Wes James

 

Wes is starting his 10th year as “The Voice of the Vikings”. Wes joined the Vikings as the football play-by-play man in 2002, the same year that brought Coach McPherson to Lowndes High School. Wes played high school football in Wilmington North Carolina for the New Hanover High “Wildcats,” ironically their cross town rivals were the John T. Hoggard “Vikings”. Wes has spent many years officiating baseball, softball, basketball and football all on the high school level and baseball at the college level. Wes moved to Lowndes County in 1997 where he is employed by The Doctors Laboratory as its facility manager. Besides football, Wes can be found broadcasting Lowndes Basketball and Lowndes Baseball with Bill, Steve, Marty, or Taylor as “The Viking Voice”. Wes is also starting his 12th season as part of the Valdosta State Blazers Radio Football Broadcast Team. During the 2007 football season Wes became the only broadcaster in Georgia to announce a College National Championship AND a High School State Championship game on the SAME day! That day was Dec. 15, 2007 as Valdosta State won the Division II National Championship in Florence, AL. and the Lowndes High Vikings won their 5th State Championship at Martin Stadium! Wes was able to call the entire game in Florence, AL then boarded a private plane and arrived in Valdosta in time to call the first play of the game of the Lowndes State Championship game later that same evening. In addition to Lowndes and Valdosta State University sports, Wes began broadcasting professional football in 2011 with the semi-pro team Georgia Firebirds. Wes is a recent newlywed having married in early 2011 to Lisa James. Wes and Lisa together have 5 children with 5 grandchildren. Keep up with Wes at www.thevikingvoice.com.

 

Bill Osborne

 

This is Bill’s 7th year as the “color” commentator for the Viking Football Radio Broadcast Team. In 2007 Bill and Wes formed “The Viking Voice” to do radio broadcasts of the Viking Basketball and Baseball teams. Bill is a 1981 Graduate of Tift County High School where he played football for the late Gene Brodie, ran track, and was on the swim team early in high school. A resident of Lowndes County since 1993, he is currently employed as a Business Banker for Ameris Bank in Valdosta. A long time supporter of Viking Football, Bill started assisting the Public Address Announcer in the press box during home games in 2002 when daughter, Cassie was a Viking Cheer Leader. Cassie is attending VSU and a graduate of Valdosta Technical College and now works in the Optometry field. Bill has also served as the PA announcer for the JV and 9th grade Viking Football games. In 2009 while broadcasting Lowndes Baseball Bill began serving as the "webmaster" for the official Lowndes High Baseball web site, www.lowndesbaseball.com. Bill is married to his high school sweetheart Cindy, a Reading & English teacher at Lowndes High School who was also a long-time tennis coach at Hahira Middle School. Son Chip was the starting Long-Snapper for the Vikings football team in 2006 & 2007 having won 3 state Championships in his 4 years as a Lowndes Viking, and now attends VSU majoring in physical education. There is still one more future Viking in the Osborne household, Michaela a 12 year-old 6th grade student at Hahira Middle School who aspires to be a future Georgia Bridgemen! Bill and Cindy are also proud grandparents of a 5 year old grandson, Camden. Keep up with Bill at www.thevikingvoice.com.

 

Marty Rodgers

Marty joined The Viking Voice during the 2008 Viking Football Season as a side-line "analyst" and now assists with The Viking Voice basketball and baseball. Marty is from Valdosta and a 1996 graduate of Lowndes High where he lettered in both football and baseball. Marty graduated from Valdosta State University in 2000 with a degree in business management and is now employed in the insurance field with Georgia Farm Bureau. Marty is named after the late A. B. (Sonny) Martin who gave Marty's mother, former Lowndes High principal, Ann Rodgers her first job teaching in Lowndes County. Marty will continue as side-line reporter in 2011 as well as assist with the Tuesday night Lowndes High Coaches Show. Marty also assists as football PA for Lowndes Middle School. Marty was married in early 2011 to the former Nikki Mitchell, a 2005 Lowndes High graduate and 2004 Lowndes High Cheerleading Captain. Follow Marty at www.thevikingvoice.com.

 

 

 

Steven Sainz

Steve is the Viking football PA announcer and the 2011 season marks Steve’s 5th year in this role. In 2008 Steve added Lowndes Baseball PA announcer to his resume as well. You can also find Steve assisting with Pine Grove Middle School as their Wednesday and Thursday PA Announcer. For the past two years Steve has been working with The Viking Voice doing Basketball play-by-play along with Wes James. In Steve's "real" life he is a commercial lender for Southeastern Federal Credit Union in Valdosta. Steve is married to Lowndes Middle School teacher, Melanie Sainz. Steve has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Follow Steve at www.thevikingvoice.com.

 

 

 

 

Taylor Biddle

 

Taylor begins his 2nd year with The Viking Voice as a game day spotter. His responsibilities include providing current offensive drive information during the games, tackles, updated scores from around the area, as well as assisting with the correct player recognition on each play. In 2011 Taylor will also add additional commentary during the game broadcasts as well as assist with the Tuesday night coaches show throughout the football season. Taylor also served as the PA for Lowndes Basketball during the most recent 2010-11 season. Expect to hear more from Taylor this upcoming basketball season as well. Taylor is originally from Marietta, GA and a 2005 graduate of Valdosta State University. Taylor is employed as a commercial loan officer at Commercial Banking Co. He is married to the former Kirby Ingram a 2003 Lowndes High graduate. Taylor and Kirby welcomed their first child in October of 2011. Follow Taylor at www.thevikingvoice.com.