In his fifth year announcing for girls’ varsity basketball, social studies teacher Brad Brubaker said he enjoys the job as a way to see sporting events he wouldn’t otherwise attend.

“I’ve never coached a winter sport, so I think it’s fun to be involved in the winter just a little bit,” Brubaker said.

Brubaker said most of his job entails deciphering name pronunciations, finding out the game’s starters, playing each team’s warmup playlist and announcing each basket and foul.

According to senior captain Stephanie Reuter, the announcer plays an important part in the atmosphere of the team’s games.

“The announcer plays a huge role in the crowd’s energy as well as our team energy, which is crucial in having a good game,” Reuter said.

According to Brubaker, there isn’t much opportunity for embarrassing announcing moments, but he said his most memorable mistake was during his first year of the job.

“In the first year I was (announcing), two times in the same night, it was travel basketball night and I announced it as travel soccer night,” Brubaker said.

Brubaker said his favorite moments on the job are games dedicated to Carly Christensen, a former student who passed away in 2013, as well as senior nights.

“The senior nights are fun when it’s not just me announcing and the seniors or some of the juniors are taking the mic and doing stuff,” Brubaker said.

Reuter said Brubaker’s familiarity with the team creates a sense of consistency the players can appreciate.

“(Brubaker) is a familiar face to all of us and has been announcing our games for a long time, so I think him being there is one thing we can rely on from game to game and won’t have to worry about,” Reuter said.

Brubaker said he enjoys the excitement of announcing close games.

“I don’t necessarily like blowouts, even when we win, because it’s not as much fun,” Brubaker said.

Brubaker announces all girls’ basketball home games, which take place in the old gym. The next home game is at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 against Bloomington Jefferson.