Longtime sportswriter Tom Reisenweber took unique path to Erie Sports Hall of Fame – GoErie.com

Tom Reisenweber’s presence at the Zem Zem Shrine Club is nothing new.
The longtime Erie Times-News sportswriter reports there each year when hall of fame season rolls around. This year’s Erie Sports Hall of Fame press conference, however, is different for Reisenweber.
He’s not just interviewing inductees — he’s one of them.
Reisenweber, the tireless servant of District 10’s high school sports community, is among nine Erie Sports Hall inductees for 2025. A business major at St. Bonaventure University some 20 years ago, the Erie native’s name has grown synonymous with local sports.
“I never imagined to be in a Hall of Fame in sports for anything,” Reisenweber said. “People aren’t going to vote for a writer, I thought, in their first year (nominated) at least. It’s very humbling.”
Reisenweber sits on the Erie sports hall’s selection committee.
It was only when he received a ballot, however, that Reisenweber learned of his nomination. Fellow committee member Bob Shreve had hidden it from him.
When time came to tally votes, Reisenweber’s name soared toward the top.
“(Reisenweber) has done this at a young age and it’s very deserving,” said Shreve, a longtime sports information director and 2018 Erie Hall inductee who now works in athletics at Gannon. “Everyone on the committee knows what he brings to us but, more importantly, what he brings to local sports in this area.”
Sports writing was not the initial plan for Reisenweber, a 2002 Mercyhurst Prep graduate whose business administration curriculum at St. Bonaventure proved void of any journalism-related instruction. A sports junkie, he hoped to join forces with one of Erie’s three regional NFL teams or find another way to work in sports through business.
A part-time stringer position under Joe Mattis changed said plan in the fall of 2006.
“I never imagined in my life that I’d be a sportswriter,” Reisenweber said. “I always thought it was a cool idea but never thought it would happen.”
Reisenweber, like many sportswriters, cut his teeth on the evening desk. Twice-weekly stringer shifts eventually became a part-time gig and, by 2013, he’d assumed full-time duties covering local sports, including the Erie SeaWolves.
“People don’t realize that he’s sitting (in the SeaWolves press box) and working on two or three other things,” Shreve said. “He’s updating high school games; he’s tweeting stuff out. The multi-tasking aspect is just incredible.”
Sports journalism has changed vastly during Reisenweber’s tenure.
Digital content replaced magazines. Social media replaced box scores.
One constant, though, is Reisenweber’s commitment to Erie readers.
“At times, it seems as though he is at every game in District 10,” said Bill Flanagan, Cathedral Preparatory School’s vice president of athletics. “You have to respect that kind of passion.”
Erie values high school sports. The community’s interest in adolescent athletics is tough to quantify, but it’s tangible to folks like Reisenweber.
“(Reisenweber) isn’t just looking for a story. He truly wants these student-athletes to be recognized,” said Mark Becker, McDowell High School’s director of athletics. “He seems to be everywhere for these kids and will always be approachable, friendly and helpful.”
Even after a World Series, NBA Finals and Major League Baseball All-Star Game, high school assignments remain Reisenweber’s proudest work.
“I love watching athletes achieve something they’ve worked so hard for,” Reisenweber said. “They’re not playing for money or anything like that. They’re just trying to achieve something they’ve never done before, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino.

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