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{{Short description|American sports announcer (born 1954)}}
{{cleanup-biography|date=December 2010}}
{{cleanup biography|date=December 2010}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Gayle Sierens
| name = Gayle Sierens
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1954
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1954}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_date =
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| alma_mater = [[Florida State University]]
| alma_mater = [[Florida State University]]
| occupation = News anchor <br> Sports anchor
| occupation = News anchor <br> Sports anchor
| spouse = Mike Martin
| residence =
| spouse =
| children = 3
| children =
| parents =
| parents =
| religion =
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
}}
}}
⚫
'''Gayle Sierens''' (born 1954) is a news anchor on [[WFLA-TV]]. She joined the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] [[NBC]] affiliate in [[1977 in television|1977]] as a weekend sports anchor and reporter after working with [[WFSU-TV|WFSU]] in [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]] while she was attending [[Florida State University]]. She became the first female sportscaster in the Bay Area and quickly made a reputation for herself as someone who always got the big story and interviewed the top professional sports players despite being a woman. In [[1981 in sports|1981]], she was recognized by ''[[Tampa Bay Metro Magazine]]'' as the Bay Area's best sports reporter.


'''Gayle Sierens''' (born 1954) is an American former broadcast journalist and television news anchor on [[WFLA-TV]].
⚫
In an effort to curb declining ratings, WFLA promoted Sierens to coanchor of the 6 & 11 p.m. newscasts with [[Bob Hite (news anchor)|Bob Hite]] in October 1985, a move that was criticized at first. The move later paid off as Sierens was regarded as being likeable and just as intuitive doing news as she did sports. In [[1987 NFL season|1987]], through a short stint with [[NFL on NBC|NBC Sports]], she became the first (and as of 2011, still the only) woman to do [[play-by-play]] for an NFL regular season football game when she called the December 27th game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.


==Early life and career==
⚫
In 1984, she was honored with a Florida Emmy Award for sports reporting and in 1991, Sierens won her second Emmy for news reporting.
⚫
Sierens joined the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] [[NBC]] affiliate in [[1977 in television|1977]] as a weekend sports anchor and reporter after working with [[WFSU-TV|WFSU]] in [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]] while she was attending [[Florida State University]].<ref name="WFLA Biography"/> She became the first female sportscaster in the Bay Area and quickly made a reputation for herself as someone who always got the big story and interviewed the top professional sports players despite being a woman. In [[1981 in sports|1981]], she was recognized by ''[[Tampa Bay Metro Magazine]]'' as the Bay Area's best sports reporter.

⚫
In 1984, Sierens was honored with a Florida Emmy Award for sports reporting and in 1991, she won her second Emmy for news reporting.<ref name="WFLA Biography">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060317164025/http://wfla.com/personalities/sierens.htm WFLA Biography] Archived.</ref>

==Career at WFLA and NBC Sports==
⚫
In an effort to curb declining ratings, WFLA promoted Sierens to co-anchor of the 6 & 11 p.m. newscasts with [[Bob Hite (news anchor)|Bob Hite]] in October 1985, a move that was criticized at first. The move later paid off as Sierens was regarded as being likeable and just as intuitive doing news as doing sports.

In [[1987 NFL season|1987]], through a short stint with [[NFL on NBC|NBC Sports]], Sierens became the first woman to do [[play-by-play]] for an NFL regular season football game when she called the December 27 game between the [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] and the [[1987 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard |title=First Woman to Call N.F.L. Play-by-Play, and the Last |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/sports/football/29women.html |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=28 January 2009}}</ref> She was originally to be a regular play-by-play announcer for the season, but a contract dispute with WFLA prevented her from continuing in that role beyond her lone game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calhoun |first1=Anthony |title=Catching up with Gayle Sierens, the first woman to ever do play-by-play for an NFL game |url=https://www.wishtv.com/sports/catching-up-with-gayle-sierens-the-first-woman-to-ever-do-play-by-play-for-an-nfl-game/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=[[WISH-TV]] |date=4 February 2021}}</ref> In 2017, [[Beth Mowins]] became only the second woman to call an NFL game and first woman to call a ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' broadcast. Here, the game was between the [[2017 Los Angeles Chargers season|Los Angeles Chargers]] and [[2017 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tanier |first1=Mike |title=Beth Mowins: From Backyard Quarterback to MNF's 1st Woman in the Booth |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2732311-beth-mowins-from-backyard-quarterback-to-mnfs-1st-woman-in-the-booth |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=11 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="dailyorange MNF">{{cite news |last1=Fortier |first1=Sam |title=Syracuse native Beth Mowins will be 2nd-ever woman to call 'Monday Night Football' |url=https://dailyorange.com/2017/09/syracuse-native-beth-mowins-will-be-2nd-ever-woman-to-call-monday-night-football/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=[[The Daily Orange]] |date=11 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/05/14/media-circus-beth-mowins|title = Media Circus: Beth Mowins to call Sept. 11 MNF| date=14 May 2017 }}</ref>


January 10, 2007 was designated as "Gayle Sierens Day" by Tampa Mayor [[Pam Iorio]] to commemorate Sierens' 30th year with the station, a rarity in television news.
January 10, 2007 was designated as "Gayle Sierens Day" by Tampa Mayor [[Pam Iorio]] to commemorate Sierens' 30th year with the station, a rarity in television news.


Sierens retired from WFLA-TV NewsChannel 8 in May 2015, after 38 years in the broadcast journalism industry.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Johnston |first=Joey |title=Tampa Bay's Title IX Trailblazers: Gayle Sierens |url=https://www.tampabaysports.org/News/2022/TitleIX/Gayle_Sierens |website=TAMPA BAY SPORTS COMMISSION |access-date=27 October 2022 |language=en |date=11 June 2022}}</ref>
⚫
Currently, she is on an advisory board for the Boy's and Girl's Clubs of Greater Tampa, serves as chairperson for the Big Brother's/Big Sister's annual "Bowl for Kids' Sake" fundraiser, and is a member of the board of directors of the Judeo-Christian Health Clinic.


==Personal life==
⚫
She is married to Mike Martin, former linebacker for the [[Chicago Bears]] and the [[New England Patriots]], who owns the Mike's Pies & Coffee Shoppe in Tampa.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/21/Citytimes/The_upper_crust.shtml St. Pete Times - The upper crust]</ref>
⚫
Currently,{{when|date=October 2022}} Sierens is on the board of directors for Village Partners International, an advisory board for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Greater Tampa, serves as chairperson for the Big Brother's/Big Sister's annual "Bowl for Kids' Sake" fundraiser, and is a member of the board of directors of the Judeo-Christian Health Clinic.<ref name="WFLA Biography"/>

⚫
She is married to Mike Martin, former linebacker for the [[Chicago Bears]] and the [[New England Patriots]], who owns the Mike's Pies in Tampa.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/21/Citytimes/The_upper_crust.shtml St. Pete Times - The upper crust]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://wfla.com/personalities/sierens.htm Information at WFLA's site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060317164025/http://wfla.com/personalities/sierens.htm WFLA Biography]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/sports/football/29women.html?pagewanted=all NY Times article, Gayle Sierens, the first woman to call an NFL game, and the last]


{{The NFL on NBC pregame show}}
==Notes==
{{authority control}}
{{Reflist|2}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Sierens, Gayle
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1954
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sierens, Gayle}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sierens, Gayle}}
[[Category:American sports announcers]]
[[Category:American sports announcers]]
[[Category:Florida State University alumni]]
[[Category:Florida State University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tampa, Florida television anchors]]
[[Category:Television anchors from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:People from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Women sports announcers]]
[[Category:Women sports commentators]]
[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:American women television journalists]]

[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]

[[Category:21st-century American women]]
{{US-tv-journalist-stub}}

Latest revision as of 09:59, 6 March 2024

Gayle Sierens
Born1954 (age 69–70)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materFlorida State University
Occupation(s)News anchor
Sports anchor
SpouseMike Martin
Children3

Gayle Sierens (born 1954) is an American former broadcast journalist and television news anchor on WFLA-TV.

Early life and career

[edit]

Sierens joined the Tampa NBC affiliate in 1977 as a weekend sports anchor and reporter after working with WFSU in Tallahassee while she was attending Florida State University.[1] She became the first female sportscaster in the Bay Area and quickly made a reputation for herself as someone who always got the big story and interviewed the top professional sports players despite being a woman. In 1981, she was recognized by Tampa Bay Metro Magazine as the Bay Area's best sports reporter.

In 1984, Sierens was honored with a Florida Emmy Award for sports reporting and in 1991, she won her second Emmy for news reporting.[1]

Career at WFLA and NBC Sports

[edit]

In an effort to curb declining ratings, WFLA promoted Sierens to co-anchor of the 6 & 11 p.m. newscasts with Bob Hite in October 1985, a move that was criticized at first. The move later paid off as Sierens was regarded as being likeable and just as intuitive doing news as doing sports.

In 1987, through a short stint with NBC Sports, Sierens became the first woman to do play-by-play for an NFL regular season football game when she called the December 27 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.[2] She was originally to be a regular play-by-play announcer for the season, but a contract dispute with WFLA prevented her from continuing in that role beyond her lone game.[3] In 2017, Beth Mowins became only the second woman to call an NFL game and first woman to call a Monday Night Football broadcast. Here, the game was between the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.[4][5][6]

January 10, 2007 was designated as "Gayle Sierens Day" by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio to commemorate Sierens' 30th year with the station, a rarity in television news.

Sierens retired from WFLA-TV NewsChannel 8 in May 2015, after 38 years in the broadcast journalism industry.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Currently,[when?] Sierens is on the board of directors for Village Partners International, an advisory board for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Greater Tampa, serves as chairperson for the Big Brother's/Big Sister's annual "Bowl for Kids' Sake" fundraiser, and is a member of the board of directors of the Judeo-Christian Health Clinic.[1]

She is married to Mike Martin, former linebacker for the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots, who owns the Mike's Pies in Tampa.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c WFLA Biography Archived.
  2. ^ Sandomir, Richard (28 January 2009). "First Woman to Call N.F.L. Play-by-Play, and the Last". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  3. ^ Calhoun, Anthony (4 February 2021). "Catching up with Gayle Sierens, the first woman to ever do play-by-play for an NFL game". WISH-TV. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ Tanier, Mike (11 September 2017). "Beth Mowins: From Backyard Quarterback to MNF's 1st Woman in the Booth". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. ^ Fortier, Sam (11 September 2017). "Syracuse native Beth Mowins will be 2nd-ever woman to call 'Monday Night Football'". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Media Circus: Beth Mowins to call Sept. 11 MNF". 14 May 2017.
  7. ^ Johnston, Joey (11 June 2022). "Tampa Bay's Title IX Trailblazers: Gayle Sierens". TAMPA BAY SPORTS COMMISSION. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  8. ^ St. Pete Times - The upper crust
[edit]
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