To describe Chris Wragge as a sports fanatic is an understatement, having been around sports all his life in some way, shape, or form.

Chris attended the University of New Hampshire on a football scholarship. He earned three varsity letters and graduated a year early to pursue a career in professional sportscasting.

Wragge currently anchors the nightly sportscasts on News2Houston and was the recipient of the 2002 Associated Press "Best Sportscast" award for the Houston area. Chris has been Channel 2's sports director since 2001 and is host of "Sports Sunday."

When Chris isn't behind his anchor desk in Houston, he roams the country as a reporter for NBC Sports.

Wragge covered the NBA and the NBA playoffs for two years. Chris worked the sidelines for play-by-play men Marv Albert, Tom Hammond and Mike Breen.

Wragge covered the WNBA for two seasons, hosting the WNBA finals from Los Angeles in 2002. Chris has also worked Notre Dame football, the New Year's Day Gator Bowl and the PBR, the Professional Bullrider's Association. In 2003 and 2004, Wragge joined NBC's golf coverage at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational.

Since 2001, Wragge has been a fill-in host at the Sun America, now Allstate Sportsdesk from 30 Rock in New York City.

Wragge's crowning achievement to date -- being a part of NBC's Olympic coverage from the 2002 Olympic Winter games in Salt Lake City. Chris joined Bob Costas, Katie Couric and Jim McKay on the Opening Ceremony broadcast, one of the highest-rated ceremonies in the history of the Olympics.

While there, he had the opportunity to interview such Olympic heroes as Picabo Street, Cammy Granato, and Apollo Ohno. Chris then followed Ohno to the short-track, where he was stationed as the event reporter. He was also a correspondent for the special-features unit, where he had the chance to profile silver medallist Shannon Bahrke, the three members of the medal-winning U.S. snowboarding team, and silver medallist skier Bode Miller.

In December 2002, Wragge joined USA Sports as the on-site correspondent for "PGA Tour Sunday." The USA Network is the PGA Tour's leading broadcast partner. In 2003, Chris covered 30 events for USA including the Player's Championship, the Masters, the U.S. Open and 27 others. Wragge began his second season in January.

Before Wragge made his splash in Houston, he was a correspondent with the nationally syndicated entertainment news show "Entertainment Tonight" from 1996 through 2000.

He didn't waste anytime making the transition from local sports reporter to national correspondent; his first "ET" interview was with actor Kurt Russell. During his four years with "ET," Chris covered the red carpets of the Oscars, Emmy's, Grammy's, and every major movie premiere and several other events. While at "ET," Chris still managed to remain involved with sports in a big way, covering almost every major sporting event including the Super Bowl, World Series, and NBA All-Star Game.

Chris has also made several television appearances over the past few years. He has appeared on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," "MTV's Rock 'N Jock Football," "The Oprah Winfrey Show" three times, and as the target of a "Candid Camera" stunt.

Since returning to sportscasting, Wragge continues to add awards and accolades to his already impressive resume.

Two similar awards preceded Chris' 2002 Associated Press award. He was the recipient of two other Associated Press "Best Sports Reporter" awards: in 1996 while at WVIT in Hartford, Conn., and in 1994, while at WMUR in Manchester, N.H.

When Chris isn't in front of the news camera, he spends his free time golfing and with his wife, Victoria. The couple married in June 2000 at Tuxedo Park Country Club in Tuxedo, New York. Chris is an avid golfer and carries a 1 handicap.

Wragge was born in Hackensack, N.J., raised in Rutherford, N.J. and went to high school in Mahwah, N.J. Chris is quick to defend the "Garden State!"

Would you like to send Chris an e-mail? Send it to cwragge@click2houston.com.