Zach Groth
Sports Director
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Zach Groth joined ABC21 as sports director in February of 2016. He's a broadcast journalism graduate from the University of Illinois. Zach previously worked at WJZY in Charlotte, North Carolina, and NCTV17 in Naperville, Illinois.
Zach got his first television experience back during his high school days, calling play-by-play for the football and basketball teams at Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois.
While he was in college, Zach worked for the Daily Illini, and announced games for the Big Ten Network's 'Student U' program.
During the summer of 2012, Zach interned at WFLD, the FOX affiliate in Chicago.
After graduating from Illinois is 2013, Zach started his career at NCTV17 in Naperville, Illinois. There, he worked as a sports reporter, producer, and host.
In early 2015, Zach moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to work as a Digital Journalist at WJZY. There he helped the sports team cover the NASCAR, the Charlotte Hornets, and Carolina Panthers.
Since joining the ABC21 team, Zach has won several awards, including a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award in 2021.
Zach met Hannah, his future wife, in Fort Wayne back in 2017. The couple got engaged in 2019, and married in 2020. They currently live in Fort Wayne with their two cats: Meeko and Malort.
Education
Awards
Updated: 8 hours ago
|By Zach Groth
Saint Francis held its first spring football practice of 2023 on Tuesday afternoon.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 11:57 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
The Komets put together another comeback victory on Friday night, rallying back to beat the Wings 5-3.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 11:52 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Indiana Tech has made it to the national championship game.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 8:59 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Carroll graduate Drue Tranquill has apparently found a new landing spot in the NFL.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 7:47 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Bellmont senior Isaac Bodkins signed with the Manchester football program on Friday afternoon.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 11:54 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Matt Roth has continued a tradition of success at Blackhawk Christian.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 11:51 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Indiana Tech’s closing in on something truly special.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 8:45 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Heritage senior linebacker Rylan Whitacre signed with the Wabash College football team on Wednesday.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 8:41 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Norwell senior Jake Parker signed with the track and field program at Taylor University on Wednesday afternoon.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 11:54 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Several local high schools held signing events on Tuesday.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 11:00 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
The Mad Ants snapped their five-game losing streak on Tuesday night, with a 125-114 win at Long Island.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 10:41 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
The journey continues for the Indiana Tech men’s basketball team.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 10:32 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Jalen Jackson’s coming home.
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 11:52 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Blackhawk defeated Miami 54-44 in the March Middle School Madness championship game on Monday night at the Boys and Girls Club in Fort Wayne.
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 4:57 PM EDT
|By Zach Groth
Jessie Bates III has found a new NFL home.
Updated: Mar. 11, 2023 at 12:01 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Komets beat the Nailers 6-4 on Friday night. The Komets also beat up the Nailers throughout the game.
Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 at 7:12 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
Concordia senior goalie Alexis Hartman signed with the women’s soccer program at Concordia University Wisconsin.
Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 at 12:00 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Carroll hosted another signing day event for four seniors on Thursday.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 5:13 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
Jaylen Johnson knocked down a three-pointer for Motor City with 0.4 seconds remaining, and the Cruise defeated the Mad Ants 119-116.
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 11:57 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
Homestead held a signing celebration for five senior baseball players on Wednesday night.
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 11:55 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Indiana Tech men’s basketball team has earned a trip to Kansas City. The Warriors secured a spot in the Round of 16, after beating Evangel 71-66 at the Schaefer Center on Wednesday.
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 11:46 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The 21Alive Boys Basketball Player of the Week is Wayne sophomore guard Chase Barnes.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 10:53 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
Carroll held another signing celebration for seven senior student-athletes after school on Tuesday.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 10:35 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The basketball teams at Indiana Tech both passed their first round tests in the NAIA National Championships.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 12:06 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Sophomore Aslan Nolan drilled a buzzer beating three-pointer, to secure a 36-33 victory for Bishop Dwenger over Concordia in the sectional championship game at Garrett.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 12:03 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Huntington North senior Alexis Weaver signed with Manchester University’s women’s soccer program on Monday.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 9:06 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team took a massive step forward in 2022-23, but the run ended at the Horizon League Tournament semifinal, with a 69-65 loss to Green Bay.
Updated: Mar. 4, 2023 at 12:10 AM EST
|By Zach Groth and Chris Ryan
Tae Johnson put up 23 points, and Jackson Fugate added 22, as North Side defeated Snider 64-57 at the Carroll sectional site.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 11:54 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team pulled of an upset on Thursday night, beating three-seeded IUPUI 73-69 in the quarterfinal round of the Horizon League Tournament.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 12:20 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Komets fought back on Wednesday night, but a late push from Toledo secured a 5-3 victory for the Walleye.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 12:15 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Concordia moved on the sectional semifinal round, after defeating Leo 51-33 at the Garrett site on Wednesday night.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 7:02 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The 21Alive Boys Basketball Player of the Week is Central Noble junior forward Sam Essegian.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 12:14 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
North Side put together a strong performance on the first night of the boys basketball postseason, defeating sectional host Carroll 79-48.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 12:09 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Madonna defeated Indiana Tech 96-83 in the WHAC Men’s Basketball Tournament title game on Tuesday night.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 12:06 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Destinee Marshall broke a tie and put the Mastodons up for good with 11.7 seconds left in regulation, helping the Purdue Fort Wayne women secure a 65-61 win over Detroit Mercy, in the opening round of the Horizon League Tournament.
Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 12:13 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Monday marked another busy day of college signings in Northeast Indiana.
Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 12:08 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Rochester stunned the Indiana Tech women 69-66 in the WHAC Tournament championship game Monday night at the Schaefer Center.
Updated: Feb. 25, 2023 at 12:06 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Norwell senior Luke McBride put up 24 points, including two go-ahead free throws in the final second, as Norwell beat Hometead 48-46.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 12:20 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Indiana Tech women turned in another strong performance in the Schaefer Center on Thursday night, beating Lourdes 85-52 in the opening round of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 12:12 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Three Columbia City seniors signed with college teams on Thursday.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 12:08 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Bishop Luers held a signing day for 11 senior student-athletes on Thursday afternoon.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 12:05 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Canterbury graduate Austin Hatch made a long-awaited return to Fort Wayne on Thursday, to serve as the featured speaker at the World Baseball Academy’s ‘Beyond the Game’ Leadership Luncheon.
Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 12:09 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Grace men’s basketball team ended the Saint Francis season on Wednesday night, beating the Cougars 90-61.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 11:53 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Mad Ants couldn’t slow down the powerhouse Nets on Wednesday, falling to Long Island 122-102.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 9:16 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
The 21Alive Boys Basketball Player of the Week is Homestead junior guard Will Jamison.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 12:06 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
Concordia defeated Homestead by a 51-46 final on Tuesday night.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 12:01 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Saint Francis women’s basketball team defeated Spring Arbor 65-53 in the first round of the Crossroads League Tournament.
Updated: Feb. 18, 2023 at 12:09 AM EST
|By Zach Groth and Chris Ryan
HJ Dillard put up 15 points and 15 rebounds, including a couple clutch buckets in the final mintues, helping Wayne beat Concordia 55-51.
Updated: Feb. 17, 2023 at 12:19 AM EST
|By Zach Groth
The Purdue Fort Wayne women put on an offensive showcase on Thursday, picking up a 95-82 win over Wright State.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023 at 7:29 PM EST
|By Zach Groth
Three senior student-athletes at Bishop Dwenger signed with college programs on Thursday.
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