BY SAMUEL LEGG
The Tribune-Democrat
March 21, 2008 11:19 pm
—
If you have attended an area sporting event – whether it’s on the mat, hardwood, gridiron or track – you’re likely to hear Mike Sotosky over the loudspeakers.
Sotosky is the public address announcer for Pitt-Johnstown’s Sports Center, the Windber Rotary basketball tournament, Richland High School football and Bedford Speedway, as well as Thunder Valley Raceway since its inception in 1997.
He also will call the action today as top high-school players compete in the inaugural Tribune-Democrat Senior Hoops Showcase at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
Sotosky is honored to be the voice of area sports.
“They treat me like a king, and all I do is talk into a microphone,” he said. “I’m just a normal dude that likes his hot rods and muscle cars, and loves hockey and loves being with his family.”
Sotosky, who works as a family counselor/therapist in Somerset and Bedford counties, began the long process of being a PA announcer in 1993.
That’s when Joe Padula, who then was the promoter at Bedford Speedway and now is at Thunder Valley, asked Sotosky if he was interested in doing play-by-play at the dirt track.
“I was a casual race fan,” said the 42-year-old IUP graduate, who resides in Davidsville with his wife of five years, Theresa, and daughters Sami and Nina.
“I would sit and watch hockey games and goof around in front of the TV by myself, doing hockey. I thought, short-track dirt racing isn’t much different. It’s nonstop action. You’re always talking. That’s how it all started.”
Then Sotosky was asked to help with the Windber Rotary tournament.
The 1982 graduate of Windber Area High School said former high school and college classmate John Sanow, an assistant basketball coach under Bob Rukavina at the time, got him an audition at Pitt-Johnstown.
Sotosky first did the Mountain Cat alumni high school basketball tournament, then was invited by UPJ Athletic Director Mike Castner to be the voice of the Mountain and Lady Cats. That led to Brandon Bailey, a coach and principal at Richland, to call and offer Sotosky a spot in the football press box and on the floor for Rams home basketball games.
“I want to present a game for these kids, to their parents and their families, as if it were my kids playing,” Sotosky said.
“That’s my philosophy. And if it works, I’m very happy. I want moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas to leave feeling excited.”
Sotosky has another passion, more important than any sport, classic car or dirt-track race.
More than two years ago, Courtney Rummel, a young girl at Conemaugh Township Area High School, was stricken with cancer. Sotosky emceed a charity basketball game to help her family offset expenses.
“That was the first time I met Courtney,” said Sotosky, recalling the December 2005 benefit.
“It was very moving. She’s just a kid, and her parents were no different than Theresa and I.”
Sotosky left the charity event sensing he had to do more.
That benefit blossomed into a classic-car show, slated for Mother’s Day of 2006 and appropriately named Cruisin’ for Courtney.
But sadly, on the day of the fundraiser, Sotosky received a phone call. Courtney had passed away that morning.
“We raised just under $5,000,” said Sotosky, whose parents instilled his faith- and family-first lifestyle. “We literally took coffee cans down to the Rummel family that night, and we cried with them.
“It was very moving and touching. She would actually be graduating this year. Class of ’08.”
Sotosky thought that was the end of it. But a few months later, he got a call from Courtney’s parents, Anita and Jim, asking him to consider making the car show an annual charity event to benefit other children.
“It was amazing how it caught on,” Sotosky said. “We had nearly 300 street rods, muscle cars and motorcycles last year.
“It’s really taken on a life of its own, this Cruisin’ for Courtney,” he said. “Everything we make goes directly to charity. I really enjoy just helping people in some way, shape or form.
“It truly is a labor of love. I’m very proud. It’s turned into a community thing. A family thing for me and a community thing. In the same token, we’re still celebrating Courtney. She was such a brave little kid.”
Cruisin’ for Courtney III is scheduled for Mother’s Day, May 11.
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