Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Zachary Seifter/Staff Writer

 

I have been told quite a few times this week that I have big shoes to fill. I didn’t know that I was following such an amazing act.

In fact, I had no idea what I was walking in to. I’m still not quite sure. But I’m ready to do it with a full head of steam, and I’m going to do the best job that I can.

Hello, I’m Zachary Seifter. Most people just call me Zach. I am the new sports writer at The Clanton Advertiser. I am the person that was hired to replace Anthony Richards. I never got to meet Anthony, or even talk to him, but it’s clear to me that he had quite the impact on this community. It’s an impact that I can only hope to replicate.

I’m not from a community like this. I’m from Plant City, Florida, a town about 20 miles outside of Tampa, Florida. I have lived in Florida all of my life, including my college days when I went to the University of Florida. Go Gators! So, coming to Clanton has already been a change. I’m open to change though, and am excited to make Clanton my home.

Growing up, I was a complete sports nut, particularly for my hometown teams in Tampa. It’s been a good year to be a Tampa sports fan, too. The Buccaneers (NFL) are the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Rays (MLB) made it to the World Series, and the Lightning (NHL) are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. I have been extremely happy to see all of my favorite teams do so well, but the Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl was by far the best for me, as football has always stood above every other sport in my eyes.

I’m happy to bring that passion for sports here. I know that the state of Alabama, and this community, have plenty of teams to get behind, and the people here are passionate about their teams. I just hope I can tell the stories of these teams, and this community well, as that’s the best part of journalism. That’s why I got into the business. There are so many people with great and inspiring stories to tell. I have already found that out quickly here, and I’m thrilled to get the chance to showcase the great people in Clanton and all of Chilton County even more.

In all, I’m extremely excited to be here. I know I’m the new kid in town, and I have some big shoes to fill, but I can tell that once integrated into this community, there is a lot of fun to be had and a lot of great people to be around. I’m glad to be a part of it.