Shelley Bortz Biography: KDKA Reporter, Basketball Star Pageants
Shelley Bortz is an Emmy-nominated television news reporter for KDKA-TV (CBS Pittsburgh) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a remarkable background as a standout basketball player and a resilient survivor of personal tragedy.
Basketball Career
A native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Bortz graduated from Geibel Catholic High School in 1992.
There, she set a school record by scoring 1,977 points and collecting over 1,000 rebounds, making her the all-time leading scorer—across both boys’ and girls’ teams.
She led the WPIAL in scoring with 27.2 points per game, earned WPIAL Class AA Player of the Year honors, and was selected to play in the prestigious Roundball Classic.
Her outstanding high school career led to a full basketball scholarship at Gannon University.
During her time at Gannon, Bortz’s promising basketball career faced a significant challenge.
In April 1994, after her sophomore season, she was involved in a severe automobile accident that left her in a wheelchair for three months.
Doctors were uncertain if she would walk again, let alone play basketball. Tragically, the accident also claimed the life of her close friend and teammate, Kerri Welc.
Demonstrating remarkable determination, Bortz returned to the basketball court a year and a half later, wearing Welc’s jersey number in her honor. She completed her college career with over 600 points.
In recognition of her achievements and perseverance, Bortz was inducted into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, joining her father, George Bortz, making them the first father-daughter duo to be enshrined.
Journalism Career
Bortz began her journalism career after completing internships at WJET in Erie and FOX Sports Pittsburgh. Her first job was as a weekend anchor/reporter in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
She later worked as a reporter for WPXI-TV before joining KDKA-TV as a full-time reporter in 2021.
Throughout her journalism career, Bortz has covered a wide range of stories, including a notable report on a high school basketball player who was heckled about his father’s death during a game.
Bortz has also been involved in pageants, having been named Mrs. Pennsylvania America and Mrs. Ohio United States.
In her personal life, Bortz is a mother to her daughter Sydney and has a puppy named Phoenix.
Her favorite activities include playing basketball, tennis, and kickboxing. She’s also a fan of hip-hop and R&B music, loves true crime books, and appreciates Italian cuisine at Meloni’s Restaurant in Uniontown.
Shelley Bortz Age
Shelley Bortz was born on February 26, 1974, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, making her 51 years old. She is of American nationality and her birth sign is Pisces.
Shelley Bortz Parents
Bortz was born and raised in Uniontown, Pennsylvania to caring and supportive parents. Her father is George Bortz III while her mother is Christine Andrews. Moreover, Bortz has two known siblings, a sister and a brother, George Bortz IV.
Additionally, she has a sister who competed in the Miss Pennsylvania and emerged in the top 15. Later, her mother, as well as her sister, encouraged her to try pageant participation for the Mrs. Pennsylvania title since they believed she would do well and maybe, even more, better than her sister.
Shelley Bortz Education
Boltz is a graduate of Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville. In 1997, she graduated from Gannon University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
She received her education at Geibel Catholic High School and attended Gannon University from 1992 to 1997 on a full scholarship to play basketball.
Shelley Bortz Kdka
Bortz joined KDKA-TV in October 2021 to work as a reporter for the station. Moreover, she joined the station a week after KDKA-TV reporter, Nicole Ford, joined WPXI-TV.
Prior to joining KDKA-TV, Bortz worked as a freelancer for WPXI-TV in Pittsburg, PA. from August 2015 to September 2021.
As a news reporter for KDKA, Bortz has covered a variety of stories, including a SWAT situation in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and a grand jury investigation into Jehovah’s Witnesses and sexual abuse
Before working for WPXI, she worked as a reporter at WTAP, an NBC affiliate station in Parkersburg, West Virginia. While at WTAP, Boltz was chosen and honored by her peers to carry the Olympic Torch in the Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in 2002.
Shelley began her career in Scottsbluff, Nebraska as a weekend anchor/reporter. From there, she moved to Petersburg, West Virginia as the morning anchor then evening anchor.
Then as the morning anchor/reporter in Steubenville, Ohio; Jacksonville, Florida as a reporter; St. Louis, Missouri as a fill-in anchor/reporter before coming back to Pittsburgh to WPXI as a reporter.
Shelley has also completed internships at WJET in Erie and FOX Sports Pittsburgh. Shelley has completed internships at WJET in Erie and FOX Sports Pittsburgh before getting her first job as the weekend anchor/reporter in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
She has also held the position of Public Address Announcer for the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball Team for 3 seasons. Shelley was a former college hoops player and beauty queen.
She received a full scholarship to play basketball at Gannon University. Additionally, Bortz was inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame. Moreover, Bortz excelled in the pageant world, and in 2008, she was named Mrs. Pennsylvania.
As a result, she automatically qualified for the Mrs. America Pageant, and Mrs. Ohio in 2010, qualifying her for the Mrs. United States Pageant.
Her CBS News Colleagues:
Chris Hoffman-freelance reporter
Rich Walsh-sport reporter
Royce Jones-news reporter and anchor
Ron Smiley-weekday morning meteorologist
Mary Ours-meteorologist
Ray Petelin-meteorologist
Josh Taylor-sportscaster
Briana Smith-morning reporter and weekend morning anchor
Andy Sheehan-investigative and enterprise reporter
Heather Abraham-anchor and reporter
Erika Stanish-weekend evening anchor
David Highfield-morning news anchor
Debora Patta – foreign correspondent
Meghan Reistad-morning news anchor
Royce Jones-news reporter and anchor
Ray Petelin-meteorologist
Briana Smith-morning reporter and weekend morning anchor
Andy Sheehan-investigative and enterprise reporter
Heather Abraham-anchor and reporter
David Highfield-morning news anchor
Shelley Bortz Wpxi
From 2015 to 2021, Bortz worked as a television news reporter for WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Currently, she is a reporter for KDKA-TV still in Pittsburgh.
Additionally, Bortz has served as a news anchor and reporter for years for several stations in numerous states including the NBC affiliate station, WTAP Parkersburg, West Virginia.
She won Mrs. Pennsylvania in 2008, qualified for the Mrs. American Pageant, and Mrs. Ohio in 2010 as well as Mrs. United States Pageant.
Moreover, Bortz played basketball for the Lady Gators. Impressively, she was a star on the team and Bortz still holds the school’s career scoring record with 1,977 points. Notably, this enabled Bortz to win a basketball scholarship to Gannon University.
Shelley Bortz Tragedy
Bortz has a happy life for the most part and she is happy with how her life has progressed since the accident.
However, she has a sad and tragic memory that she has lived with for the last two decades. Bortz was involved in a tragic two-car accident on April 1, 1994.
Bortz at the time was a student at Gannon University in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Bortz and her best friend and Gannon basketball teammate, Kerri Welc, were in the backseat of a Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Bortz’s brother, George Bortz IV.
There were four people in the car including his brother’s friend, Larry Renaldi who was in the passenger seat of the car.
Bortz and Kerri were seated next to each other in the backseat. They were attending college on a basketball scholarship.
Another vehicle suddenly collided with their car at 11:35 pm, leaving Welc dead and Bortz with life-threatening injuries. It was later discovered that their vehicle was hit by a drunken driver (16-year-old Christopher R. Porter of Uniontown).
After the accident, they were all hospitalized with serious injuries. In the hospital, the doctor even told Bortz that she may never walk again.
Amazingly, Bortz survived the accident and has since recovered from her injuries and was able to walk again. She has since become a champion in the fight against drunken driving and injustices.
Shelley Bortz Height
Bortz appears to be a woman of above-average stature and stands at a height of 5 ft 11 in ( 1.8 m).
Shelley Bortz Ligashesky | Husband
Bob Ligashesky is married to Shelley Bortz Ligashesky. They have one daughter, Sydney, who was born in 2009.
Shelley is a very supportive wife and mother. She has helped Bob through his many moves and job changes, and she has always been there for him and their daughter.
Shelley is also a very active person. She enjoys running, biking, and swimming. She is also a member of her church choir.
Bob and Shelley are a very close-knit family. They love spending time together, and they are very proud of their daughter.
Bob Ligashesky is the special teams coordinator at Syracuse University. He has been an assistant coach with several teams in the National Football League (NFL), including the Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ligashesky has a reputation as one of the best special teams coaches in football. He has coached several Pro Bowlers and All-Pros, including kickers Neil Rackers, Sebastian Janikowski, and Justin Tucker. He also coached the Pittsburgh Steelers’ special teams unit that won a Super Bowl in 2008.
Ligashesky is known for his innovative playcalling and his ability to get the most out of his players. He is also a great teacher and mentor. Many of his former players have gone on to have successful careers in the NFL.
Ligashesky is a valuable asset to any coaching staff. He is a proven winner and a master of special teams.
Here are some of Bob Ligashesky’s notable accomplishments:
- Super Bowl champion (2008)
- 3x Special Teams Coordinator of the Year (2005, 2009, 2016)
- 5x Pro Bowl coach
- 3x All-Pro coach
Shelley Bortz Salary | Net Worth
Shelley Bortz is currently working as a news reporter for CBS Pittsburgh – KDKA-TV in Pennsylvania. Her annual salary ranges between $40,000 – $110,500.
Additionally, her net worth is estimated to be between $1 million – $5 million which she has earned through being a television news reporter.
Is Shelley Bortz Married
Bortz is a married woman to her dear husband Bob Ligashesky. Her husband, Bob, is an NFL special teams coordinator for the Texans.
Moreover, the pair has a known daughter, Sydney, who was born in 2010. Together with her family, Bortz resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, together with their dog, Bella.
How Old Is Shelley Bortz
Shelley Bortz was born on February 26, 1974, which makes her 50 years old as of now. She celebrates her birthday on February 26 every year with family and friends.
Where Is Shelley Bortz
Shelley Bortz has held various roles throughout her career in journalism and sports:
Current Role: Shelley Bortz is currently working as a television news reporter for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She joined KDKA-TV in October 2021.
Previous Roles: Reporter at WPXI-TV from 2015 to 2021, and earlier positions at WTAP, FOX Sports Pittsburgh, and other stations across the U.S.
Sports Announcer: Public Address Announcer for the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball Team for three seasons.
Athlete: Basketball player at Gannon University, where she attended on a full scholarship.
Pageant Winner: Mrs. Pennsylvania America and Mrs. Ohio United States.
Her career reflects versatility and dedication across journalism, sports, and community engagement.
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