News

A key behind-the-scenes figure in central Indiana high school sports for more than two decades, Dennis Kasey of WHMB TV-40, has been named this year’s IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award recipient for District II.

Kasey's contributions to high school athletics will be honored prior to the Roncalli-Indianapolis Cathedral boys basketball game on Thursday. IHSAA Commissioner Blake Ress will be on hand to make the presentation along with Sports Information Director Jason Wille and Communication Director Chris Kaufman.

This is the 25th year the IHSAA has recognized outstanding members of the Indiana news media from each of its three legislative districts for excellence in the coverage of high school sports. District II covers 28 counties throughout central Indiana.

Kasey currently serves as Sports Director for WHMB TV-40 in Indianapolis, a part of the LeSea Broadcasting Corporation, and works as Executive Producer and Producer on all local sporting events including high school football and basketball games.

Kasey began producing the station’s popular "High School Game of the Week" in December of 1989 with a matchup of Brebeuf and Lawrence North, which featured future NBA players Alan Henderson and Eric Montross. Since that initial contest, WHMB and Kasey have produced over 1,500 high school sporting events including 80 IHSAA state championship games.

The 49-year-old Kasey also has produced various college and professional games through the years including Butler University as well as the last 10 seasons for the Indianapolis Indians.

Kasey attended Kokomo High School where he played football and worked two years with his late identical brother, David, as Co-Sports Editor of the school’s newspaper, Red and Blue. Kasey went on to attend Indiana University (1979-84) where he majored in Journalism and Political Science and wrote sports for the Indiana Daily Student. Following graduation, he pursued the magazine business starting up Indianapolis Sports Magazine with his brother before joining WHMB two years later.

Outside of work, Kasey is on the Board of Directors of the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame, Vice President of the Howard County Literacy Coalition and an Elder of First Presbyterian Church in Kokomo.

He and his wife of 27 years, Helen, live in Kokomo and have five children: Jennifer, Rachel, Rebecca, Jeremy and Laura.