Mike Catalana
Sports Director
13WHAM News Sports Director Mike Catalana is in charge of staff of talented sports journalists who take a unique look at the humor and humanity behind the scores and highlights.
The 13WHAM Sports Department works to keep you informed on local sports on 13WHAM ABC, FOX Rochester, 13WHAM.com, Facebook and Twitter.
Mike's most popular feature is "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly", seen every Thursday night at 6 o'clock. It is an entertaining look at the best and the worst plays of the week. Mike broke into sportscasting in Binghamton, where he worked for WMGC-TV (now WIVT). He came to Channel 13 back in 1987 as a sports reporter and was named Sports Director in 1989. Mike has covered just about every major sporting event in the country including numerous Super Bowls, the Stanley Cup Finals, the Masters, and the World Series His love of sports has been a lifelong passion.
"I am a person who grew up playing and loving sports," he says. "I knew that sports would also be a big part of my life and feel honored to do the job I do now."
The Ithaca College grad has received numerous awards, including the Rochester Press Radio Club's Lowell MacMillan Award for sportscasting excellence. Mike won an Edward R Murrow Award for Best Feature for his story "J-Mac's Big Night" He and the 13WHAM Sports staff have been honored as the best in the state by both the Associated Press and the New York State Broadcaster's Association.
Mike has worked as the sideline reporter for the Bills Television Network since 2000 and hosts the halftime sports report on the Jumbotron at Bills games at Ralph Wilson Stadium. He does a daily sportscast on WHAM Radio and is a member of the Bills Brothers on Thursdays at 3 p.m. on the John Ditullio Show on WHTK. Mike's also an active member of the community. He volunteers his time for Rochester Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and The School of the Holy Childhood. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Ronald McDonald House, and has also served as president of the American Heart Association's board of directors.
Mike has two daughters and lives in Rochester.