Meet IndyStar high school reporter Marc Ray, a Houston sports fanatic

My name is Marc Ray, and I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I’m the oldest of five siblings and a proud first-generation college graduate. After graduating from Aldine MacArthur High School in 2018, I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston in 2022. A career as a sports commentator first crossed my mind, but journalism was the route that I took once I stepped foot on the UH campus. Being a writing wizard and telling the stories of local athletes resonated more with me.

Throughout college, I was a member of CoogTV, a student-led newsroom, and spent time in front of the camera and behind the scenes. I also created content on my own. I covered the Vanessa Guillen and George Floyd protests, which built my versatility in the journalism game. With that, I earned internships with Houston Public Media, National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). After graduation, I earned my first professional journalism gig at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. I made the 16-hour drive to the Midwest and adjusted to the snowy conditions. I was a rookie in that regard.

During my 2.5 years in Iowa, I was the lead reporter for the Iowa girls state volleyball tournament and helped cover college sports, including March Madness, for the Des Moines Register. I accomplished my dream of covering a UFC event, when the MMA organization hosted its first event in Des Moines in 2025. My features were shared on MMA Junkie and its social platforms for USA Today. In April 2026, I joined the IndyStar and have already immersed myself in the high school sports scene. I’m honored to work alongside a talented team in a certified sports town. I’m passionate about feature writing and I’m looking forward to connecting with players, parents and coaches to share stories that resonate with readers. I value stories that highlight people as much as results. I’m a former high school athlete, who ran track and played football, that now gets to tell stories that go beyond the box scores.

I’m a proud NAHJ Sports Task Force member, who hopes to one day be a mentor for aspiring journalists. I’m locked in on improving and learning from the experiences of other journalists.

My family is my support system and the driving force behind my career. For my mom that had me at a young age, for my four younger siblings that see me as a role model and the sea of family members that offer their support, I strive to be a positive example for those that are closest to me. My partner, Iris, and I have a basset hound (Dixie) and a chihuahua (Bella), who are a part of my family. We’ve already explored parts of Indy and some cool spots around town.

I’m also a long-time professional wrestling fan who has passed that fandom down to my two younger brothers. When I’m not writing, you’ll see me in front of a TV cheering on the Texans (Sorry, Colts fans), along with the Astros and Rockets. You might catch me outside on a trail, at a local gym or at a coffee shop.