This week we meet a 23 year-old P. A. announcer from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Michael “Mike on the Mic” Gatien.

Mike started in 2006 while a student at Pioneer High School where he’s announced baseball, softball, basketball, football, lacrosse, field hockey and soccer and is currently filling in for varsity sports.

His inspiration to become a P. A. announcer came as a child when he heard the announcer at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, and said to himself, “this is what I want to do when I grow up,”.  Like a lot of announcers, that dream became a reality in high school.

“What I love about it, is the face I give back to the school,” Gatien said.  “I like to go back to Pioneer and [announce also at] Huron.”

In addition to his role at Pioneer, he also announces at Huron High School where he is the primary voice for JV soccer and JV & varsity volleyball.

Having fun and enthusiasm is important for announcers because emotion is amplified over a P. A. system.  Announcing is something that has grabbed Gatien and see himself behind the microphone for a long time.

“I don’t ever want to give this up,” Gatien said. “Of course, until the day I die.”

The reverb on the sound system can throw Michael on occasion, but learning to deal with that comes with experience.  Once, while on the job, a nose bleed forced him to leave a football game.