I think everyone dreams as a kid of what they will be when they grow up. Heck, adults love to ask their kids what they're going to be when the grow up; whether its to hopefully hear their child is going to follow in their parents' footsteps. I know for myself as a kid I had a wide variety of occupations I had hoped to have when I finally grew up. I had an active imagination and when I was 7 years old my parents bought me a tape recorder. I loved watching sports and on occasion I'd do my own sort of play-by-play broadcast and record it. I tried my best to emulate the broadcasters I grew up with like Pat Summerall, Al Shaver, and Dick Enberg. I even would try to emulate the analysts as well tossing in John Madden in my repetoire. I tried to get my dad to listen to those 'broadcasts' which included my own commercials and as a nice guy he'd listen to them (or at least that's what he told me) and I'd feel good about myself. Yet apart from a stint as a DJ on my colleges' radio station its as far as that 'dream' got. Typically, an NHL season means 'work' for myself and my partner in crime as we do our best to cover the action of each and every Wild game in addition to team news and events. Its takes a lot of time and considerable energy, but I'd say its a big part (by choice) of my life. I enjoy it. One thing I really embraced in the leagues' most recent self-imposed hiatus was to take full advantage of the tremendous amount of high school games streamed live on the internet. From following @FollowthePuck on Twitter, where you can get score updates for just about every hockey boys and girls high school hockey program in the state the internet gives anyone the chance to follow Minnesota High School hockey anywhere. The convenience of a wi-fi connection and a few simple tools allow high schools and radio stations do webcasts that allow anyone in the world the ability to listen to high school hockey from the convenience of their home. As a Minnesotan who now lives in south central Wisconsin, I savor the chance to stay connected with the kind of hockey I grew up with, the best of its kind in the world.
So long story short, one night this last winter with no NHL hockey to watch during the middle of the week I decided to listen to some high school hockey. My alma mater was not playing, so I decided to listen to a game between White Bear Lake and Hastings. Through Star Tribune's Hockey Hub site I noticed that the game was being broadcast and I clicked onto a link and got connected with 'The Horn', a radio / TV station for White Bear Lake High School. I started streaming the game and that is when I first heard the voice of Zach Halverson, a talented young man living the dream.
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After a few minutes, I was very impressed by how well polished and poised he was. And while there were a few moments where it got a little sophmoric, for the most part I felt he was very articulate, well paced and had good energy which is crucial in a sports broadcast. I've listened to lots and lots of different hockey broadcasts; both on the radio and on TV and I've heard / seen some excellent broadcasts and others where it could almost be substituted for waterboarding as a form of torture. Most of theses broadcasts were done by professionals, yet this high school broadcast was more than holding its own, at a level that I'd say was better than average than some of the pros. During an intermission, Zach Halverson explained that he was a senior at White Bear Lake High School and that 'The Horn' was an entirely student-run station. I later learned that 'The Horn' was sponsored both by the White Bear Lake School District as well as private businesses who donated cash and were given commercial aire-time in return. Halverson along with a few of his classmates went around to local businesses looking for sponsorship, and this certainly was no easy task especially on these economic times. The commercials were also produced by the students, and they too were very professional and well-produced.
So what? A lot of people have dreams as I shared with you earlier, but how many have the opportunity for it to come into fruition? Now its not all of the way there just yet. In fact he has a long way to go, but I have a feeling he'll make it. You can read more on Halverson's story by clicking this link which will even gie you a few examples of his broadcasting ability so you don't have to take my word for it. Zach Halverson's broadcast story (in his own words). Part II of Zach Halverson's life story along with a link to hilarious April Fool's Day joke here.
I didn't even get a press pass for the draft.
1. Just who is Zach Halverson? If you had to describe yourself to a complete stranger what would you say?
I am a very ambitious and passionate person and I love to strive to create things that look and sound as professional as possible. I have a wide variety of interests when it comes to broadcasting, from running cameras to designing digital on-screen graphics, I like it all. My true love and passion lies with broadcasting and I have felt since day 1 that I was meant to be in front of a microphone.
2. Were you in any sports as a kid? If so, what sports and what did you remember of them? If not, why not?
I played hockey all my life and I am so thankful to my parents for letting me play this game. I just finished my last year of youth hockey and I already miss it. There is nothing like playing the game of ice hockey and I am so very glad I did.
3. What made you decide being a sports broadcaster is something you wanted to do? When did you realize you might be kind of good at this? Do you feel like you're 'living the dream?' Do you plan on pursuing broadcasting after high school?
I can't think of a time in which I didn't think I wanted to be a broadcaster. I got a karaoke machine at a very young age when my parents thought I wanted to be a singer, when the truth was that I just wanted to play with the microphone and hear the sound of my own voice. I loved recording talk shows on tapes and playing them back, using my stereo to insert commercials I recorded off the radio. I played the role of a Kevin Falness a few times, hosting a Wild pre game radio show before sending it to Bob Kurtz and Tom Reid.
Though I knew this is what I wanted to do, I didn't realize that I might be somewhat talented in this field until my sophomore year of high school when I announced my first hockey game for local cable access TV station On Location TV19, which was a high school hockey semifinal between Stillwater and White Bear Lake. I was nervous and honestly didn't think I would do well but after I watched the game after, I realized I didn't sound bad. I knew I had many areas of improvement, but I was impressed with myself in my first game announcing. I was promoted to the on-air talent position at On Location TV19 in the summer.
While I dream of one day calling NHL hockey, at this stage of my life I believe I am truly living the dream. My life couldn't get any better if I tried and I am so thankful that everything has happened the way it did and my hard work and dedication has paid off the way it has. I have always loved the city of White Bear Lake with a passion and I am so proud and honored I get to be the "voice of the Bears". This has been the best senior year anyone can ask for and while I am sad it is coming to a close I am excited for the future not only for myself but for The Horn as well.
4. What sport is your favorite to do play-by-play for? Which sport is your least favorite to broadcast for?
Hockey is in my blood, and therefore it is my favorite sport to do. While it is difficult to do, the speed of the game and the pace that you have to call the game gives me an adrenaline rush each time I put on the headset. No sport even comes close to the thrill and excitement of calling a hockey game.
My least favorite sport to call is volleyball. Though I love the sport, my Mom's name is on the Wall of Fame at White Bear Lake High School for playing volleyball, describing the action is basically worthless as the viewer can not see it and you are basically told to stay relatively quiet until the end of the rally. I like announcing the faster paced sports in which the action is more continuous.
5. Many broadcasters have a signature phrase or call throughout their career. What would be your signature phrase and what would you say your best broadcasting moment was so far?
I am still waiting on my signature phrase, however "How does he/she do it?" has emerged as a favorite.
My favorite broadcasting moment is the 2013 Section 4AA Final between White Bear Lake and Hill-Murray. Though the Bears lost 1-0, I was able to announce high school hockey in the front row of the student section surrounded by my classmates at a sold out Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum. We had emails come in from all over the world, and we later found out that more than 4,000 people listened to the game. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about that evening.
A close second, however, goes back to my sophomore year in which I called the 2011 Section Final between White Bear Lake and Hill-Murray for On Location TV19. It was my 2nd game ever announcing for the station, and because we cover both schools I had to remain unbiased. Going into the game Hill-Murray was ranked number 1 in the state and was predicted by many to walk over White Bear Lake that evening. I thought the same, until White Bear Lake came over unbelievable odds and defeated Hill-Murray in double OT. You can hear my voice crackle and nearly start crying as I was unprepared for a White Bear Lake victory and I couldn't do what I wanted to do which was scream and celebrate. I contained it well however, until I was able to leave the building and finally let out the bottled up emotion.
6. What sports broadcasters do you admire the most? Are there any broadcasters do you loathe listening to? If so, who are they?
Doc Emrick is an amazing talent and I am blown away every time I hear a game announced by him. I don't really loathe anybody because I understand everyone has their own style and I understand the work that is behind broadcasting a game.
7. For people not familiar with the Horn, could you describe what its like to be apart of it. What sorts of tasks occur on a daily basis at the Horn to make it one of the most unique High School sports broadcasts in the Twin Cities?
When I started The Horn, I did it to work on my announcing. I found, however, there was a passionate fan base in White Bear Lake that made it more than just broadcasting a game. I found that, through emails and people coming up to thank me at random places around town, it was so much more than just setting up a camera and talking into a microphone. I realized that The Horn was connecting people and giving folks who live all over the world an opportunity to be apart and feel the passion that I have for the city of White Bear Lake and it's sports.
It is unique in the sense that The Horn not only features live broadcasts, but also Varsity team pages and is built on a platform that allows growth in many different areas in media. We continue to expand our coverage and will be working very hard over the summer executing ideas that came up over our first year. I truly cannot be more excited for the future of The Horn, and I see it as a model for other schools to follow in the near future.
8. What advice would you give to any young person that would want to be a broadcaster? What do you think is the most important lesson you've learned thus far as a play-by-play guy?
Muting the TV and announcing the game on it when you can and announcing your friends NHL '13 games on Xbox are basic things that you should do, but by far the most important is finding a local cable access TV or radio station and asking if you can help out. It took me 4 years of other volunteer work at On Location TV19 before I was promoted to the on-air talent position, so I would suggest that you shouldn't be afraid to do a lot of behind the scenes work before making your way in front of the camera. Start as young as you can, the more years on your résumé the better and the more experience you have around broadcasting, the better you will be as a broadcaster.
Only time will tell if Zach achieves his ultimate goal of being a professional play-by-play broadcaster, but he certainly has lived a small part of it already. Even if Zach doesn't make it to 'the Show', he certainly has helped start a program that may help other broacasting hopefuls live their dreams.
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