Wichita – My Missouri Valley Beginning

Friends that Made 28 Years Possible

(Wichita, KS) – I am in Wichita, Kansas the home of my Missouri Valley beginning. During the 1997-98 basketball season, I began an exploration into the world of sports journalism. Wichita, Kansas played a big role in my 28-year-relationship with the Missouri Valley Conference.

During that winter I was hosting a one-hour, one-night-per-week sports talk show called ‘From the Cheap Seats’. The Sports Director of WGNU radio, Mike Huss landed me a St. Louis Blues media credential and I started covering the Blues for the station and for the Illinois Radio Network.

A chiropractic doctor friend of mine was hosting a sports talk show on Wichita’s KQAM. Jerry DeGrado started inviting me to be a guest on his radio show to talk about the Olympic hockey tournament.

Dr. Jerry DeGrado

With Arch Madness looming, we decided KQAM needed an ‘on-location’ reporter at the Missouri Valley Conference’s postseason tournament. My first MVC tournament credential said ‘Harry Schroeder – KQAM – Wichita’.

My Missouri Valley beginning had barely started and I found myself announcing games at Arch Madness 1998.

This morning I went to Wichita’s legendary Doo-Dah Diner to reminisce with Dr. DeGrado.

Missouri Valley Beginning Announcing the Games

While walking into the then named Kiel Center, I entered behind Howard Balzar who was scheduled to announce eight of the nine tournament games on 1380, KSLG. The station was literally coming back from the dead and launching its resurrection with non-stop Valley tournament coverage.

Balzar’s broadcast partner didn’t show up and he was left with flying solo for the next four days. I volunteered to bring him statistics, water or anything he needed. He simply asked ‘have you ever announced basketball?’ I answered affirmatively and he said ‘sit down’.

I was hooked on the Valley watching Illinois State win their second straight MVC tournament title and trying to learn how to say Ben Kandlbinder and William Fontleroy’s names.

1380 didn’t renew their hold on those radio rights, so the following season I found a little radio station in Highland, Illinois to carry the games and purchased broadcast rights to the game, bought the air time on WINU 880 and became the radio voice of the Valley for the next several years.

The games moved back to 1380 and eventually to 590 KFNS and I announced more Arch Madness games than any other human for almost ten years. During that time, the Valley produced a ‘Game of the Week’ on Sirius Satellite Radio, and the Valley’s Joe Mitch asked me to be the announcer for those games.

My run as the Arch Madness primary announcer came to an end in 2014. Media rights are a fluid thing.

We All Need Friends

Friends and advocates are necessary for us to succeed, and I’ll never forget mine. When Mike Huss believed in me and opened a door at WGNU, it opened a door for Dr. DeGrado to nudge it a little more open through KQAM.

Howard Balzar took a chance on me and people like Skip Weber at Weber Chevrolet and Andrea Nafziger (Schnucks’ Markets) were willing to advertise in those early days. Michael Eaton built and still maintains the Valley Hoops Insider website.

None of us are ‘good enough’ on our own. As I try to trust the Lord and follow His lead, he sends friends and supporters along the way.

MVC officials are instrumental in all I’ve been privileged to experience. At every step of the way Senior Associate Commissioner Mike Kern has been a friend and an enabler of the things I’ve attempted. Former MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin and Associate Commissioner Joe Mitch were always inviting. Current Commissioner Jeff Jackson and Senior Associate Commissioner Jack Watkins have been extremely kind to me. Jack is one of those 28-year relationships that can’t be minimized.

My Missouri Valley beginning started in Wichita and continues there today. I’m grateful man.

Do Good