Grammond selected Outstanding Media Service Award recipient

Rick Grammond has a firm belief that every high school student is on their own special journey through education-based activities. Regardless of what it is, be it athletics, academics, the Fine Arts, Robotics, Clay Target, Dance, Future Farmers of America, a mentor, you name it, Grammond just wants to see students participate and succeed.

And when they do, he is there to cheer them on and to share their stories. He thrives on being equal parts promoter, cheerleader, storyteller, shoulder to lean on, and now, he’ll be known as an award-winning media member. The Minnesota State High School League announced on Wednesday, Feb. 5 that Grammond was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Media Service Award for the 2024-2025 school year. 

While he primarily focuses on the Pierz High School community on his YouAreThereSports.com website, he is adept at statewide coverage as well. 

“Sharing the journeys and adventures of kids is really special,” said Grammond, who resides in Grey Eagle. “Shining the light on individuals is what I do. It doesn’t have to be a 1,000-point scorer, a 100-yard rusher or a three-time wrestling champion. I appreciate all the kids and what they do. You can also have amazing stories that come from behind the scenes like the student that codes the robot for the Robotics team, and how about the reward in getting to know the kids that have overcome great things to be successful? That is extra special.”

Grammond will be recognized publicly during an award ceremony on Saturday, March 22 during halftime of the Class AA Boys Basketball State Championship game at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus. 

“This is an amazing honor, it really is,” he said. “With all of the great media members we have in Minnesota, it is incredible just to be considered in that regard.”

Following his service in the U.S. Army, Grammond, a 1984 graduate of Grey Eagle High School, began a radio broadcasting career in Little Falls, a journey that lasted until 2013. That year, he was a pioneer of sorts as he ventured into streaming broadcasts on a website platform. He focused on the Pierz community after developing relationships with the residents and business leaders while working with the Little Falls station. 

“Streaming was new,” Grammond said. “It was a giant leap of faith.”

A dozen years later, Grammond is a pillar in the community after creating trusting relationships through his love of Pierz and unwavering support of the high school students. If there is an event in school, on the fields, courts or an auditorium, home or away, you likely will see Grammond painting a picture with his peerless voice and enthusiastic style. 

From emceeing the spring prom to being in the front row of music concerts to describing a state championship, Grammond has been the trusted source for information and a barometer for all things Pierz High School. 

It is believed he reached legendary media status during the global pandemic. With no high school activities to cover because of a worldwide shutdown, Grammond created “Reading with Rick” to keep the community connected. A voracious reader, he hosted a one-hour session each evening on his website where families tuned in, and he read them bedtime stories. 

During a time when the pandemic had parents scrambling to manage things at home, Grammond was the source of calm as he provided a respite for them by reading to young children who were on the threshold of their bedtimes. The initial response was staggering as listeners flooded his Facebook page with pictures of children listening in to story time. The reading time expanded to include preteens and then adults. On Friday’s, he would read westerns or classic novels to the adults as his primary audience.

He now reads stories during Halloween and heartwarming favorites during the holiday season. 

“It was my way to help out the parents while also keeping the community connected,” he said. “It gave the kids a chance to relax and de-compress. I wasn’t a 24/7 station where I would play the Bee Gees. What I do is unique. I have the freedom to do different things. It was an opportunity to help the community.”   

In addition to being an avid reader, Grammond was a skilled sports trading card collector. As a youngster, using his baseball cards, for example, he would broadcast a game with the players he had in his stack in imaginary starring roles. About seven years ago, his love of trading cards paid off. He heard a promotion for the Topps company that was designed to re-introduce kids to the art of card collecting. 

He concocted an idea: Grammond reached out to the company and shared his love of trading cards and how he could help with their promotion. Five days later, a delivery truck showed up at this door with 18 cases of baseball cards that contained 81,000 packs. Grammond’s method of distribution is as unique as he is: When he is at a ballpark broadcasting a game, rather than a kid getting a quarter at the concession stand for retrieving a foul ball, he gave them a pack of trading cards. His only rule is to pick up your wrappers. Grammond said he’s about halfway through the Topps supply of cards.

“Rick has shown an unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity, community engagement and social responsibility,” said Eric Boser, vice president of the Pierz Area Commercial Club. “His unique ability to inform, educate and inspire audiences is a testament to his excellence in media broadcasting and his contribution to advancing the field. I have no doubt that Rick will continue to be a trailblazer in the media industry for many years to come.”

Grammond is grateful to the Pierz community.

“I don’t think I can adequately describe my heartfelt connection to the community here in Pierz,” he said. “I’ve been so fortunate and asked to do so many things not related to sports. I’ve been grand marshall of their parade, called bingo games and the list goes on. They are an amazing group of individuals. They have adopted me.”