Rachel Richlinski

In May of 2016, Rachel graduated from Louisiana State University’s Manship School of Mass Communication, packed her belongings, and headed to Jackson, Mississippi to begin her career as a sports broadcast journalist.

Prior to working for WLBT she interned at WAFB in Baton Rouge and WWL in New Orleans.

In her first two years in the ‘Sip, Rachel had the opportunity to cover many noteworthy events.

Starting with the coaching carousel of 2017 – 2018, Rachel reported on Hugh Freeze’s departure from Ole Miss along with the NCAA investigation, Dan Mullen’s exit from Mississippi State for Florida, Andy Kennedy’s separation from Ole Miss basketball, and the rise and fall of Andy Cannizaro at MSU.

She also covered MSU women’s basketball during an historic era, following the Bulldogs as they reached back-to-back National Championship games for the first time ever. Rachel traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the 2016 Sweet 16, Kansas City, Missouri for the 2017 Sweet 16, and Columbus, Ohio for the 2017 Final Four.

Additionally, Rachel made the trip to Omaha, Nebraska in 2018 for Mississippi State baseball’s magical run as the Diamond Dawgs made it to the College World Series for the first time in five seasons, doing it without a head coach.

At the prep level, she followed Clinton High School and Pearl High School as they both won their first state titles in program history. During CHS’s run in 2016, Rachel covered now Florida State standout, Cam Akers. (She also got run over during an Akers’ touchdown and had to have X-rays taken… But, that’s a story for another time.)

Growing up in south Louisiana, Rachel’s world revolved around sports, playing softball and volleyball her entire life up until college. Most famous for hitting a homerun in the first high school varsity game she ever started. After that, she did her civic duty of keeping the bench warm.

Rachel has been surrounded by SEC athletics from the start and although she enjoys all sports, she’s found a true passion for college baseball and football.

On her days off, you can find Rachel hanging out with her beloved maltipoo, Channing, or at the gym… Or napping. 😊

Rachel’s favorite stories to tell involve going beyond the highlights and connecting sports with a community. She also loves a good joke.

If you have a story idea, please email her at rrichlinski@wlbt.com.