With seven years under his belt as a sports reporter for the Peninsula Clarion, it’s safe to say Joey Klecka likes sports.
Klecka, who was born in Chicago before moving to Alaska in 1996, is a die-hard Chicago fan — Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls.
“Seeing the Cubbies win it all in 2016 was a thrilling moment that will never fade with time,” Klecka said. “For Cubs fans, it was a ‘Where were you?’ moment. I hope to see the Bears win a Super Bowl soon, which would be a first in my lifetime.”
Klecka’s passions extends beyond Chicago, though, his true passion lying in motor sports.
“NASCAR is my main dig, but I enjoy all auto racing … anything with four wheels and an engine is good,” he said.
When he’s not reporting on or watching sports, Klecka partakes in sports of his own.
“This year I skied a ton,” Klecka said. “Racing in the Tours of Tsalteshi and Anchorage were pretty cool. I had a blast doing each of them.”
Each year, he also participates in the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, which has become a family affair for him and his two younger sisters.
“My family is a bunch of adventurers,” Klecka said. “We’re very close-knit, we share a lot of inside jokes that go back a long ways, I’m probably closer with my two younger sisters than most siblings are, and I love that. We’re all very supportive of each other.”
His older sister has lived in Sweden and Australia, and is studying to be a veterinarian. His youngest sister is currently working in engineering analysis, but sports is prevalent in their lives as well. Both are fantastic soccer players.
If Klecka hadn’t pursued a career in journalism, he thinks he would’ve wound up in front of a camera either as a professional athlete or entertainer.
“If I wasn’t a journalist, I would dream of being a professional athlete,” Klecka said. “But in reality, I imagine I would’ve pursued a TV/stage acting career. I’ve always enjoyed singing and musicals, and my family has always labelled me the clown among us.”
Hollywood is far off from Alaska, though, and Klecka enjoys all the memories of and future adventures that living in Alaska offers.
“I’ve always looked back fondly on summers when my family would take our annual hike to a “secret” cabin in the woods back in the Eagle River valley where I grew up,” Klecka said. “The Crow Pass trail that connects up with that is a wonderful adventure.”
