By: Alyssa Hertel, Eli McKown
Des Moines Register Des Moines Register journalists visited 16 central Iowa high school football practices to preview the 2026 season.


Alyssa Hertel is the Lead High School Sports Reporter at the Des Moines Register. She specializes in high school sports, with a focus on team sports and sports tournaments, while also covering college sports and recruiting. Alyssa's work has been featured in notable publications such as USA TODAY, Yahoo Sports, and the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
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Des Moines, United States (Local)


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Alyssa Hertel's coverage heavily revolves around local sports events, particularly those related to high school and college-level football and basketball. If you're looking to pitch her, consider offering exclusive stories or interviews with athletes, coaches, or key figures within the Iowa sports scene.
Given her focus on event coverage of specific games and signings, she may be interested in pitches that provide insights into upcoming matches or major developments within the local sports community. This could include feature stories about standout players, profiles of successful teams, or human-interest pieces about individuals making an impact in the world of Iowa sports.
Since Alyssa has a clear geographic focus on Des Moines and Iowa as a whole, pitches should align with this regional emphasis.
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