Draft:WGAL Mike Hostetler
| Submission declined on 7 September 2025 by Wikishovel (talk). Thank you for your submission, but the subject of this article already exists in Wikipedia. You can find it and improve it at Mike Hostetler instead.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
| Submission declined on 7 September 2025 by MCE89 (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject. Declined by MCE89 33 days ago. | |
Mike Hostetler | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Ohio State University |
| Occupation(s) | Sports anchor and reporter (formerly) |
| Years active | 1976–2022 |
| Employer(s) | WGAL (Lancaster, PA) |
| Children | 2 |
Mike Hostetler (b. 1961) is a retired American sportscaster. He was known for his 33 years at WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, anchoring and reporting sports on News 8 at 5:30, 6, and 11 on weeknights in his 46 years covering sports in central Pennsylvania, until his retirement in 2022. Around WGAL, he was humorously known for his notable nickname "Hossy" by his colleagues because of his fun, upbeat, energetic, and humorous personality he brings to his sports reports.[citation needed]
Early life and education
[edit]A native of Mansfield, Ohio (Route 30 runs through it), Hostetler graduated from a local high school in his hometown. He then attended Ohio State University and later graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Career
[edit]Hostetler began his sports TV career at WCMH in Columbus, Ohio and then at WSYX in Cleveland, Ohio before joining WGAL in 1989, where his career in sports took off.[citation needed]
In 1990, Hostetler was selected to be WGAL's weekday sports anchor and reporter on "News 8 at 6" and "News 8 at 11."[1] His energetic and affectionate love for sports made him a well-known sports expert in the Susquehanna Valley. Eager for any challenge, Mike was known for a feature he produced each week in the early '90s called "Hostetler's Sports Challenge," which took on viewers' dares and challenges, and his popularity skyrocketed since then.[2] The feature ran for more than 5 years every week at the 6 pm newscast, and it became a popular addition to sports coverage, showcasing athletes in a way only he could do.[3]
In his sports reports, Mike launched other features such as Friday Fab Five and Hostetler's Heroes.[citation needed]
With Pat Principe, He and Mike were notably known to have worked together for 33 years when they co-created, produced, and hosted Football Friday (the show that goes on to this day) in 1997, with Mike serving as host while Pat did the live reports from the high schools for football seasons.[4] At one point during Football Friday years ago, they did a costume party for fun on Halloween to decide who had the best costume.[5]
On November 15, 2022, on News 8 at 5:30 after his sportscast, Hostetler announced his retirement after 46 years in the business and 33 of them at WGAL News 8, with his last day finalized for November 24.[6] WGAL counted down his favorite moments of fun sports coverage leading up to his last day. He retired on November 24, 2022, thanking all the viewers who watched him, which he was most proud of for spending time with.[7]
He returned to WGAL in March 2024 with other former anchors to help celebrate the station's 75th anniversary.[8] He returned again to celebrate Pat Principe's retirement on April 12, 2024.
Awards and recognition
[edit]His segment Mike Hostetler's Sports Challenge Returns was selected by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters as the "Best Television Promotional Announcement" when WGAL was named first place winner in the PAB 1996 "Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting" competition.[9] Hostetler even emceed community and charity events. Mike and a photographer and editor won a first-place award in the sports feature division for "Snow Bowl" [10] After he retired, Mike was honored by state lawmakers for his 33 years at WGAL.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Mike enjoys spending time with his 2 children, Van and Ava. He even likes to humorously mention and show his cousin Larry whenever he shows up at a game locally, when Mike reads his sports reports.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Schott, Ken (June 23, 1990). "Hostetler escapes zoo for WGAL-TV spot". York Daily Record.
- ^ "Fit to be aired: WGAL adds challenge". No. 31. The Evening News. May 15, 1992. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
- ^ Burkholder, Lori (February 22, 2019). "Hostetler's Sports Challenge". WGAL.
- ^ "Football Friday Tonight at 11:35 pm". Intelligencer Journal: 23. September 19, 1997. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
- ^ "Football Friday Halloween costumes". WGAL. October 27, 2012. 27 October 2012.
- ^ "WGAL's Mike Hostetler announces his retirement". WGAL. November 15, 2022. 15 November 2022.
- ^ "News 8 sports anchor Mike Hostetler's greatest hits". WGAL. November 24, 2022. 24 November 2022.
- ^ "WGAL celebrates 75 years". WGAL. March 18, 2024. 19 March 2024.
- ^ "WGAL receives excellence award". The Sentinel. August 5, 1996.
- ^ "WGAL wins 6 news awards". Lancaster New Era. May 10, 2005. 10 May 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
- ^ Aument, Ryan. "Mike Hostetler honored by state lawmakers for his 33 years at WGAL". Linkedin.
- ^ "Mike Hostetler celebrates 25 years of fun sports coverage". WGAL. September 4, 2015. 4 September 2015.