Letter from Zach: Thank you, Wayne County. I’ve enjoyed telling your stories.

RICHMOND, Ind. — When I accepted this job almost two years ago, I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was something about it felt right.

I couldn’t tell you why that was the case. Just five months prior, I oversaw 50-plus people as editor-in-chief of The Ball State Daily News. Fast-forward to my first job out of school, and I’m one of only two reporters on the entire Palladium-Item staff. Oh, and I have to cover school board meetings. As someone who hates change and has never covered anything but sports, all signs pointed to discomfort.

So, again, I don’t know how I ended up in Wayne County, but I’m glad I did, and I have a lot of stories to share from the 22 months that followed.

Right out of the gate, I was covering history. My first week, Richmond native Sharita Ware won Indiana Teacher of the Year. The next, Centerville football played in its first-ever sectional championship. Week three, Laurelai DePew became the first Richmond softball player to commit to a Division I school.

I got to reinforce why basketball means more in Indiana, covering Richmond’s welcome home to 1992 state champion Billy Wright, Ben Deitsch becoming Northeastern’s unlikely sectional hero with a game-winning 3-pointer and NBA star Desmond Bane returning to his roots.

In my first year, I got to cover three different state championships, from a small group of Richmond gymnasts’ last hurrah to Centerville baseball getting further than any Tri-Eastern Conference baseball team ever had to Alex Goodwin becoming the first Centerville girls’ golfer to qualify for state. Sprinkled in with all that was a Hagerstown Little League team defying all odds, capturing the hearts of fans around the country on its way to the Little League World Series.

Some of my best work, award-winning work, came from these historic achievements, but I couldn’t have done it without the athletes, coaches, administrators and parents involved. Similarly, I couldn’t have told some of my favorite stories without you all letting me into your lives so I could tell your amazing stories.

I couldn’t tell the story of Memphis Lee rising above a rough childhood to become the Indianapolis Colts’ first-ever Man of the Year.

I couldn’t tell the story of Gavin Trent being a big brother to all after going through something no child ever should.

I couldn’t tell the story of Jayke Troutwine growing out his hair every year so he can donate it to cancer patients.

The Palladium-Item was my first job out of college. I never expected it to be a forever job. I also didn’t expect to miss it. Friday, Aug. 18, was my last day. I’m taking my next step, and thanks to all of you, that was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in a very long time.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you letting me be your storyteller for the last couple years.

I have a feeling this isn’t a “Goodbye” but rather a “See you later.” So, whenever you do see me next, make sure you tell everyone else so we can play our next game of Find Zach.

Zach Piatt is a reporter for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: From Zach: Thank you, Wayne County. I’ve enjoyed telling your stories.