‘Voice of Panthers’ to roar again this fall

Posted 9/2/14

Apparently, the state of Wyoming agrees.

After more than 34 years of radio work covering Powell athletics, Mangold was inducted into the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame on June 21. Mangold became the 33rd inductee into the hall …

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‘Voice of Panthers’ to roar again this fall

Posted

Mangold has been covering PHS athletics for KPOW since 1980 

Wait ‘til you hear Scott.”

After just three years of listening to the “Voice of the Panthers” call Powell High School athletics for local radio station KPOW (1260 AM), PHS interim football coach Chanler Buck knows Scott Mangold is one of the best.

Apparently, the state of Wyoming agrees.

After more than 34 years of radio work covering Powell athletics, Mangold was inducted into the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame on June 21. Mangold became the 33rd inductee into the hall since its inception in 2003.

But don’t worry loyal listeners, Mangold hasn’t peaked.

In fact, even at 57 years of age, the former Powell mayor of eight years still has an undying passion for PHS sports. In other words, he isn’t going anywhere.

“It’s the drama of sports,” Mangold said of what keeps him going year after year. “I love to watch these high school athletes that aren’t getting paid. Some of those kids would run head-first through a wall for their coaches if asked to. I love that passion.”

One could easily argue that Mangold knows a little bit about passion. After working a few hours a day for a college radio station in the late 1970s, Mangold packed up his car and made a 13-hour-plus drive from Seattle to Powell in 1980, where he interviewed with KPOW. He earned the position and it has been history ever since.

“He’s probably been doing play-by-play longer than anyone in the state of Wyoming,” said Steve Core, a 29-year broadcaster of Green River High School sports, as well as a member of the WBA board of directors responsible for nominating and inducting Mangold.

“When you consider the number of Powell games Scott has covered, his longevity, as well as his time as mayor, we really liked what he’s done for his community,” Core said. “He’s given back to Powell during his run there.”

Mangold’s longevity should be the envy of anyone in the broadcasting industry. During his career, Mangold has missed one Powell football game.

He insists on making road trips for PHS football, baseball and baseball. To drive that point home, Mangold admitted to missing just one football game in his time behind the microphone.

“I try to get to them all,” he added. “It certainly beats working for a living.”

What’s admirable about Mangold is the fact that he’s “been there.” While doing some freelance work in Seattle, Mangold crossed paths with the likes of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, just to name a few. Interviews with the pros broke the ground on his interest in sports coverage. Powell preps have cemented it.

“I was originally going to be a teacher,” Mangold joked. “But I think this worked out a little better for me. Nothing beats this. I mean, I’m not digging a ditch.”

Core added that what makes Mangold great is his accuracy mixed with his knack for lively broadcasts.

“Scott was broadcasting Powell sports when I was still in high school, and he’s just as excited and passionate about what he’s doing now as he was back then,” Core said. “And what’s great too is that Scott is really easy to listen to. If he tells you there was a 62-yard touchdown run, well, it was a 62-yard touchdown run.”

Mangold quickly summed up the culprit for his accuracy.

“You spend nearly 35 years working on something, you’re bound to get better at it,” he quipped.

Mangold, who is also co-owner of KPOW, shared a memory of his first meeting with former KPOW broadcaster Art Brooks, who spent 20 years of his own calling PHS sports. Brooks pointed out a broadcasting award he had received, and shared some optimism with the young Mangold.

“He pointed to the award and said, ‘Some day you might earn one of those play-by-play awards,’” Mangold remembered. “I can’t even tell you how many awards I’ve won now.”

But is Mangold in it for awards and recognition?

“All of that stuff is nice, but it doesn’t affect how I do my job,” Mangold said. “At the end of the day, I’m out there at the games for the kids and for the listeners. No award can really express how important those two things are to me.”

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