Andy Losik | 2005 Wanna Be a Sports Anchor? Contest

One Final Thank You

2005-05-28T03:11:00.000-07:00

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone at Fox 17, especially Tracy Sweitzer Bowers and everyone in the promotions and sales departments for making this opportunity possible. I know enormous work must have gone into planning and executing this large event. These are first class individuals who run a first class operation. I wish them the best of luck in future endeavors.

Game Over!

2005-05-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

Well folks, we tried! We really, really tried but when the phone rang about 4:00 PM yesterday and I was told that I was not the winner, this run came to an end. Congratulations to Scott Pierce for winning the competition.

I would be lying if I told you I wasn't extremely dissappointed in the outcome. I know very little about what the final score totals were. Nothing but the finishing order was announced on the news last night.

I cannot begin to tell you how much all of your support meant to me through this process. When I found out, felt bad for everyone who had put so much effort into helping me on this. I was hoping to have a big TV for you all to come over and watch.

Huge thanks to Brent Ashcroft, Matt Kucinski, and Darrell Schuur at Fox 17 for all of their help in making my time on the air look as good as it did. Thanks also to Christian Frank, Michelle DeSelms, and Peter Chan for making me a part of their team for a couple of nights.

Waiting for Wednesday

2005-05-22T04:02:00.000-07:00

So, it has all come down to this: 4 days of waiting until the winner is announced on Wednesday night. At least it's not months like Survivor. Whatever happens, I especially grateful for all of the votes and support that put me into this position as a finalist. Thanks FOX 17 for everything--the great prizes I have already taken home and the opportunity.

The voice is returning and hopefully I will get one more chance on air, this time in the winner's spot!

Until then, thanks!

Voting for the Voiceless

2005-05-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

Not being much of a Star Wars guy (sorry Brent), I am not fully aware of what the "Revenge of the Sith" is. After last night's performance, I would guess that it is something that creeps up on you the day you are going to speak before a television audience and holds your voice hostage for the next couple of days!

Nonetheless, I gutted it out last night with about 1/3 of my vocal abilities and made it through the final round of competition.

Now we wait until Wednesday and the big reveal of the champion. Until then, please continue to help round up votes. Every single one helps! Visit the official contest site and cast yours before 11:59 EDT on Saturday night.

Again thanks for all of the help and support!

Tonight is the Night!

2005-05-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight is my night to compete in the final round! Watch WXMI Fox 17 News at 10 as I give it one more shot for the title. After Game 6 of the Pistons-Pacers series, it should be interesting to see what we get to cover. An already very light sports day is now being threatened by rain in Detroit and Battle Creek. Oh well, there is always something happening and that adds to the excitement. Sure, a 42" plasma grand prize would be great, but just the thrill of getting to do this and feeling those old competitive juices flowing is an experience in itself.

Please remember to vote.

Polls Are Open!

2005-05-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

Voting has begun at the official contest site. There you will find clips from all 3 three semi-finalists' performances. Voters must be 14 or older. Polls close at 11:59 PM on Saturday May 21.

Fox 17 received over 525 votes for my Kalamazoo region. Let's top that for the finals!

On to the Finals!

2005-05-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

We've won round one. Now it is time to really get after the finals. Contestants were announced last night on Fox 17. Here is the run down:

Appearing tonight (5-17): Kyle Allard, Muskegon area winner.
Appearing Wednesday night (5-18): Scott Pierce, Grand Rapids area winner.
Appearing Thursday night (5-19): me, Andy Losik, Kalamazoo area winner.

Each finalist will get another shot at co-hosting sports this week. Once again, half of the score will come from a judging panel. This time the judges will compare the finalists' on-air, first round performances. The other half will come from Internet voting.

I will post a link to the voting site as soon as it becomes available.

Thanks again for the tremendous support. Let's win this thing!

Thanks for all of the Votes!

2005-05-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote! Polls closed at midnight last night. Now we wait until Monday's announcement of finalists. Keep your fingers crossed.

Performance Video

2005-05-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Fox 17 has a short clip of Monday night's performance up on the voting page. You can see it there or link directly to it here.

Keep the votes coming! Thanks for all of the great feedback!

Wow!

2005-05-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

That is about all I can say about last night, "Wow!" Whatta experience! Performing last night was thrill. I thought it went pretty well, but watching a news organization when it is covering likely its biggest story of the year was something I will remember for a long time. As news continued to come in from a shooting of a police officer, the energy level and intensity engulfed the whole place. Then to see what looked like chaos come together in the news cast was very impressive. Thanks to everyone at Fox 17, especially Brent Ashcroft and Matt Kuczinski for their help last night and the opportunity to work with them. If all goes well in the contest, I will get to do it again!

Vote Now!

2005-05-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

WXMI.com | FOX 17 | Grand Rapids | Contests is up and ready to accept votes for my division. Simply fill out the form and vote! Thanks for all of the support.

Voting Begins Monday!

2005-05-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has expressed their support! As week 2 ends tonight, my semi-final round will finally begin Monday with my on air performance and a week of Internet voting. That link will be posted as soon as Fox 17 makes it available. Vote for a week 2 contestant until then at the official contest site.

Tune into Grand Rapids' Fox 17 News at 10 on Monday night to watch me co-host sports with Brent Ashcroft.

Audition Video

2005-04-29T05:42:00.000-07:00

Click here to check out a clip from my April 17 audition. (3.2mb Clip is property of Fox17 and Tribune Corporation)

And then there were Two

2005-04-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

In a surprise, last year's contest winner Ryan Terpstra ended up co-hosting with Brent Ashcroft Thursday night. It seems that contestant Erik Avila had something come up and had to drop out of the contest. Terpstra is, who had a nice performance is ineligible to compete, having won last year. That leaves just 2 in this round. Kyle Allard from Muskegon and Lukas Cimbal from Holland. Vote for one of them to move onto the finals. Pretty good odds for these guys I would say!

It is On!

2005-04-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

Week One is in full swing with one more competitor, Erik Avila going tonight. Two celebrity, non-competing, co-hosts are also appearing this week. Scotty Bud Melvin from WRKR radio in Kalamazoo kicked off the week on Monday and "Free Beer" from WGRD's morning show will cap things on Friday.
Vote for one of the three to move on to the finals. Voting closes at midnight on Saturday.

How it Works

2005-04-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

Fox 17 (Grand Rapids, MI WXMI TV) is hosting its 2nd Annual Wanna Be a Sports Anchor Contest and I am in it!

Contestants from 3 regions tried out the weekend of April 16 and 17 to prove they are the best wanna be sports host in West Michigan. 13 contestants made the cut and begin their quest for bragging rights and the grand prize, a 42" plasma television this week, April 25.

Competitors from each region will square off in weeks 1, 2, and 3. Each will co-host the Sports on Fox 17 News at 10. A finalist from each region will be crowned through a combined score of Internet votes and the votes of the judging panel.

Anyone over 14 can vote online at The Fox 17 website. You may only vote for the contestants competing that week.

Be sure to vote for Andy Losik during the week of May 9! Votes must be inbefore midnight (EDT) on Saturday May 14.

Let's jam that ballot box! I had a solid performance last year, but couldn't keep pace with the votes. Let's change that this year.

Here is this year's batting order:

Week 1, Muskegon Region
4/26 Kyle Allard
4/27 Luke Cinch
4/28 Erik Avila

Week 2, Grand Rapids Region
5/2 Ryan Ayers
5/3 Melissa Russo
5/4 Scott Pierce
5/5 Mark Vanin
5/6 Dan Bartels

Week 3, Kalamazoo Region

5/9 Andy Losik
5/10 Sam Watson
5/11 Brian Kudary
5/12 Derek Steffey
5/13 Lindsey Ort