Editor's note: Read the updated interview with Trenni here.

Scanning the channels for local news, weather and sports continues to get more interesting in Milwaukee. The clashes between longtime rivals on channels 4, 6 and 12 continue, but relative newcomer Channel 58 adds fuel to the fire with its steady climb in the Nielsen ratings.

One of Channel 58's newest additions reflects the station's goal of adding personalities with local roots and perspective. Sports anchor/reporter Trenni Kusnierek may not be so new to people who knew her growing up in Wind Lake or attending school at Marquette University, but she's a bright new face for other sports fans across town. Her on-camera delivery and knowledge of sports gives her the appeal of a Melissa Stark type, though you get the feeling Kusnierek would ask the athletes better questions.

Kusnierek grew up on a steady diet of Milwaukee sports and television. It was only natural that the two combine for her career. Upon graduation from Muskego High School in 1995, she landed an internship with Channel 12 (on a "probationary basis," Kusnierek recalls), handling part-time duties behind the scenes. She initially attended UW-Oshkosh, but as her internship at WISN developed more potential, she took the advice of the station and transferred to Marquette. She remained with Channel 12 at the assignment desk and as a producer in the field for five years, whetting her broadcasting appetite.

Kusnierek took the plunge and joined WXOW-TV in Eau Claire in February 2000, her first on-camera job. The experience in Eau Claire worked out initial jitters and laid the groundwork for moving to the next step, the ideal of which was an anchor/reporter position back in her hometown. Stations in Milwaukee experience less staff turnover on average than most TV markets, so when Channel 58 made it known that they were expanding their sports staff, Kusnierek put together her resume and sent it, as she puts it, "on a wing and a prayer." Last October, she got the call she'd hoped for and loaded up the U-Haul. We're glad she did.

We caught Kusnierek at a local establishment and had security detain her until she granted us an interview. Here's what she had to say.

OMC: This is an exciting year to be reporting sports in Milwaukee. After your stint in Eau Claire, how is it coming back to town and joining Channel 58?

TK: I am SO glad to be back home. Going off to another place is risky in broadcasting; you never know if you'll end up where you want. So when I got this opportunity, I was thrilled. Being at Channel 58 is great. They have room to be flexible and do some things that the more established stations won't do. And I like everyone I work with. Channel 58 has great reporters and everyone has an aggressive enthusiasm. We work hard to grow the station.

OMC: Anything nasty to say about your co-workers at Channel 58?

TK: That's the question I get asked the most. But really, they're a great group of people.

OMC: So, what's your favorite part of the job... anchoring, field reporting, or are you waiting for more locker room interviews before you can tell us that?

TK: No, I have my answer. I like field reporting the best. You're where everything is happening. I love the quick, fast stuff. Anchoring gives you more flexibility, but I like conveying the energy and excitement from a place like the Bradley Center or Lambeau Field. I'm really excited to report from Miller Park this year.

OMC: So you grew up a Milwaukee sports fan. Which sport is your favorite?

TK: I'd say baseball and college basketball. I love the Brewers and the World Series in 1982 is my most vivid sports memory. As an alma mater, I'm also a huge Marquette fan. Tom Crean is doing so much for the program and I'm very excited about their future.

OMC: Which sport do you like covering most?

TK: Hmmm... you know, I don't think I've decided yet! When I'm covering the Packers in Green Bay I think football's my favorite, when I'm covering the Bucks or the Golden Eagles I think basketball's my favorite. I'm sure once baseball season starts I'll think baseball's my favorite again. Right now, I enjoy each of them so much I can't pick just one.

OMC: Speaking of baseball...with the end of County Stadium and the recent passing of Bob Buhl and Eddie Matthews, let's get retro... who are your favorite older, not current, baseball players?

TK: Ted Williams. I saw him at the All-Star Game in Boston. And with my memories of the Brewers growing up in the early 80s, I'd also say (Robin) Yount, (Rollie) Fingers and Paul Molitor.

OMC: So if you could interview anyone, who would it be, athlete or otherwise?

TK: Um... I'd say Tiger Woods. He is so good at what he does and he broke a lot of barriers doing it. He's changed golf dramatically and dominates the sport. For a non-athlete... I don't know. There are so many interesting people out there. I'd like to talk to someone who's seen something or done something really cool. Like an astronaut... "what's it like to go to the moon?" I like talking with people who've done things I would never have the chance to do.

OMC: You get to interview and deal with a lot of big-time athletes...do you still get star-struck?

TK: Not now. I've dealt with them for years now and you get to know them. Athletes eventually stop seeming famous after a while. You see them on their good days, bad days... it makes things more normal and then they become easier to identify with.

OMC: What's been the most embarrassing moment in your fledgling career?

TK: Hmmm, my most embarrassing moment. When I was a part-time producer at Channel 12, I liked to practice reporting. Well, one day during a Brewers-Phillies game at County Stadium I had a few minutes to practice, so a photographer and I headed to one of the entrances to the lower level seating deck. I was positioned with the game behind me. The photographer insisted on using his light, which is pretty bright. So while Jose Valentin is up to bat and I'm improvising a report, I noticed people around me starting to boo. I turned around and realized that the photographer's light was shining right in the eyes of the Phillies' pitcher and the ump stopped the game because of it. The TV cameras showing the game were trained on me as the reason for the game delay, and Matt Vasgersian was poking fun at me in the TV booth. I had no idea it would distract anyone, but there I was, accidentally stopping the game with the whole stadium booing me. I'm glad Brewers officials still let me in after that!

OMC: I remember that... I was at that game. Summer of '98, right?

TK: Yup. Thanks a lot for remembering.

OMC: So what do you like to do when you're not working? I know you're also a golf enthusiast, what else do you do?

TK: I also love working out, going to the gym and getting outside in good weather. One of my goals is to run a marathon. Not sure when, but it's a goal anyway.

OMC: With your name, Kusnierek, have you ever had people think you're related to Jane Kaczmarek (the mom on "Malcolm In The Middle" and a Greendale native)?

TK: (laughs) Um, haven't really heard that. But our names are pretty similar and we're both from here. There's no relation, though, so I'll put a stop to that right now.

OMC: What have you always wanted to do for a career besides TV?

TK: I wanted to be in TV since I was like 8... it's all I've ever really wanted to do. I'm a total camera hound! For a while I wanted to be a doctor, for a while I wanted to be a lawyer, then a teacher... I'd still like to be a teacher. Someday.

OMC: Tell me something you have not done in Milwaukee that you'd like to do.

TK: You know what? I was born and raised here, and I've never been on a brewery tour. Am I nuts or what?

OMC: (stares at her in shock)

TK: I know, I know! That's one thing I have to do... that and maybe the marathon.

OMC: Right now, you do a lot of reporting from Bucks games. This is probably the most exciting year since at least 1986 to report on them. What do you think will happen with the team as the season finishes?

TK: Without a doubt, the Bucks will get past the first round this year (in the playoffs). I'd love to see them in the NBA Finals... not sure if that will happen, but I do see a Bucks-76ers Eastern Conference championship series. The Bucks have such a great nucleus, only the best team in the NBA can end their season. Right now, that team seems to be Philadelphia.

OMC: How do you see the Brewers shaping up this year, with Miller Park opening and the team seemingly on the rise?

TK: They're making definite strides. It's the hardest sport for a team to progress in. In football and basketball, there's a lid, the salary cap. In baseball, you need stars and the budgets are so different from team to team. It looks like we're getting more stars, and I think the games will be as much of a draw as the new ballpark. We should be above .500 this year.

As for Miller Park, it's just going to be great. Now April, May, and September won't be a problem with the weather. Hopefully, it will become an issue in October pretty soon. Watch now... on opening day, it'll probably be 75 and sunny.

Between Fri., March 30's exhibition game and official opening night on Fri., April 6, Kusnierek has two chances to be right. We'll be watching. Kusnierek can be seen doing field reports and filling in at the sports anchor desk throughout the week and weekends on WDJT-TV, Channel 58.