As we approach a season on the gridiron, the network has finalized their team on the headsets for this fall. This includes full play-by-play broadcasts, weekly preview and review coverage, and score updates from around the area. Here’s the 2023 team:

 

J.T. SCARPELLI

For his third straight season, Coach Scarpelli will return to the booth to call Big Rapids football this season. This will mark the ninth year in broadcasting from the former Cardinal baseball standout.

Scarpelli was recently named head coach of the Big Rapids varsity baseball program, in which they won a CSAA regular season title.

To date, he has over 17 years of athletic playing and coaching experience in both high school and college baseball.

“I know the kids from coaching baseball so I love covering them in another sport,” Scarpelli said. “I think it gives a unique insight into the kids so listeners can get to know them beyond the field. I try to stay loose, real, and fun. My mission is to involve the kids as often as possible into the on air content, especially siblings who get shout outs and cameos!”

Scarpelli admires the work of legendary broadcaster Vin Scully. He also is a large Chicago Bears fan and firmly believes they will win the Super Bowl within the next 3 years…and before the Lions.

 

BRANDON WIRTH

Returning to his alma mater, Wirth will head play-by-play duties for Reed City Coyote football this fall on Y-102. The fellow Bulldog made his debut with the network last year calling for Chippewa Hills and will be replacing veteran Christian Booher as the voice of the Coyotes.

Wirth currently competes as student athlete for Ferris’ cross country and track and field programs while also serving as the news and sports director at the station.

He was also a former Reed City Coyote athlete, competing in four sports at the varsity level and earning all-state in cross country, all-conference honors in baseball, and all-area in soccer.

“I cannot be more excited to be back home in the booth this year,” Wirth said. “I had a great experience working with the Chippewa Hills program last year but having the Coyote logo on my chest brings me another level of passion. You can expect some highlight reel touchdown calls, in-depth statistical analysis, and the occasional Brandon-ism to bring some laughter along the way.”

Wirth’s favorite broadcasters include Bob Wischusen and Kevin Harlan. He also enjoys tossing lines in the water and shredding pow in the winter.

 

JOE NAGY

Born and raised in Sand Lake, the former Tri-County Viking and Ferris State Bulldogs joins the crew as the lead studio analyst and board operator for this fall. He will also be filling in for various games at the play-by-play position later in the season.

Nagy has high school varsity experience with baseball and soccer as well as continuing his athletic career at Ferris, winning four intramural championships in dodgeball, softball, soccer, and volleyball, respectively.

The Bulldog graduate obtained a sports communication degree from Ferris State last spring and has a handful of seasons calling games at both play-by-play and color positions in different sports.

“I got into broadcasting to fulfill a childhood dream of sharing my love for sports and sharing that love with people around me,” Nagy said. “I love to have fun in anything I do and I like to think my call style reflects that. Some of my favorite things are finding new ways of describing what is happening beyond the basics. I'm a high energy guy, and I like to keep that going on the broadcasts.”

Nagy’s favorite broadcasters include Jim Nantz and Gus Johnson. He also has “many leather-bound books and has an apartment scented of rich mahogany.”

 

BROADCAST NETWORK INFORMATION:

Big Rapids Cardinal Football on Big Country: 100.9 FM, WWBR.com, and WWBR mobile app.

Reed City Coyote Football on Y102: 102.3 FM, WYBR.com, and WYBR mobile app.

CSAA & Area Football Coverage via The West Michigan Sports Show on WBRN: 1460 AM, 96.5 FM, 107.7 FM, WBRN.com, and WBRN mobile app.