Drea Blackwell Named Sports Anchor At KSBW

Drea Blackwell on Tuesday was named sports anchor for Hearst’s KSBW Monterey-Salinas, Calif.

Blackwell succeeds outgoing sports director Dennis Lehnen, who announced his retirement after 35 years at the station earlier this year. Lehnen will pass the torch to Blackwell on Aug. 5, the opening night of the Rio Olympics.

Blackwell will join the KSBW Action News 8 anchor desk Monday through Friday at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

“With her fresh, contemporary approach to covering sports on the Central Coast, Drea is the perfect addition to an incredibly talented evening news team” Lawton Dodd, KSBW Action News 8 news director, said in a statement. “In addition to her professionalism, she has an established relationship with our Central Coast communities, and is incredibly passionate about local sports.”

Blackwell, a Monterey native, joined KSBW Action News 8 in 2014 and has worked in a variety of roles at the station, including filling in for Lehnen on air. She has a degree in journalism from San Jose State University.