Courtesy Oneida Daily Dispatch

(February 2, 2010) If WMCR ever changes its call letters, WAO would be a fitting choice. After all, the station boasts one of the longest tenured - if not the longest - high school sports announcers the state has known.

Exact records of facts like that are not kept, but Ang Ottaviano’s 50 years in the business are a testimony to dedication, love of sports and a passion for people. Ottaviano married his Oneida High School sweetheart, Sandy, not long after he broke into the field. Ottaviano started as a disc jockey Saturday mornings from 6 to 9 a.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. during his senior year in high school in 1960. He even bummed rides to WMCR after school that year to read the sports news of the day.

Ottaviano began doing Oneida football broadcasts in 1961 and Oneida boys basketball games in 1972 and Oneida baseball games in the 1980s. The 67-year-old former Oneida city policeman has broadcast more than 1,500 games during his career. Ottaviano broadcast girls contests and other sports as they became more popular as well.

“I’ve known him since 1972 - I coached Pop Warner and CYO basketball with him for 15 to 20 years,” broadcast partner and friend Bob Feldmann said. “He just likes working with the kids and sports basically.”

The father of three has broadcast more than 400 Oneida High School football games through the years and was there with the team as it reached the state finals in 2008.

“I've been his partner for Oneida sports the last 11 years with (the) big highlight the state championship game,” Feldmann said.

The matchup for Ottaviano’s final game could not be more fitting as rival Vernon-Verona-Sherrill comes to the Fariel Memorial Gymnasium for tonight’s 7 p.m. Tri-Valley League tilt.

“Since the time I met him 20 years ago, he’s always made me feel at home when we went to Oneida,” VVS’ Hall of Fame coach Al Knapp said. “We’ve always had a nice interview. I have a lot of respect for the man. He’s been the voice of Oneida basketball and there’s a great appreciation for him in the community. He’s been a class act for a long time.”

And tonight will be the last time local fans will hear Ottaviano calling a game on WMCR. Chances are some of them will be in the stands watching the game with earpieces in listening to the broadcaster’s last call.

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