Living the State Championship Dream
P.A. Announcer
New Castle, IN
Recently, I was able to live my dream by announcing my first IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) state championship event. After having announced the state semi-finals the past two years, I was chosen to do the volleyball championship games for all four classes. As a child, this is something I had wanted to do since first watching a state championship game on television. I wanted to be that announcer who announced the players' names as they received their championship trophy and medals.
I prepared for the finals throughout the week leading up to the championships by studying each player's name and number and looking over stats so I would be ready when the big day finally arrived. Luckily, I was very familiar with some of the teams competing. I had announced their games earlier in the year when they played at New Castle Chrysler High School, where I announce during the regular season. I was also very familiar with the sound system since the state title games were being held at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University, where I announce women's volleyball and basketball for the Cardinals.
The semi-finals for class 1A started off the morning session and went well. By early afternoon, it was time for the finals. There was a local team in each one of the four state championship games, which added to the excitement and generated big crowds. I was also in charge of the music for the day, which enabled me to coordinate announcements during time outs and between matches. It was challenging at times trying to match up times with the television broadcast, but I enjoyed trying to make things sound as professional as possible.
I look forward to working future IHSAA Volleyball State Championships, as well as state championships in other sports.
Chad has been announcing for 24 years. He currently averages 100 games per year. At New Castle High School, he announces volleyball, football, boy's and girl's soccer and baseball, occasionally. He has the privilege of announcing in New Castle's 9,000 seat field house, which is "The World's Largest and Finest High School Field House." For Ball State besides announcing women's volleyball and basketball he has filled in for swimming, soccer, men's basketball, football and baseball. Chad is a 4-year member of the NASPAA.