The boys are back on the field for a new season of high school football. For the Big Rapids Cardinals, 2023 was a championship season to remember. Now, Head Coach Mike Selzer will look to repeat the results this season and will have familiar voices following along the way.
In season number four with Cardinals, alumni J.T. Scarpelli will saddle up for the upcoming game slate alongside newly nominated color commentator and Big Rapids High School basketball coach, Jason Kostecki. Joe Nagy will also make appearances this season as a studio analyst and board operator. Here’s more about the three-man team:
J.T. SCARPELLI
It will be year number ten on the microphone career for J.T. Scarpelli, including four straight years with the Cardinals.
The Cardinal baseball skipper has won two straight CSAA conference titles and has sent many prospects on to the college level. He also has over 18 years of playing and coaching experience at the high school and college levels.
Here’s more about him:
- Nicknames:
- Primary Job:
- General Manager at the Big Rapids Media Network; Head Coach of Big Rapids High School and Post 98AA Legion Baseball
- Broadcasting Experience:
- Four seasons of HS football (Radio)
- Style of Broadcasting:
- “I think I am fan-considerate broadcaster. I am not a football coach, and I don’t pretend to be, but it helps convey the game over the airwaves in a manner fans of any level of football can understand. I do love me some stats though...”
- Favorite Broadcasters:
- Expectation for the Season:
- “The Cardinals are coming off the second most successful season in the history of the school. There are key departures, but key returners as well. It will be fun watching younger guys get the opportunity to step up into the spotlight.”
JASON KOSTECKI
Back for year number two in an advanced role, Jason Kostecki joins Cardinal football this fall as a color commentator.
Kostecki is a veteran coach in the area for over twenty years in basketball, baseball, and soccer at various levels. He is also involved with various local community organizations.
Here’s more about him:
- Nicknames:
- Primary Job:
- Nursing Home Director at Mission Point of Big Rapids, Basketball Coach at Big Rapids High School
- Broadcasting Experience:
- One season of HS football (Radio)
- Style of Broadcasting:
- “My style of broadcasting is very casual and fan-like, I like to have a good time on the radio and try to make our listeners feel like they are in the stadium. I also like to joke and try and add some humor when I can.”
- Favorite Broadcasters:
- Expectation for the Season:
- “There is something about Big Rapids football and Friday nights. I am glad to be on the call with J.T. again this year, bringing all the action from our voices to listener ears."
JOE NAGY
In his second season as analyst and ‘board op’, Joe Nagy will be adding to the broadcasts once again in 2024.
Nagy has contributed to Big Rapids Media Network’s high school sports show, “The Rundown,” for the past year as well as filled in as a broadcast alternate for football and basketball on Y-102 and WBRN. He also studied Sports Communication at Ferris State University during his undergraduate studies and won a statewide award with Wirth for college sports podcasting.
Here’s more about him:
- Nicknames:
- Primary Job:
- Former Afternoon Radio Show Host on Big Country 100.9
- Broadcasting Experience:
- Two seasons of high school football and basketball (Radio), Five years of college and high school sports podcast hosting
- Style of Broadcasting:
- “I try to be a fan first. Of course, you want to stay somewhat unbiased; but if I see a big play that gets me out of my seat, you'll know it for sure.”
- Favorite Broadcasters:
- Ian Eagle, Dan Dickerson, Ken Daniels, Eric Collins
- Expectation for the Season:
- “The CSAA looks deep this year, and I cannot wait for each game in the schedule for Reed City and Big Rapids to be a big matchup. Not to mention, how much that will make the weekly episodes of The Rundown that much more exciting to watch. Football is almost back, and I cannot wait until this thing gets kicked off. I am itching for the sport and facing withdrawals.”
BROADCAST NETWORK INFORMATION
Big Rapids Cardinal Football will be hosted on Big Country 100.9 for its 26th season this fall. Games can be heard on standard radio dials via 100.9 FM as well as online radio streams via the WWBR mobile app and the WWBR.com website. Pregame coverage will begin around 6:35 P.M. on game nights. Additional broadcasts are being discussed but not finalized at this time.
CSAA season coverage will be held on the “The Rundown” via Big Country 100.9’s YouTube channel, which will return for its second year with Brandon Wirth and J.T. Scarpelli as the lead hosts. There will also be score recaps, box scores, and other game notes on Big Rapids Daily News via WBRN.com. More information on the show and additional football coverage will be released officially soon.
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