Ready for football? PRCC, its broadcast partners are.
(The following is a press release from PRCC.)
POPLARVILLE -- Pearl River Community College athletics will have a new but familiar voice this season.
PRCC recently announced a partnership with Picayune-based radio station WRJW 1320 AM to broadcast live play-by-play for the 2018-19 school year.
WRJW will ensure stations joining the Wildcat Network of radio stations have a reliable source for Wildcat football, basketball, softball and baseball.
"We are ecstatic about the partnership with WRJW. Carey Meitzler and his team of outstanding broadcasters do an exceptional job of covering athletics in our surrounding communities,” PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood said. “We take great pride in being the hometown college and this partnership will prove beneficial in that effort.”
In addition to dialing up WRJW on the radio, the Wildcat Family can also listen to the action on WRJW’s smart phone app or by visiting WRJWRadio.com.
All home PRCC events will be carried on the Wildcat Network.
Providing the play-by-play will be Meitzler, who has been the voice of the Picayune High School Maroon Tide for the past 23 years. A Picayune native and 1982 graduate of William Carey University, Meitzler is now the General Manager of Pearl River Communications, Inc., which owns WRJW radio.
“When Dr. Breerwood, (PRCC Athletics Director) Jeff (Long), and I sat down to discuss their vision for promoting PRCC and especially Wildcat athletics, the brainstorming turned to a plan, which in turn is now a full-fledged commitment to make Wildcat athletics available in many different media forms,” he said. “Everyone on my broadcast team has direct ties to PRCC and we all love this place called ‘The River.’
“For me personally, I have the highest respect for Dr. Breerwood, his vision for PRCC, and his commitment to excellence, and I feel honored to head this up. It’s a wonderful time to be part of PRCC and their athletics.”
Joining Meitzler as a color commentator will be Jacob Hickman, a 2009 Picayune graduate and Ole Miss alumnus. Hickman has been a main part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at PRCC for more than three years and currently serves as a Life Group pastor at Resurrection Life Ministries in Picayune. Hickman played football at Picayune and was a long snapper at Ole Miss.
Calling the action from the sidelines will be Tony Smith. A 1981 graduate of Oak Grove High School, Smith played on the Wildcat football team in ’82 and ’83 before attending Southern Miss. The long-time supporter of PRCC and Wildcat athletics has been the owner/operator of Stonewall’s BBQ & Catering since 2004.
Barry Harper, a longtime fan and supporter of PRCC in many aspects, will complement the broadcast team by filling in as needed. Harper, a 1981 Delta State University graduate who played football for the Statesmen as a defensive back, will bring special insight and game day analysis to the broadcast team. Harper served on the PRCC Board of Trustees for seven years and is currently the General Manager of Paw Paw’s Campers & Cars in Picayune.
Kelly Sanner will call the action on the school’s video live stream, which can be found at PRCCAthletics.com. Sanner, originally from Des Moines, Iowa, and a 1983 graduate of Iowa State University, has been calling football games in the Pine Belt for over 20 years, providing commentary for Oak Grove, Petal and Sumrall high schools. While working as an agent for New York Life Insurance Company, Sanner also worked as the WDAM-Hattiesburg sports director and currently hosts the Steve Knight Coaches Show for William Carey University. This will be Sanner’s fifth year commentating for the Wildcats.
Providing color commentary with Sanner for a fifth season will be David Sutton. Sutton was born and raised in Gulfport and attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. After attending Gulf Coast, Sutton studied broadcast journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi. Formerly a sports director of WHLT CBS in Hattiesburg, Sutton has worked in sports broadcasting across all levels of athletics for the past 25 years. Sutton currently provides commentary for William Carey basketball and baseball games, plus Presbyterian Christian High School. Sutton is currently the manager of SuperTalk Mississippi, 99.3 FM in Laurel.
In addition to streaming football, basketball, softball and baseball games on PRCCAthletics.com, the Wildcats will also broadcast all their home soccer matches with Mark Franklin and Patrick Ochs calling the action. Franklin and Ochs were recently hired at PRCC to run the Athletic Department’s communications. Former PRCC soccer standouts will also sit in with Franklin and Ochs to offer in-depth commentary of the action on the pitch.
