Edwards, Voice Of The Hawks, Adds To Excitement Of NHS Sports

By Andy Hutchison

Whether it is during a football game on a chilly evening at Blue & Gold Stadium in the fall, a basketball game in the gymnasium during the winter, or a softball game on a hot spring afternoon, more often than not the fans and players could not only see but hear what was unfolding before their eyes.

That’s because Jason Edwards (more commonly known as J by the athletes and Newtown High faculty members) is there for almost every game to work as the public address announcer.

A history teacher at NHS, Edwards makes the rounds to be at as many games as the schedule allows from September through June each year. He has done this for an entire decade. Edwards announces the starting lineups, who scores (or makes a standout play of some sort) and reminds the fans of everything from upcoming games to Snack Shack hours.

Sure, he is paid to stay after school and help make Nighthawk games even more exciting than they otherwise would be, but the fact is that Edwards truly likes his work and the players take notice.

“I think it’s just fun seeing these kids doing what they love. These are kids that work very hard outside of school — they’re chasing a passion, playing a sport they love most,” Edwards said.

He notes that often times people get caught up in how seriously the games are taken. He makes it a point to show good sportsmanship by not only making announcements that put the hometown athletes in a positive light when they score a basket or touchdown, but also making note of nice plays by those from visiting schools.

“The least I can do is recognize students from the other teams. I mean, let’s face it, these are young people playing games,” Edwards said.

He strives to keep the crowd entertained. He comes up with nicknames such as “Big Z” for George Zaruba. “He brings a lot of life to the game,” said Big Z Zaruba, a basketball and baseball player who graduated this spring.

“We can always hear it from the field. He always gets it right too,” NHS football player Tory Deakin added.

The football officials who hold the chains for measurements and to mark the downs are referred to as “the chain gang” by Edwards.

When a football game is chock full of penalties and the flags are thrown throughout the contest, the words “Friday night is laundry night here at Blue & Gold Stadium” emanate from the speakers above the stands.

Edwards announces the down and yards to go in football, the scores after quarters, innings or periods of every game, and makes note of any interesting plays that occur. But he has to pick his spots so as not to take away from the natural flow of the game he is announcing.

“A lot of times, the best thing to say is nothing at all — believe it or not,” Edwards said.

A teacher at the middle school at the time, Edwards started announcing games during the 2000 football season when he filled in for Jack Quinlan in what turned out to be a permanent gig. “He did a great job for us and the rest is history,” NHS Athletic Director Gregg Simon said.

Edwards, 36, calls as many as 100-or-so games during the course of the school year. His familiarity with the students in the classroom helps make his role behind the microphone that much more interesting.

“I think because J has such a wonderful knowledge of all of our students he brings unique insight to all of the games he announces,” Simon said.

In addition to calling the NHS games, Edwards also emcees local charity events from time to time. Whether he is in the Blue & Gold Stadium press box, behind the backstop at Treadwell Park for a softball game, or working a charity function, Edwards enjoys participating and serving as the voice of the event.

“It’s a nice way to be involved in the community outside of the classroom,” Edwards said.

When he is not watching (and calling) the action on the field, Edwards is around athletics. A former coach of volleyball and softball teams, he is a member of the Newtown Sandy Hooks Vintage Base Ball team, plays in softball leagues, and hits the golf courses in spare time. The University of Connecticut alumnus is also working toward his second master’s degree.