When listening to a booming voice of a broadcaster on the radio or at a sporting event, the person in the booth giving a play-by-play in clear detail and perfect sync with the game is not on  the minds of the listeners. Even so, just like the athletes, these broadcasters can have amazing stories.

Senior Joey Liberatore has officially become the youngest play-by-play broadcaster in AIA, Arizona Interscholastic Association, history. He also has the honor of being the youngest person to broadcast a championship game on NBC 1060 AM radio. Liberatore was most recently a play-by-play broadcaster for a Division 3 Championship game in Tucson.

Liberatore never originally planned to pursue a broadcasting career. In fact, he came to Perry in pursuit of baseball.  “I played baseball my first two years [at Perry],” Liberatore explained, “I tore a ligament in my elbow and could no longer play, but I didn’t want to leave baseball so I started broadcasting.”

His passion began through a summer program with the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT). “They trained me on how to do everything,” he said, “EVIT has really escalated all the opportunities I have had and given me a voice.”

Liberatore already has built up quite a résumé. AIA, the company in which he has become the youngest play-by-play broadcaster, is where Liberatore had his first internship. His opportunities have only gone up from there.

He has done quite a bit of work with the Chicago Cubs, behind the scenes working on the technical aspects of the main show, and hosting the pre and post game shows. “I’ve interviewed most of the players on the Cubs, so I’ve built relationships with the players.”

Liberatore explained, “At some points I’m on the radio in Arizona, Chicago, Alabama and Tennessee at the same exact time.”

His hope for this upcoming year is to do play-by-play during Spring Training and, due to his extensive career building work, he should be able to achieve his goal.

As a young adult, it may seem difficult to have your voice be heard by others. In Liberatore’s case, he has been given many amazing opportunities to have his voice heard nationwide, and he has a long prosperous career ahead.