CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As high school football kicks off in West Virginia, one of the most listened-to radio shows in the state celebrates a milestone.
“High School Game Night” debuts for its 25th season on the MetroNews Radio Network tonight following the first Friday night games of the high school football season. The program, hosted by Fred Persinger and Dave Jecklin, turned from a conversation with former WVRC Media President Dale Miller into one of the most popular shows in the state.
“The show was honestly a whim that myself and Dale Miller thought, ‘It might work; let’s try it,’ and now we go into year 25,” Persinger said.
For the last 24 seasons, Persinger and Jecklin have taken the airwaves following the conclusion of each Friday night’s first games and stayed on the air until each final score has been read. With listeners tuning in from every corner of West Virginia, “Game Night” creates a community with a common love of high school football.
Persinger takes pride in the fact that he and Jecklin have taken the airwaves together for nearly every Friday night of the show’s run.
“In the 24 years that we’ve got in the books, Dave and I, I’ve missed one show, and Dave’s missed two. That’s it, and we’re not youngsters. You would think on a Friday night, we’d be sick some time, wouldn’t you?” he said.
As another season kicks off, radio dials will be tuned to local MetroNews affiliates around the state to share in a tradition that now spans a quarter of a century. Persinger credits West Virginians’ dedication to their teams and their communities with the program’s success.
“51 radio stations around the state, and again, that says ‘high school football’, and that’s what it’s about. It really, really is,” he said.
“High School Game Night” opens its 25th season on the MetroNews Radio Network tonight at 9:30 with scores, interviews, and analysis of every high school football game in West Virginia. The show is available on MetroNews affiliates around the state and streams live on MetroNews Television and WVMetroNews.com.