When senior Aidan Wehrspann took to the microphone during a Girls’ Water Polo State Championship broadcast, no one expected bull riding to make its way into the conversation. “I was talking about Spring Fling and mentioned the mechanical bull,” Aidan recalls with a laugh. “I grew up enjoying bull riding and watch it a lot - which was a unique thing to mention. The worst part? I told everyone it’s my favorite thing to do in class - to watch bull riding highlights on YouTube - so that wasn’t the greatest thing to mention. It definitely added some humor to the broadcast.”
It’s moments like these - equal parts entertaining and authentic - that have defined Aidan’s journey as a Sports Broadcasting Club Vice President.
Growing up in a big sports family, Aidan’s love for broadcasting was sparked early. “I was always watching a lot of games on TV and listening to the announcers,” he says. “I wanted to be one of them.” Over time, he found himself inspired by two broadcasters in particular: Adam Amin, the voice of the Chicago Bulls, and Carlo Jimenez, the Clippers’ radio play-by-play announcer. “I’ve always liked Adam’s style, and Carlo has been a huge help, too. I’ve picked up a lot of tips from his TikToks - like how to prepare for broadcasts and what to say on air.”
But when it came time to put his passion for broadcasting into full gear, Aidan admits he wasn’t the most confident speaker at first. “When I joined the club, I was a little quiet and not as confident with speaking,” he says. “But being on air and having to create conversations about the game and having others listen to me doing that has helped me be more confident in myself.”
Aidan’s preparation is key to building that confidence. About five days before each broadcast, he dives deep into his game prep. “The main thing is to watch a lot of films of the other team,” he explains. “It helps me learn their tendencies and gives me insight into what I need to look out for during the game.” By game day, Aidan has his notes perfectly organized - spreadsheet in hand, filled with highlights and important information. “When it’s game time, I can look down quickly and figure out where the info I need is and explain it during the game,” he says.
While the preparation makes a huge difference, broadcasting still comes with its challenges. “My biggest challenge when I started was using filler words,” Aidan admits. He tackled this by practicing - both on and off the air. “I started watching games on mute at home, pretending to be the broadcaster at that moment. With my preparation, I also have some sentence stems I can rely on if I don’t have anything to say. It’s helped me stay smooth and confident.”
Now that Aidan has honed his skills and gained confidence, he's able to embrace the rewarding aspects of his role as a broadcaster. One of his most memorable moments came when he broadcasted the Stevenson vs. Warren football game live on TV. “It was a surreal moment,” he recalls. “Especially starting the club as a junior, I never thought I’d be broadcasting a game on TV.” The experience, along with the compliments he received from athletic directors, teachers and students, solidified just how far he’d come in his broadcasting journey.
But for Aidan, the most rewarding part of his work isn’t just the recognition - it’s helping the underclassmen grow. “I hope to get the next set of great Stevenson broadcasters ready,” he says. “It’s rewarding to see their growth, from being unsure to getting excited about being part of the broadcast.” He adds, “I’ve watched them practice, prepare and take on side roles during our big broadcasts. We really can see the future of the club in our hands.”
As Aidan reflects on his journey, he leaves one final piece of advice: “One last general piece of advice to everyone is to try something new. Originally, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be on air. I ended up trying it, really liking it, and then went on a spree of being on broadcasts. Meeting new people and making new friends throughout this experience has been incredible.”