<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=17IF5R_0v1IzACT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=17IF5R_0v1IzACT00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Karley Marotta recaps the Wisconsin Badgers football victory over Nebraska last November. Marotta says of being selected to vote on the AP college football poll this season: “I want to have fun. But I also want to be informed enough to do it.’’ SAMANTHA MADAR, State Journal</figcaption></figure>When Karley Marotta was approached to be a voter on the Associated Press college football poll, the WKOW-TV (Channel 27) sports director knew it entailed making a firm commitment on her part.In pondering the prospect of adding to her television anchoring work schedule, Marotta came around to believing that it would be a cool opportunity and “I thought, ‘Why not?’’’After running the idea past her husband, Jake — who encouraged her, “Why would you pass that up?’’ — Marotta got back to AP writer Steve Megargee, a versatile Wisconsin-based reporter.It was Megargee who reached out to Marotta in mid-April to weigh her interest in becoming a voter on the urging of Dave Zelio, the AP's assistant sports editor of the central region.The organization, according to Zelio, seeks voters who have deep knowledge and interest in college football beyond dedicated coverage of their local teams. Marotta fits that bill.“We’re excited to have her aboard,’’ he said.No more excited than Marotta, the only voter in Wisconsin and one of 62 broadcasters and sportswriters nationally in an AP poll that dates to the 1930s.“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself,’’ said Marotta, a Milwaukee native who joined WKOW-TV in 2020 as a weekend anchor after two-plus years at WXOW-TV in La Crosse.“I want to have fun. But I also want to be informed enough to do it.’’Addressing the weekly challenge of evaluating teams, she said, “As I go into the season, I’m going to do as much viewing as possible of the teams to make the most accurate picks.“It will be a little more work, especially covering Badger football because you miss some of those games (on Saturdays), so I’ll have to go back on Sunday and watch."In developing her own system, she added, “I’ll have to see the best way to do it because I’ve never done anything like this before. We’ll see. I’ll just take it week by week.’’The Associated Press preseason poll was released this week. First place votes were worth 25 points, 24 for second place, 23 for third place — and so on — to 1 point for 25th place.Cognizant of how the transfer portal can affect rosters, she said, “The preseason poll is probably the toughest one because you don’t really know these teams that well before the season.“So, I read a bunch of articles and made my best educated guesses.’’Georgia (46 first place votes), Ohio State (15 first place), Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan and Florida State made up the AP’s Top 10.Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Alabama, Mississippi, Michigan, Notre Dame, Missouri and Penn State make up Marotta’s Top 10. (She preferred Missouri over Florida State in her ranking.)USC (No. 23) and Iowa (No. 25) were the only other Big Ten teams in the AP’s Top 25. Marotta followed suit with the Trojans at No. 22 and the Hawkeyes at No. 25.Wisconsin was not ranked by the AP. Or by Marotta. With 15 points, the Badgers were No. 36 in the poll — sandwiched between Nebraska (16) and the University of Texas-San Antonio (6).“I didn’t think they were a Top 25 team heading into the season,’’ Marotta said. “But I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they make it into the AP poll shortly after the season starts.’’The Badgers did garner votes for the Top 25.They were at No. 18 (Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution), No. 22 (Jon Wilmer, San Jose Mercury News), No. 24 (Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune), No. 25 (David Briggs, Toledo Blade).Marotta understands the importance of balance and objectivity in her vote.“They definitely point that out, too,’’ she said of the AP advisers. “That’s one of the main things they say. Be balanced. They know everybody covers a certain team.’’Marotta will be mindful of the circumstances with the Badgers. “Like if they’re going to pop into the Top 25 or out of the Top 25, that’s something I will really have to think about,’’ she said.“I’m covering the team (the UW) day in and day out. You really get to know this team more so than any other team — definitely will be thinking about balance when that time comes.’’<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=31KXAZ_0v1IzACT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=31KXAZ_0v1IzACT00" width="868" height="893" ><figcaption>WKOW-TV sports director Karley Marotta performed play-by-play duties for the WIAA boys and girls state basketball tournaments in the spring of 2023. SUBMITTED PHOTO</figcaption></figure>Her roots are in basketball, not football. Her late dad, Marc Marotta, was Marquette’s leading rebounder for two years (1982-84) and a tri-captain with Doc Rivers and Terrell Schlundt.A three-time academic All-American, he got his law degree from Harvard, partnered at Foley and Lardner and was the secretary of the Department of Administration for Gov. Jim Doyle.Marotta passed away from a brain aneurysm in 2015. He was 52. That also was his jersey number at Marquette. Karley’s brother, Cam, and sister, Chloe, both played basketball for the Golden Eagles.“I guess I was always more of a basketball fan growing up,’’ Karley said. “Badger football definitely made me more of a football fan …“When you asked me earlier, ‘Have you become a big football fan?’ Yes. But when I think about it, volleyball has actually really sparked my interest. I’ve loved watching volleyball.’’She went on to say Madison is a “women’s sports friendly town. Women’s basketball is on the rise, too. I’ve been around that team a lot. You couldn’t ask for a better sports town.’’The local reaction to her voting in the college football poll has been positive. Especially from her family. “My brother has been super excited,’’ she said. “He actually told all of his friends.’’What would her dad have thought? “I’m sure he would have loved it,’’ she said.On some of the things that she has taken from him, she said, “He knew everybody and was just very well connected throughout his industry and his life. Everybody really respected him.’’In self-application, she elaborated, “I think just overall being as good of a person as I can be and getting to know a lot of people and making good connections. I think it can take you really far.“This is just one of those examples (voting in the AP poll). Obviously, Steve (Megargee) and I have connected from being together in the media.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1uNYRE_0v1IzACT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1uNYRE_0v1IzACT00" width="454" height="780" ><figcaption>Marc Marotta, who died in 2015 at age 52, was a former player for the Marquette basketball team and went on to serve as Wisconsin secretary of the Department of Administration.</figcaption></figure>“That’s something that my dad instilled in me — make good connections and be a good person no matter what job you have. Really that’s the best thing you can do.’’Her mom, Kim, has been a guiding force, a rock. She has been at her side through her steady climb in the business and her many firsts as a play-by-play announcer and TV anchor.One of the highlights of which was Karley’s promotion to WKOW-TV’s sports director, a significant achievement for anyone her age in any market size.While Marotta feels like she has moved past that moment — she was promoted in October 2022 — she is still conscious of her influence on young women who might be looking up to her.“That has been really special to still have that honor being the first female sports director in the area,’’ said Marotta, a 2017 broadcasting journalism graduate from Indiana University.“I feel like I know a lot of the beat reporters and reporters in town really well. Although there’s only a few women normally in those (interview) scrums, I never feel out of place …“Everybody has been very respectful, and I definitely feel like I belong.’’The AP has already made its vote known on that.</div></body>

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AP college football poll has one Wisconsin voter: Karley Marotta

When Karley Marotta was approached to be a voter on the Associated Press college football poll, the WKOW-TV (Channel 27) sports director knew it entailed making a firm commitment on her part. In pondering the prospect of adding to her television anchoring work schedule, Marotta came around to believing that...

AP college football poll has one Wisconsin voter: Karley Marotta

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