Perhaps nothing is more synonymous with Newtown High School sporting events than the voice that can be heard emanating throughout the gymnasium, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on the back fields, and occasionally Treadwell Park, announcing starting lineups, and filling in the crowd between plays.

That voice belongs to Jason “J” Edwards, a teacher at Newtown High by day, and a public address announcer by afternoon, night, and weekend.

Edwards, this past spring, announced his 1,000th game for the Nighthawks. He’s been behind the microphone at NHS games since the fall of the 2000 season. Former NHS guidance counselor Jack Quinlan used to announce games and asked Edwards to fill in for the second game of the that campaign, and he’s been behind the mic ever since.

His best memories throughout the years are the championship triumphs, the first goals, Senior Night victories, and dramatic come-from-behind wins.

Newtown High Athletic Director Gregg Simon describes Edwards as “the consummate professional who is always fully prepared for every event for which he announces. There is not a single game where a parent or coach doesn’t come up to me at the end of the game to compliment J. The student-athletes of Newtown High School are very lucky to have him at so many of our events.”

Will Dalton, who played basketball at Newtown High and graduated this spring, notes that while other schools have announcers, they aren’t the same as Edwards.

“He’s very passionate about it. He likes to get the audience into it,” Dalton said. “He’s got a great voice for it, too.”

Dalton says team members, while in the huddle during stoppages, have caught themselves overhearing one of Edwards’ humorous remarks and fought back their laughter.

Edwards has a knack for recognizing nice plays by opposing team members with enthusiastic comments every bit as much as he shows support for the home team.

“I try to recognize kids. To do that, you’ve got to be creative,” says Edwards, who has come up with nicknames for athletes on Newtown and visiting teams.

When the officials call for a measurement in a football game, Edwards is known for saying, “The cowboy chain gang moseys onto the field.”

During games at Blue & Gold Stadium, Edwards reminds fans about the selection of foods available at the concession stand with his popular “Mmmmmm …. Snack Shack” plug.

One of his common announcements is a reminder to those in the crowd: “Let’s remember to be fans, and not fanatics.”

Edwards sits at the microphone with rosters — marked up with notes, including intentional misspellings of names. He has to quickly learn pronunciations of visiting team names and writes them out phonetically.

“You only have one take to get it right,” he notes, adding that all of the preparation he and Newtown High’s staff put in for each game make things run smoothly. Now and then might be a lineup change or something that causes Edwards to have to adjust on the fly. “Occasionally you get thrown a curveball,” he said.

Games unfold glitch-free for Edwards thanks to the hard work of many individuals.

“My effort represents the turn-key of the operation of other people’s preparation,” Edwards says.

Jennifer Huettner has run the scoreboard clock at games for many years, and often serves as a second set of eyes to fill Edwards in on plays out of his view from an often cluttered press box during football games. Simon, whom Edwards says he looks up to, and his staff coordinate game days. It all starts hours before the opening tipoff, kickoff, faceoff, or first pitch. Student team managers who radio him with names of players who score or earn an assist also play a role in making Edwards’ work seem seamless.

“We’re all in it together,” Edwards says. “So many people make the engine go.”

Edwards says announcing games gives him a good relationship with his students — both the ones that play sports and those who hear him when they attend games.

“I love doing it. It makes my teaching easier because it establishes a rapport with my students,” said Edwards, who teaches US history and AP government.

A former softball and volleyball coach at Newtown High, Edwards first announced games around his schedule. After giving up coaching several years ago, he’s taken on more and more varsity games.

Edwards and his wife Eileen, whom he just married this past week, reside in Seymour. Among his hobbies is playing baseball on the Newtown Sandy Hooks Vintage Base Ball team, which honors the game how it was played in the past and has evolved.

Edwards, 41, has been a teacher in town for 19 years plans to be back in the classroom as well as beat the mic at games again this coming fall, and for years to come.

“I’ll do this as long as I teach,” he said of announcing games.