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Monday, May 20, 2013 | 6:33 p.m.

Mike Hartsock

News Center 7 Sports Director

I was born in Dayton and grew up in Waynesville; the Miami Valley has been home all my life.

I got my start at WPFB Radio in Middletown in 1977 after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University. In 1979, I was hired as a news reporter at WHIO radio, and also was the play-by-play voice of the Game of the Week broadcasts. From there, it was a short trip across the newsroom where I became at reporter at WHIO-TV. My beat was city/county government and politics.

I made the move to sports in 1982 and became Sports Director in 1989. I’ve been lucky enough to cover 3 Super Bowls, the 1990 World Series, and the 1996 Olympics. I also serve as the play-by-play voice for Dayton Flyers basketball games on WHIO-TV.

When I’m not covering a game, you can probably find me on one of our local golf courses. I’m a very lucky husband and father. My wife Janet, my daughter Jessica, and our 10 year old Pug Phoebe. A great family and a hometown career…what more could a guy ask for?

EMAIL:
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Q & A

Where were you born?

Dayton

Where did you grow up?

Waynesville

What was your favorite TV show then?

Bonanza

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?

Pro Golfer

How might someone have described you in high school?

Busy

What was your first job?

Mowing Lawns

What was your first job in television?

News reporter

What do you like about your job?

I get into games for free

What do you not like about your job?

Long hours

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I'd love to learn how to play the piano, but I just don’t have the patience.

What is the hardest thing you ever did?

I cannot think of anything

What would be a perfect day for you?

Spending time with my wife and my daughter and working in a round of golf too.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?

Prepare to work long hours

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it?

Super Bowl XVI-my first sports assignment, 1990 World Series, 1996 Olympics, and the 2002 BCS Championship.

 

Favorites

Favorite book: Anything by Clive Cussler

Favorite CBS show: NCIS

Favorite dream car: 1965 Mustang

Favorite food: Grouper

Favorite hobby: Golf

Favorite Miami Valley place: Bosco's

Favorite movie: Caddyshack

Favorite music: Country

Favorite travel destination: Italy

Latest from Mike Hartsock

Week 10 football Game of the Week preview

Where did the season go?  It's hard to believe it's Week 10 of the season already, and with that comes some of the best rivalry games of the year.  Our MidUSA Credit Union Game of the Week takes us down to Warren County as Springboro travels to Lebanon for a ...

Week 9 football Game of the Week

Week 9 in high school football takes us the Greater Catholic League's North Division as Alter and Fenwick hook at Roush Stadium in Kettering.  The Knights come in at 7-0-1, their only blemish was back in Week 3 when Napoleon refused to come back to town after a Friday night ...

Game of the Week preview: Week 7

It's a big battle in the Central Buckeye Conference this week in our MidUSA Credit Union Game of the Week.  Springfield Shawnee hosting Tecumseh in a showdown of a pair of 4-2 teams.  The Braves have won the last four in the series.  The two teams do have one thing ...

Preview of Week 6 Game of the Week

Rain, rain...stay away!!!  Here's hoping for a dry Touchdown 7 Friday night this week.  Our MidUSA Credit Union Game of the Week takes us to the Cross County Conference as Covington welcomes Miami East to town.  The Buccs have won 27 straight regular season games, outscoring opponents 248-27 in the ...

Preview of Week 5 Game of the Week

Here we go.... We hit the midway mark of the season with a big showdown in the Midwest Athletic Conference this Friday.  Coldwater traveling to Minster...the Cavaliers have blitzed through four opponents...while Minster is coming off their first loss of the season.  Both teams feature outstanding quarterbacks, Austin Bruns at ...

Week 4 Game of the Week preview

Here we go....   Rain, rain...stay away!  That's what we are hoping for this Friday night.  Our MidUSA Credit Union game of the week has Centerville at Lebanon in a GWOC crossover game.  The Elks going for back to back wins after an 0-2 start....Lebanon has won three straight.  The ...

Week 3 Game of the Week preview

Here we go...   The Touchdown 7 MidUSA Credit Union Game of the Week is a crossover battle in the Central Buckeye Conference.  Springfield Shawnee traveling up route 68 to Urbana.  The game features two of the top runningbacks in the Miami Valley in Alex McCrory for Shawnee and the ...

Game of the Week preview: Alter vs. Fairmont

Ready or not, here we go again. Touchdown 7 kicks off another season of the best coverage of high school football in the Miami Valley.  Our spotlight in week one shines on the battle of Kettering. The MidUSA Credit Union Game of the Week is the annual season opening grudge ...

WHIO Game of the Week preview: Piqua vs. Troy

Our Touchdown 7 Mid USA Credit Union game of the week spotlights the longest running rivalry in Ohio. Piqua travels to Troy on Friday for the 126th meeting between the Indians and the Trojans. Troy leads the series 60-59-6. The Trojans are leading their Division I region in computer points. ...

TD7 Game of the Week preview: Covington vs. Miami East

The Touchdown 7 MidUSA Credit Union Game of the Week for Week 6 is Covington at Miami East. A battle for first place in the Cross County Conference, the unbeaten Buccs collide with the 4-1 Vikings. Covington won this game in overtime last season. Dave Miller's squad has posted 10-0 ...

 
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