Feb 18, 2015 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg University will host its sixth annual Sports Announcing Camp June 15-19 on the campus. The camp is hosted by Lanny Frattare, assistant professor of communication at Waynesburg University and former voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The purpose of the camp is to afford high school students the opportunity to learn alongside well-known professionals in the field. The camp will include various workshops throughout the week, where students will be given the opportunity to work hands-on in the field with past and present professionals in the sports announcing industry.

“The sports announcing camp gives young individuals an opportunity to learn the basics of sports broadcasting,” said Frattare. “It has helped many decide if their interest in the field is strong enough to justify it as a major in college. Those of us who conduct the camp are proud to showcase the Waynesburg University campus and broadcasting program to perspective students.”

Camp teachers and mentors include:

• Lanny Frattare is known as one of the most recognizable personalities and voices in Pittsburgh and major league baseball. He spent 33 years as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast team, before joining the Waynesburg University teaching staff. His stay with the Pirates is the longest of any play-by-play announcer in team history.

• John Steigerwald, now an Internet talk show host at www.tribweb.com and a Sunday columnist for the Observer-Reporter, served as a sports anchor with WTAE-TV from 1978 to 1985. He also worked for KDKA-TV as a sports anchor until 2007. His books, “Just Watch the Game” and “Just Watch the Game (Again),” have received great reviews and give a look into his 40-year history in Pittsburgh sports media.

• Paul Steigerwald has recently entered his eighth season as the play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Root Sports. He spent six seasons as the radio voice of the Penguins and the previous 14 seasons as the color commentator on Penguins TV and radio broadcasts. Steigerwald has worked in the industry since 1979 when his career started with the Johnstown Red Wings.

• Bill Hillgrove serves as the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers football and basketball. Following his lengthy tenure as WTAE sports director, he remains its Steeler Insider. His distinguished career earned him the National Football Foundation’s 2007 Chris Schenkel Award.

According to Frattare, the campers will be given the chance to announce a Washington Wild Things baseball game, conduct radio and television interviews, take part in “talk radio” segments, read a public service announcement and read radio and television sports reports.

“The camp, in my opinion, offers the perfect balance of broadcast theory, practical experience and fun,” said Frattare. “As the former voice of the Pirates, I am inspired each year by the number of young people who have the dream of becoming sports announcers.”

For more information or to register, visit Waynesburg.edu/sportsannouncingcamp. Space is limited and participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.