June 8, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
John Twork, a graduate assistant in the Illinois State Athletics Media Relations Office, received the second annual Jim Nantz Award from the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America (STAA). The award honors the top collegiate broadcaster in the United States.
"I was shocked when I found out that I had received this award," Twork said. "I'm just thankful for all of the valuable experience that I gained while broadcasting games at Eastern Illinois, and I'm excited to challenge myself to become an even better broadcaster at Illinois State."
Twork spent four years as a sports broadcaster for Hit-Mix 88.9 WEIU-FM in Charleston, Ill., serving as sports director for three years. He was the play-by-play voice of Eastern Illinois baseball and women's basketball and served as the sideline reporter for EIU football. Twork anchored daily sportscasts on Hit-Mix and contributed to the weekly EIU Panther Sports Talk coaches show.
Twork interned at WJBC-AM for three summers where he anchored and reported news and sports. He also has served as a reporter for WJBC's Friday Night High School Football Extravaganza. He joined the ISU Athletics Media Relations Staff in June and will serve as the main contact for baseball and secondary contact for volleyball, as well as the play-by-play voice for both sports, the next two years.
"As talented as the inaugural field was last year, this year's field was deeper which made the selection process even more challenging," said STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik. "What John Twork does especially well is put his listeners inside the stadium or arena by not only describing the action, but also the sights, sounds and emotions of the players, coaches and fans. His play-by-play is a story."
Jim Nantz Award candidates are ranked according to their ability across multiple radio and TV sports broadcasting genres, including play-by-play, sports update anchoring and sports talk show hosting. To be eligible for consideration, sportscasters need to demonstrate expertise in at least two sports broadcasting disciplines.
Chelesnik evaluated the sportscasters and chose the finalists. A panel including Learfield Sports Broadcast Manager Tom Boman, Indiana Pacers broadcaster Mark Boyle, veteran Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech University sportscaster Wes Durham, Cincinnati Reds and Ohio State University play-by-play broadcaster Paul Keels, New Orleans Hornets broadcaster Bob Licht and Virginia Tech University play-by-play broadcaster Bill Roth helped judge the finalists.
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