Y2CJ41 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 On Facebook Kevin made it official that this state finals will be his last on the mic. Crazy to think an announcer has made such an impact on this sport, but he has literally become the voice of the sport. Thanks Kevin for being the voice of Indiana wrestling for 40+ years! Cooper.Wilkins, MUSKEEWRESTLER, Unknown Caller and 22 others 20 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rookie78 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 I don't know the guy, but look forward to him announcing every year along with him speaking about the kids on the podium. He will be greatly missed by many. formercollegekid, oldfat119 and Unknown Caller 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silence Dogood Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 CoachM, piscis1956, ontherise219 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrodyHardcastle Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Legend Unknown Caller, MUSKEEWRESTLER and piscis1956 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket21 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 He was a big reason why I wanted to get into announcing. He is an inspiration, and will always be the GOAT. Thank you Mr. Whitehead for all you have given to us as wrestling fans. piscis1956, KLH and MUSKEEWRESTLER 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdSkifan Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 This is a very classy and humble post by Mr. Whitehead. To me, his voice is as identifiable with Indiana HS wrestling as Tom Carnegie's was to the Indy 500 ("It's a new track record!") or Jerry Baker's to Indiana high school basketball. Forty-two years is a tremendous accomplishment and certainly something to hang your hat on. Safe travels, good health, and good luck to all wrestlers, their families, and coaches this weekend. Cricket21, Misty Kendrex, piscis1956 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcjcjc Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 If you are a wrestling fan that doesn't go to other IHSAA sports' championships, then you don't know how lucky we are. Every year I went to the gymnastics state finals, I would be so mad at how unprofessional the announcer was--mispronouncing names, giving NCAA basketball updates over the PA, making jokes about names being weird, and countless other things I've made myself forget. I asked Whitehead to "announce" a video of my mom's team receiving their state championship trophey, and he sent me back two versions of him belting out the jams. What a great announcer, and what a great man for making the moment special. I'll include the video with Whitehead's audio, because my mom and sister make me really proud, and also to show that Whitehead is a complete badass who rages to make things great for people. His part starts at 4:15 in case the link doesn't take you there. Cricket21, busstogate, tangarrray and 11 others 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrodyHardcastle Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 19 minutes ago, Jcjcjc said: If you are a wrestling fan that doesn't go to other IHSAA sports' championships, then you don't know how lucky we are. Every year I went to the gymnastics state finals, I would be so mad at how unprofessional the announcer was--mispronouncing names, giving NCAA basketball updates over the PA, making jokes about names being weird, and countless other things I've made myself forget. I asked Whitehead to "announce" a video of my mom's team receiving their state championship trophey, and he sent me back two versions of him belting out the jams. What a great announcer, and what a great man for making the moment special. I'll include the video with Whitehead's audio, because my mom and sister make me really proud, and also to show that Whitehead is a complete badass who rages to make things great for people. His part starts at 4:15 in case the link doesn't take you there. That's awesome, I was always a Whitehead fan but even more now. MUSKEEWRESTLER 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogoplata89 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 I hope we can find a moment to give him the standing ovation he deserves this weekend. piscis1956, Rugger44 and MUSKEEWRESTLER 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Pendoski Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Just for nostalgia...I'll start my two favorite Kevin Whitehead names of IHSAA State Finals of the past. TEEEEEEE. JAYYYYYY HAYES!!!!!!!! It was a couple years of that and it got louder every year. When I moved to Indy I remember meeting the Wagners in Zionsville's room. My first thought was "that's the guy that ruined Mr. Whitehead saying TJ Hayes" Mr. Whitehead was also spectacular announcing Anton Talamantez. oldfat119, horseofadifferentcolor, piscis1956 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted February 16, 2023 Author Share Posted February 16, 2023 When I found out I was having a son, I (half) jokingly said now I need to make sure he has a name that will sound great at state with Kevin announcing it. Kevin said that he'd likely not be announcing by the time he's in high school, so he made this. horseofadifferentcolor, Caleb Spires, AJ and 17 others 19 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silence Dogood Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 27 minutes ago, Ed Pendoski said: Just for nostalgia...I'll start my two favorite Kevin Whitehead names of IHSAA State Finals of the past. TEEEEEEE. JAYYYYYY HAYES!!!!!!!! It was a couple years of that and it got louder every year. When I moved to Indy I remember meeting the Wagners in Zionsville's room. My first thought was "that's the guy that ruined Mr. Whitehead saying TJ Hayes" Mr. Whitehead was also spectacular announcing Anton Talamantez. Another favorite - Sunungura Rusununguko piscis1956 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldfat119 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 (edited) D J RAAAANDOOOVICHHHH Edited February 16, 2023 by oldfat119 piscis1956, Greg Ratliff, Ahawkeye and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwoodjc89 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 You all may enjoy this. Mr Whitehead reads a poem at the 1987 State Finals, A Wrestler's Mom. It starts at 2:38 in this video. Feel free to watch Jay County's back to back State Champs including the last wrestler to win state at 98 lbs. D Summar, pugsley, piscis1956 and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley McClurg Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Thank you for everything that you have done for the sport, Mr. Whitehead! I do not think the IHSAA State Tournament will ever be the same without you on the mic. “He’s the best! He’s the best! HE’S THE BEST!” -Kevin Whitehead after Steven Bradley capped off his senior season with his 3rd consecutive state title. And, one of my all time personal favorites: ”Alec VIDUUUUUUUUYA!” Dwilly, MUSKEEWRESTLER, Rugger44 and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted February 16, 2023 Author Share Posted February 16, 2023 Here is an article we did on him in 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Spires Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Always been a big fan of him as an announcer, now a fan of him as a person after reading this thread. The state finals will definitely miss him next year. BrodyHardcastle, MUSKEEWRESTLER and Cricket21 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLF Snow Cone Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 BrodyHardcastle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 (edited) Can someone start a GoFundMe to get an audio recording professional to sit down with Kevin and create an audio index of every imaginable wrestling term and name which we can just play at state next year. I’ll gladly take a computerized Kevin if we no longer can get the real thing. Edited February 17, 2023 by MattM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 8 hours ago, bwoodjc89 said: You all may enjoy this. Mr Whitehead reads a poem at the 1987 State Finals, A Wrestler's Mom. It starts at 2:38 in this video. Feel free to watch Jay County's back to back State Champs including the last wrestler to win state at 98 lbs. Off topic, I remember Jay county having a damn good program then bwoodjc89 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwilly Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 I have a really good friend in media. In his spare time he does PA for major sports for a D1 university. He accompanied me to the IHSAA State Finals many years ago & we had press passes. While taking everything in early Saturday he said "this guy on the mic is really da** good!". After we capped off the final that night he couldn't stop talking about how good the announcer was, and he still makes comments about this 30 years later. Legend. badpta, BrodyHardcastle and MUSKEEWRESTLER 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Ratliff Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Someone beat me to it… but I was going to say “DJ RADNOVICH!” rmckinney88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmckinney88 Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 27 minutes ago, Greg Ratliff said: Someone beat me to it… but I was going to say “DJ RADNOVICH!” I didn't have the $$ to watch DJ at state while we were teammates. Still mad that I missed it. So happy this year to be going and hearing "CLAYTON DEUTSCHER" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md450and0 Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 I have been fortunate to be a part of Indiana High School Wrestling for many years. Kevin has been the voice of my memories for as long as I can remember. All I have to do is close my eyes to hear his voice thundering the calls forever etched in my mind. Indiana High School Wrestlers and Coaches have been blessed that Kevin has shared his voice with us for decades! Thanks for the memories, Kevin! Randy Helfrich Mater Dei Wrestling 1978-2007 Cricket21, Dave Cloud, bwoodjc89 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gasman Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Absolutely can not imagine the state finals without hearing this voice. I can still hear him saying, ” what a day what a day what a day, PAT DAY” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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