously interned with the Lincoln Stars hockey team, the Denver Post (SJI class of 2022), the Omaha World-Herald, the Nebraska Golf Association, and the national sports website BVM Sports. These experiences have allowed me to advance my sports media skills, including live event coverage, feature writing, sports photography, and social media. These experiences have solidified my passion and desire to pursue a sports-related career.

Furthermore, I am passionate about multimedia and the power of social media to reach a wider audience. Storytelling comes in many forms and I look forward to using my creativity to continue covering sports, especially the stories beyond the box score. 

Check out some of my favorite pieces below or the Colorado Springs Gazette tab for recent work.

Colorado Springs Gazette •

2025 class inducted into U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame at The Broadmoor

Tears began to form in Marla Runyan’s eyes as she answered questions on the red carpet ahead of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment, I'm just so thankful,” the Olympian and Paralympian told The Gazette. “To be honest, I didn’t know if people noticed me or remembered me so this means a lot because its given me a chance to pause and reflect on all that work — it was a lot of work — and just be affirmed and validated that what I did matter...
Colorado Springs Gazette •

Olympic dreams live on for Air Force gymnast Patrick Hoopes, who topped 'Pommel Horse Guy' at last year's U.S. Trials

“Pommel Horse Guy,” as he became known to the country, stole the show at the Paris Olympics.Stephen Nedoroscik, the pale, charming kid who seemingly awoke from a nap, removed his thick-rimmed glasses and helped the Team USA to its first men’s gymnastics team medal in 16 years, became an instant sensation. He was later part of the Season 33 cast on “Dancing with the Stars.”But there was very nearly a different guy representing the U.S. on the pommel horse, as the champion of last summer’s U.S. Ol...
Colorado Springs Gazette •

The many lives of a senior golfer and what it takes to remains competitive at 50-plus 

Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington, Brad Bryant.As they continue to find success into their 50s and 60s, these past U.S Senior Open champions will be competing for another at the 2025 U.S Senior Open at The Broadmoor’s East Course.With more injuries and different lifestyles, senior golfers’ training is different from their younger counterparts, as well as their mindset. But by taking care of their bodies, golfers north of 50 can still remain competitive and play for as long as they want, due to...
Los Angeles Times •

'It's crazy': How Intuit Dome's Halo Board changes Clippers fans' experience

When Clippers owner Steve Ballmer received the first renderings for the Halo Board at Intuit Dome, his first words to Gillian Zucker, the CEO of Halo Sports and Entertainment, were “make it bigger!”That they did, creating a massive video board that will leave any Intuit Dome guest wide-eyed and awestruck. It did for the media and guests who witnessed the unveiling of the Halo Board in Inglewood on Friday.The video board, developed and produced by Daktronics, features the largest-ever, double-sid...
Los Angeles Times •

Nearly a year later, El Segundo's Little League World Series run is still making an impact

After El Segundo gave up a four-run lead on a Curacao grand slam, it was 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was still anyone’s game. Except this game was on the biggest stage in amateur baseball: the Little League Baseball World Series championship.“No pressure, just get on base and let your teammates do the rest,” then 12-year-old Louis Lappe recalled thinking as he walked to the plate. “It doesn’t matter how you get on. Just get on.” The first pitch was an outside curveball, the second...
Los Angeles Times •

Sparks snap eight-game losing streak with thrilling overtime win against Aces

When the Sparks’ 10-point lead started to drift away in the fourth quarter Friday night, it seemed like deja vu of Tuesday’s loss. What were once deafening cheers from the stands became a quiet lull as the 13,840 fans at Crypto.com Arena watched the Las Vegas Aces come barreling back.But the Sparks would not, could not, let Tuesday’s fiasco happen again.It took 45 minutes, but the Sparks forced overtime and ultimately prevailed over the Aces on Friday night to snap an eight-game losing streak wi...
Los Angeles Times •

Sparks’ Dearica Hamby utilizes strong mentality to thrive in L.A. and inspire teammates

Dearica Hamby watched as her shot from the free-throw line fell perfectly through the hoop during warmups Wednesday. Swoosh. Her next one missed the basket, but her expression didn’t change.Learn and move on. It’s a familiar sentiment for the Sparks. After being traded by Las Vegas during her pregnancy in January 2023 — a move she contested and labeled discrimination, leading to a two-game suspension of Aces coach Becky Hammon — Hamby is having a hard-earned moment in her second season in Los A...
The Daily Nebraskan •

Nebraska volleyball sweeps Pitt to advance to National Championship

The DN’s coverage of the NCAA volleyball tournament is presented by Atmosphere Lincoln.

TAMPA — Everything was on the line Thursday night at Amalie Arena for the first semifinal match of the NCAA Volleyball Championship between No. 4 Pitt and No. 1 Nebraska. And you could feel it. Before the athletes even entered the court, the fans, most of whom donned Husker red, were roaring with excitement.

It ended up being a stellar night in Tampa for Nebraska, who swept the Panthers in three sets (25-20
The Daily Nebraskan •

'It's a family thing': the story of Nebraska football’s Luke Reimer

Before he could walk, Nebraska senior linebacker Luke Reimer was being taught pre-snap football stances in his living room by his late father, Wes Reimer.

A home video shows Wes Reimer yelling “Down-hut-hike!” and his son following the command. Another video shows him encouraging Reimer to crawl toward a small plastic football just big enough to fit in his infant hand.

Years later, Reimer is still playing football, just on a bigger stage. From pee wee football to donning the iconic red ‘N’ as
The Daily Nebraskan •

Nebraska football suffers blowout 45-7 loss to No. 2 Michigan

It was a textbook definition of a beatdown, with Michigan, notably its defense, showing why it’s No. 2 in the country.

While Nebraska’s defense had hopeful moments here and there, it was no match for the relentless Wolverines, who put up 21 points in the first half and 24 in the second. Nebraska did not force its first three and out until late in the second quarter. On the other hand, Michigan’s defense continued to dominate, limiting the Huskers to 305 total yards and just one successful touch
Omaha World-Herald •

Amid changes, Lincoln East runner Berlyn Schutz's love of the sport never has

Yet Schutz’s love for the sport never waivered. Three year later, she has learned to adjust to her body and is looking to end her prep career on a high note.

During her freshman year in 2019, she was undefeated in the regular season and a favorite to win the Class A state title. Though Schutz missed the individual crown by a second, the Spartans won the team race and she was named the state’s Gatorade cross country runner of the year.

After the 2020 spring track season was canceled due to COVI
thedenverpost •

Drag racers Leah Pruett, Brittany Force reflect on the progress of women in the sport

MORRISON – Top Fuel drag racer Brittany Force is no stranger to winning. In just five seasons Force went from a rookie on the strip to Top Fuel World Champion, the second woman to ever do so.

Force is one of many female drag racers proving that, in a sport that doesn’t separate genders, women don’t just belong, but are integral to the sport’s success.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is the most inclusive racing sport, with 12 women a part of the drag racing organization, many of whom a

Watch My Video

In the fall of 2023, I created a multimedia project featuring the No Coast junior roller derby league in Lincoln, Nebraska. This project features an article, photos, and a short documentary about the league. While I have primarily focused on the writing side of journalism, I also enjoy videography and using multimedia as a storytelling tool. 

This video was awarded first place in the Eric Sevareid Awards for Lifestyle or Specialty Programming by the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. 

See the full story here: https://www.nebraskanewsservic... 

My Sports Photography

Sports photography has been a love of mine since high school. I was a sports photographer for the Daily Nebraskan for two years and hope to continue to grow as an amateur photographer. Check out some of my favorite photos from covering University of Nebraska sports.  

Contact Me

My inbox is always open, you can contact me with the contact form here