Wayne Rahlf

Wayne “Sports Wayne” Rahlf graduated from Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa in 1977.  He attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and graduated in 1981 with a degree in Speech and Humanities with a Communications emphasis in both. 

Wayne began his full-time broadcasting career in June 1981 at WGEN AM/FM Radio in Geneseo, Illinois.  In June 1985 he moved to Devils Lake, North Dakota and took a job at KDLR/KDVL Radio Station. Wayne moved to Thief River Falls to work for KTRF AM/KSNR FM Radio in August 1988.  Thief River Falls lost Sports Wayne to KDLM FM in Manchester, Iowa in August 1992 but got him back in August of 1995 when he returned to Thief River Falls to work for KTRF/KKAQ/KKDQ and we once again had the voice of “Sports Wayne” at sporting events.  

Wayne has spent 21 years of his 32-year career covering athletic events for Thief River Falls and Northwestern Minnesota.  He has covered over 4500 athletic competitions, including four (4) Division III NCAA National Championship Football games, five (5) Women’s Junior College National Basketball Tournaments, and one (1) Men’s Junior College National Basketball Tournament.  He finished as Runner-up in the MNN Play-by-Play contest in 2006, which was the ONLY time he ever entered such a contest. 

Wayne has a passion and love of broadcasting for the kids.  He has separated himself in the industry with his ability to broadcast multiple sports with the same desire and energy.  The coaches trust him.  They are able to confide in him and lean on him with the tough losses and enjoy the celebratory conversations with the big wins.  As noted by one Prowler athlete, “When we’re out of town, it just feels better when you see Wayne sitting there!”

When not in the broadcast booth or at the radio station, Wayne has been involved in over 40 Community Theatre productions and has spent over twenty years teaching Sunday School and singing in the church choir.  Wayne lives in Thief River Falls with his wife Robin, and remains the voice of sports in Northwestern Minnesota.