Jake Bedell joined WAND News in August 2022. He started as a news producer and sports reporter before taking over weekend sports duties in June 2025. 

Jake leads the WAND Athlete of the Week series, co-anchors Friday Frenzy, and has worked to cover area high school sports, Illini sports, and the NASCAR street race in Chicago. 

Before beginning his broadcast career, Jake worked as a Sports Information Director at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. During his time with the River Hawks, he oversaw communications responsibilities with the River Hawks softball, men's soccer, women's basketball, and hockey teams. Jake contributed to digital coverage of the Hockey East Championship, the NCAA Frozen Four, and the America East Softball tournament. He would periodically serve as the public address announcer at Edward LeLacheur Park, home of the UMass Lowell baseball team.

Jake is a native of Tinley Park near Chicago and graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis. He's a big music fan and plays guitar and piano in his free time. He's a big fan of college football, MLB, and the NHL.

If you ever see Jake on the street, feel free to say hello! Have a story? Reach out to jake.bedell@wandtv.com.