2007 marks Mike Garrigan's 15th year in a television
newsroom, but it's his first year as a main news
anchor. After 3 years as the Sports Director at WIFR,
Mike makes the switch to the 23 News desk to team up
with Nichole Vrsansky on the 23 News at 5, 6, and 10.
After majoring in Broadcast Journalism at UW-
Whitewater, Mike started his career behind the camera
as a sports producer at WITI in Milwaukee. He also
spent time as a morning news producer and on the
weekend news assignment desk at WITI. Mike began his
on air experience at Jones Intercable in Kenosha,
Wisconsin. He then spent nearly five years at WJFW in
Rhinelander, Wisconsin before coming to Rockford for good in
1999.
Mike has been at WREX-TV, WROK radio, and has served as
the Media Relations Director and voice of the CBA's
Rockford Lightning. He is now very happy to be at WIFR
with the most energetic news team in the market.
Mike has run the Olympic Torch, covered NFC
Championship Games, and conducted a one on one
interview with Tiger Woods. Now he's excited to show
you that his love for local news in the state line is
just as genuine as his love for local sports.
Mike was born in San Gabriel, California but grew up
in Waukesha Wisconsin. But he's been spending time in
the Rockford community from as far back as 1989. And
there's nothing Mike likes to do more than spend time
in the community. Mike has won Illinois statewide
awards from the Illinois Broadcasters Association and
the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
He also won a statewide award in Wisconsin for his
profile of Brad Gasparri, a ten year old boy who died
from Muscular Dystrophy. Mike has hosted four Jerry
Lewis MDA telethon as well as two Arthritis Foundation
telethons in his career.
Mike enjoys spending as much time as possible with his
family. Mike's wife Kirsten is a Hononegah alum who
played on the Indians first ever Super-Sectional
basketball team (1987) in school history. The couple
got married at Rockton's Old Stone Church in 1993.
Mike and Kirsten have four children: Keenan (Born in
1996), Kiah (1999), Larson (2003) and Braylon (2005).
Contact him at mike.garrigan@wifr.com.
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