Journalist Father Covers Son's Basketball Team at State Tournament

Jeremy Waltner, publisher of the Freeman Courier, is reporting on his son Oliver's Freeman High School team at the Class B boys basketball tournament.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:18pm

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Jeremy Waltner, the publisher of the Freeman Courier weekly newspaper, is covering the Freeman High School boys basketball team at the Class B state tournament, which includes his son Oliver as a prominent member of the team. This is not a new dynamic for the Waltner family, as Jeremy has covered his children's sporting events for years, but the state tournament represents one of the biggest stages they've experienced this relationship on.

Why it matters

The Waltner family's dual roles as journalist and subject highlight the unique challenges and rewards of covering loved ones in the sports world. Jeremy's decades of experience in journalism allow him to maintain objectivity, while also sharing in the excitement of his son's team making a deep tournament run.

The details

Jeremy Waltner has been covering South Dakota high school sports since the 1990s. This year, his son Oliver is a junior forward on the Freeman High School boys basketball team, which is making its first state tournament appearance since 1999. Jeremy has added live broadcasting to his repertoire this winter, calling the Flyers' games on YouTube. While Jeremy remains impartial during the games, he transitions to 'dad mode' after the final buzzer sounds.

  • Freeman High School qualified for the Class B boys basketball tournament for the first time since 1999 last season.
  • This season, Freeman carried a 19-game win streak into the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

The players

Jeremy Waltner

The publisher of the Freeman Courier weekly newspaper, who has been covering South Dakota high school sports since the 1990s.

Oliver Waltner

A 6-foot-4 junior forward on the Freeman High School boys basketball team.

Tim Waltner

Jeremy's father and Oliver's grandfather, who was the Freeman Courier publisher from 1984 to 2016.

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What they’re saying

“It means everything to us. He's covering everything, making videos and putting a lot of time into this. It's just great.”

— Oliver Waltner, Junior forward

“It's been a blast, just so much fun. We've been anticipating this season, as parents, since this group of kids were 4, 5, 6 years old, because we knew this was a special bunch. There come some expectations, a bit of pressure and a lot of dad nerves that go with that.”

— Jeremy Waltner, Publisher, Freeman Courier

“Honestly, when the game tips off to the final horn, I'm totally checked out as a dad. I'm able to do that. When that final horn sounds, though, ballgame over. I turn dad mode on, even though I'm still in journalist mode. I'm able to juggle those two things pretty well.”

— Jeremy Waltner, Publisher, Freeman Courier

What’s next

Oliver Waltner and many of his Freeman High School teammates have one more year of high school remaining, so the Waltner family will look to soak in the experience of this state tournament run.

The takeaway

The Waltner family's experience highlights the unique challenges and rewards of covering loved ones in the sports world. Jeremy Waltner's decades of journalism experience allow him to maintain objectivity, while also sharing in the excitement of his son's team making a deep tournament run.