Finals mark dream come true
When Chad Niccum gets behind a microphone, he is fulfilling a dream.
Niccum is New Castle's announcer in almost all sporting events. Recently, he was chosen to announce the Indiana High School Athletic Association volleyball state championship games. Those championships took place Saturday at Worthen Arena in Muncie.
"It was basically a dream come true," Niccum said. "I remember as a kid watching state finals on television and thinking that I wanted to be that person announcing. I have wanted to be an announcer since I was very young."
Niccum's booming voice and enthusiasm have started to open doors in the past few years. He has been hired to announce Ball State University women's volleyball and basketball games. He was the Indiana High School Announcer of the Year and last year he was a finalist for a national announcing award.
"I think he is the best around," New Castle Athletic Director Mike Bergum said. "He is absolutely, flat out, the best. Every event he does he brings something special to the table. Whether it be the volleyball state championships, cheerleading championships or a soccer game. He makes every event nice."
But announcing isn't just showing up at an event and talking on a microphone.
Niccum does his homework before any event. He knows the terminology of the sports he announces. He makes sure to get proper pronunciation of the names. He makes sure he is aware of any special announcements he needs to make.
The pronunciation gets tricky at times, especially with Ball State athletics.
"I announced a volleyball game where players were from all over the world," Niccum said. "Getting the proper way to pronounce the names was difficult."
Another tough part of the job for Niccum is when New Castle goes up against Delta. Niccum is a Delta graduate and his son is a high school student there.
"I love those games, but I hate them too," Niccum said.
Announcers have to stay away from being biased during IHSAA sanctioned events, such as state tournaments. That presents another challenge for Niccum.
"When New Castle is in the event and we're hosting a sectional or a regional, it's hard not to show bias," Niccum said. "You know on the inside I'm pulling for New Castle, but you have to put that out of your mind and be professional and get excited for both teams. I take a lot of pride in being able to do that."
This school year Niccum will announce his 1,000th Trojan event. His favorite game to announce was the 2006 class 3A boys basketball regional in which New Castle won. The Trojans would go on to win the state championship that year.
Niccum is hoping that announcing the volleyball state championships will open more doors for him in IHSAA events.
"It was exciting to get my foot in the door and get that chance to prove myself," Niccum said. "I know this could lead to bigger and better things."
His announcing philosophy is simple: fans pay to go to the sporting event, and he wants them to be able to be excited while they are there.
"That is the main thing I try to do," Niccum said. "I want to make each event fun and exciting. Some announcers go over the top and yell and scream. But you can show excitement and still be professional."
This girls basketball season will mark Niccum's 10th season behind the microphone at New Castle sporting events.
Niccum is New Castle's announcer in almost all sporting events. Recently, he was chosen to announce the Indiana High School Athletic Association volleyball state championship games. Those championships took place Saturday at Worthen Arena in Muncie.
"It was basically a dream come true," Niccum said. "I remember as a kid watching state finals on television and thinking that I wanted to be that person announcing. I have wanted to be an announcer since I was very young."
Niccum's booming voice and enthusiasm have started to open doors in the past few years. He has been hired to announce Ball State University women's volleyball and basketball games. He was the Indiana High School Announcer of the Year and last year he was a finalist for a national announcing award.
"I think he is the best around," New Castle Athletic Director Mike Bergum said. "He is absolutely, flat out, the best. Every event he does he brings something special to the table. Whether it be the volleyball state championships, cheerleading championships or a soccer game. He makes every event nice."
But announcing isn't just showing up at an event and talking on a microphone.
Niccum does his homework before any event. He knows the terminology of the sports he announces. He makes sure to get proper pronunciation of the names. He makes sure he is aware of any special announcements he needs to make.
The pronunciation gets tricky at times, especially with Ball State athletics.
"I announced a volleyball game where players were from all over the world," Niccum said. "Getting the proper way to pronounce the names was difficult."
Another tough part of the job for Niccum is when New Castle goes up against Delta. Niccum is a Delta graduate and his son is a high school student there.
"I love those games, but I hate them too," Niccum said.
Announcers have to stay away from being biased during IHSAA sanctioned events, such as state tournaments. That presents another challenge for Niccum.
"When New Castle is in the event and we're hosting a sectional or a regional, it's hard not to show bias," Niccum said. "You know on the inside I'm pulling for New Castle, but you have to put that out of your mind and be professional and get excited for both teams. I take a lot of pride in being able to do that."
This school year Niccum will announce his 1,000th Trojan event. His favorite game to announce was the 2006 class 3A boys basketball regional in which New Castle won. The Trojans would go on to win the state championship that year.
Niccum is hoping that announcing the volleyball state championships will open more doors for him in IHSAA events.
"It was exciting to get my foot in the door and get that chance to prove myself," Niccum said. "I know this could lead to bigger and better things."
His announcing philosophy is simple: fans pay to go to the sporting event, and he wants them to be able to be excited while they are there.
"That is the main thing I try to do," Niccum said. "I want to make each event fun and exciting. Some announcers go over the top and yell and scream. But you can show excitement and still be professional."
This girls basketball season will mark Niccum's 10th season behind the microphone at New Castle sporting events.
When Chad Niccum gets behind a microphone, he is fulfilling a dream.
Niccum is New Castle's announcer in almost all sporting events. Recently, he was chosen to announce the Indiana High School Athletic Association volleyball state championship games. Those championships took place Saturday at Worthen Arena in Muncie.
"It was basically a dream come true," Niccum said. "I remember as a kid watching state finals on television and thinking that I wanted to be that person announcing. I have wanted to be an announcer since I was very young."
Niccum's booming voice and enthusiasm have started to open doors in the past few years. He has been hired to announce Ball State University women's volleyball and basketball games. He was the Indiana High School Announcer of the Year and last year he was a finalist for a national announcing award.
"I think he is the best around," New Castle Athletic Director Mike Bergum said. "He is absolutely, flat out, the best. Every event he does he brings something special to the table. Whether it be the volleyball state championships, cheerleading championships or a soccer game. He makes every event nice."
But announcing isn't just showing up at an event and talking on a microphone.
Niccum does his homework before any event. He knows the terminology of the sports he announces. He makes sure to get proper pronunciation of the names. He makes sure he is aware of any special announcements he needs to make.
The pronunciation gets tricky at times, especially with Ball State athletics.
"I announced a volleyball game where players were from all over the world," Niccum said. "Getting the proper way to pronounce the names was difficult."
Another tough part of the job for Niccum is when New Castle goes up against Delta. Niccum is a Delta graduate and his son is a high school student there.
"I love those games, but I hate them too," Niccum said.
Announcers have to stay away from being biased during IHSAA sanctioned events, such as state tournaments. That presents another challenge for Niccum.
"When New Castle is in the event and we're hosting a sectional or a regional, it's hard not to show bias," Niccum said. "You know on the inside I'm pulling for New Castle, but you have to put that out of your mind and be professional and get excited for both teams. I take a lot of pride in being able to do that."
This school year Niccum will announce his 1,000th Trojan event. His favorite game to announce was the 2006 class 3A boys basketball regional in which New Castle won. The Trojans would go on to win the state championship that year.
Niccum is hoping that announcing the volleyball state championships will open more doors for him in IHSAA events.
"It was exciting to get my foot in the door and get that chance to prove myself," Niccum said. "I know this could lead to bigger and better things."
His announcing philosophy is simple: fans pay to go to the sporting event, and he wants them to be able to be excited while they are there.
"That is the main thing I try to do," Niccum said. "I want to make each event fun and exciting. Some announcers go over the top and yell and scream. But you can show excitement and still be professional."
This girls basketball season will mark Niccum's 10th season behind the microphone at New Castle sporting events.
"It was basically a dream come true," Niccum said. "I remember as a kid watching state finals on television and thinking that I wanted to be that person announcing. I have wanted to be an announcer since I was very young."
Niccum's booming voice and enthusiasm have started to open doors in the past few years. He has been hired to announce Ball State University women's volleyball and basketball games. He was the Indiana High School Announcer of the Year and last year he was a finalist for a national announcing award.
"I think he is the best around," New Castle Athletic Director Mike Bergum said. "He is absolutely, flat out, the best. Every event he does he brings something special to the table. Whether it be the volleyball state championships, cheerleading championships or a soccer game. He makes every event nice."
But announcing isn't just showing up at an event and talking on a microphone.
Niccum does his homework before any event. He knows the terminology of the sports he announces. He makes sure to get proper pronunciation of the names. He makes sure he is aware of any special announcements he needs to make.
The pronunciation gets tricky at times, especially with Ball State athletics.
"I announced a volleyball game where players were from all over the world," Niccum said. "Getting the proper way to pronounce the names was difficult."
Another tough part of the job for Niccum is when New Castle goes up against Delta. Niccum is a Delta graduate and his son is a high school student there.
"I love those games, but I hate them too," Niccum said.
Announcers have to stay away from being biased during IHSAA sanctioned events, such as state tournaments. That presents another challenge for Niccum.
"When New Castle is in the event and we're hosting a sectional or a regional, it's hard not to show bias," Niccum said. "You know on the inside I'm pulling for New Castle, but you have to put that out of your mind and be professional and get excited for both teams. I take a lot of pride in being able to do that."
This school year Niccum will announce his 1,000th Trojan event. His favorite game to announce was the 2006 class 3A boys basketball regional in which New Castle won. The Trojans would go on to win the state championship that year.
Niccum is hoping that announcing the volleyball state championships will open more doors for him in IHSAA events.
"It was exciting to get my foot in the door and get that chance to prove myself," Niccum said. "I know this could lead to bigger and better things."
His announcing philosophy is simple: fans pay to go to the sporting event, and he wants them to be able to be excited while they are there.
"That is the main thing I try to do," Niccum said. "I want to make each event fun and exciting. Some announcers go over the top and yell and scream. But you can show excitement and still be professional."
This girls basketball season will mark Niccum's 10th season behind the microphone at New Castle sporting events.