Taylor new Blue Jackets sideline reporter

COLUMBUS — Van Wert native Natalie Taylor has just been named by Fox Sports Ohio to the Columbus Blue Jackets broadcast team as the new sideline reporter.

Taylor, the daughter of Donald and Deborah Taylor of Van Wert, joins the network with over eight years’ experience as a sports reporter and news broadcaster. She is a huge NHL hockey fan and is thrilled to be covering the Columbus Blue Jackets. Local viewers will recognize Taylor from WSYX/WTTE, where she has anchored weekend sports segments, reported for “Good Day Columbus,” hosted “The Football Fever,” and served as on-site reporter for high school football.

“The decision to select the new Blue Jackets sideline reporter was not an easy one,” stated Henry Ford, FOX Sports Ohio senior vice president and general manager. “Natalie Taylor has tremendous broadcast experience and a deep passion for the game of hockey. She is an outstanding addition and will complement one of the most experienced and talented broadcast teams in the NHL.”

Prior to returning home to Ohio, Taylor spent four years with FOX Sports South, working for two years as a sideline reporter for the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) and two years reporting on SEC college athletics. She also previously worked for HDNet, where she was a NASCAR pit reporter, as well as a sideline and feature reporter for the network during the inaugural year of the United Football League.

Taylor has a wealth of experience reporting for additional sports networks across the country, including FOX Sports Florida/Sun Sports, FOX Sports Midwest, ESPN 2, Comcast SportsNet, Outdoor Live Network (now Versus), and more. Taylor is also no stranger to FOX Sports Ohio, as she was a reporter for the network’s Bowling Green State University programs in 2003.

Taylor’s first game will be Thursday, December 8, when the Blue Jackets play host to the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. During this game, Taylor will share the sideline with John Michael. Michael will say farewell to Blue Jackets fans before he begins his new role as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ play-by-play radio announcer.