Meet Menomonee Falls sports announcer Jerry Mislang
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Jerry Mislang has been interested in youth sports for many years, having coached 58 youth teams, beginning in 1995. About 20 years ago, he had a conversation with Menomonee Falls High School Athletic Director the late Dave Petroff at a Thursday night sub-varsity football game. 鈥淚 asked why they didn’t have announcers,鈥� recalls Jerry, 鈥渁nd Dave said because they didn’t pay them. I volunteered, which led to other non-paid opportunities, eventually replacing every paid announcer but one.鈥�
Since then, Jerry has announced every MFHS sport at least once, including freshman, JV and varsity for football; baseball; girls and boys basketball, girls and boys track. He鈥檚 also announced JV and varsity girls and boys soccer; varsity girls and boys volleyball; girls and boys swimming; wrestling; softball; and gymnastics.
He’s also announced Menomonee Falls Little League games, and Menomonee Falls select baseball and football games. 鈥淚’ve done North Middle School girls’ basketball games,鈥� comments Jerry. 鈥淚’ve done MFHS baseball games at Miller Park, Beloit Snappers Stadium and the Lakeshore Chinook Stadium. I’ve called a MFHS varsity football game at Wisconsin Lutheran College. I was lucky enough to introduce the MFHS dance team at halftime at Camp Randall during the WIAA Division 1 championship game.鈥�
Jerry believes a successful announcer treats both teams with equal respect and enthusiasm. 鈥淚t’s important to learn the correct pronunciation of every visiting player,鈥� notes Jerry, 鈥渁nd mention every player’s name whenever possible. I try not to be a ‘homer.’ I also try to sprinkle some humor in wherever possible, keeping it light and fun. I like to mention upcoming sporting events or results from past events, birthdays and special guests.鈥� Also, once a season, Jerry reads off the roster names from sports, such as tennis and golf, that are not covered by an announcer.
However, Jerry’s voice is heard not only Menomonee Falls nor the sports sector. He’s helped out with Germantown, Milwaukee Lutheran and Wauwatosa West sporting events and several WIAA sectional basketball games at the Al McGuire Center, among others. He’s also emceed events, such as the MFHS FBLA awards, MFHS Sports Award Night, Ben Franklin Elementary Hoopalooza Games, Riverside Elementary/Trenary Field all-school runs, several Coach Cassidy 5K runs and the Children鈥檚 Community Center Mills Miles Walk Run.
As an announcer, Jerry actually interacts with the teams quite a bit. He tries to get to most games early to get a feel for the visiting teams and meet with the coaches and officials. 鈥淚 try to do some homework on the visiting team beforehand and congratulate opposing kids and coaches for an accomplishment, college choice or previous success in another sport. A little small talk can go a long way.
鈥淕ood, clean spirited competition is the essence of amateur sports. And when visiting team parents, coaches and even the Brookfield East bus driver seek me out after a game and tell me I really added to that great game experience, I know I did a good job.鈥�
As an announcer for 20 years, Jerry has witnessed some memorable events. 鈥淚 announced the MFHS boys’ soccer sectional victory at Germantown that sent them to their only WIAA state appearance. I called the MFHS track meet, where Matt Widule became the first hurdler in state history to break the 14.00 second mark in the 110 high hurdles.鈥� Jerry also announced the MFHS basketball game, where JP Tokoto broke the school single game scoring record, and a WIAA sectional final basketball game at Germantown, where future NBA pick Diamond Stone of Whitefish Bay led his team to state.
For many sports, Jerry has announced the same kids for four years. 鈥淲atching them grow up, mature and become responsible young adults is very rewarding. Getting to meet their coaches and parents is an added bonus.鈥�
Along the same lines, Jerry has two proudest moments he has witnessed in sports; they both involve the same senior class. The first was calling the upset WIAA sectional semifinal football victory over perennial state power Homestead High School in the fall, and the second, the following winter season, was announcing the down-to-the-last-second shot at the Al McGuire Center in the WIAA sectional final loss to eventual state champion Arrowhead. 鈥淚t still brings me chills,鈥� he remarks.
Over time, Jerry has realized that he is a representative of Menomonee Falls High School and, to some degree, the Village of Menomonee Falls; he tries to leave everyone with a good experience. Another lesson that has resonated more deeply over time is that you can’t win every game, but if you do your absolute best, you’re a winner no matter what the final score is. 鈥淏e humble in victory and congratulate the victor in a loss,鈥� he says.
Jerry hopes to leave a legacy of having always been fair to both teams. 鈥淚 want the fans to feel that they were kept informed to what was going on, that I was excited to be there for them, and that it was always an honor and privilege to announce for them.鈥�
If Jerry were to write an autobiography, he would title it either The Best Seat in the House or And This Game…IS HISTORY (his closing after every game).
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