South Whidbey’s own Evan Thompson has joined the South Whidbey Record as the editorial department’s newest reporter.

Young, hungry and ready to write, the 21-year-old Clinton resident comes to the paper fresh from Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in print/online journalism and intern experience at a host of dailies.

Thompson said he’s thrilled to join the Record’s news team.

“I’m very excited, overjoyed actually,” he said.

A South Whidbey High School class of 2011 graduate, he said returning to the island and spending time with family is great but the chance to work at the local paper is especially gratifying. It’s an opportunity for a more in-depth relationship with the community where he grew up.

“Being a reporter here is a different level of relationship; I’m more proud to be a part of it,” he said.

Thompson was hired as a general assignment reporter, but he will cover several specific beats. They include education, the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District, South Whidbey Fire/EMS and sports.

Long time sports reporter Ben Watanabe is passing along his field pass to Thompson, who he said is an excellent fit for the job. Thompson was not only a great wrestler in high school and football team captain, but he is a former Record sports intern who was mentored by Watanabe in 2010 and 2011.

“Evan is a home-town kid who knows South Whidbey well and played under the spotlights of Waterman’s Field,” Watanabe said. “He’ll excel at telling the stories of athletes, young and old, amateur and professional, and everything in between.”

While Thompson was attending school at Central, he completed sports internships at the Daily Record in Ellensburg, The Yakima Herald-Republic and most recently the Tacoma News Tribune.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what’s changed in the last five years, and from a reporter’s perspective rather than as an athlete,” he said.

“I’m especially excited to cover baseball because of their re-emergence into competitiveness,” Thompson said.