Being 'Voice of the Rockets' for 25 years a labor of love for Einwich

Mark Einwich did not graduate from Burlington Central High School with aspirations of becoming a public address announcer.

When Einwich got his diploma from Central in the spring of 1986, his focus was on becoming a firefighter and a paramedic, which he did.

But during the short time between graduation and the fall of 1986, Einwich was presented an opportunity to stay involved with the Rockets' football program, for which he had played center all four years of high school, helping the Rockets reach the state playoffs for the first time in the fall of 1985 under Hall of Fame coach Gary Stran, who will be induced into the Central Hall of Fame next weekend.

"We were shooting around one day during that summer of '86 in the old Burlington grade school gym and John Noyes, who was Central's athletic director at the time, was there," Einwich recalled earlier this week while working a shift as a Lieutenant for the Geneva Fire Department, a job the west St. Charles resident has held for the past 18 years.

"John told me he was looking for someone to announce football in the fall and he asked if I'd be interested. I said I'd try it and see how it goes."

Now, 25 football seasons later it's still Einwich's booming voice you hear on Rocket Hill for all of BC's home football games as well as a majority of the Rockets' boys and girls basketball contests.

"It wasn't anything I had even considered," said Einwich, who is also a part-time Captain for the Burlington Fire Department. "I just decided to give it a try and I figured it was a way to stay involved with the program. When you put the pads down for the last time you miss it, so it was a way for me to stay involved and be around the seniors who I had played with for four years."

Continuing on the mike for basketball came natural.

"After we got done with the football season John asked if I wanted to do basketball and I've been doing both pretty much ever since," said Einwich, the son of Otto and Judy Einwich of west Elgin who has six children with wife Angie, two of them at St. Charles East High School.

"It just got to be something I enjoyed doing and outside of family stuff it's one of the only non-fire department things I do. To be up in the box and get into the game, and to be passionate and keep the fans informed of what's going on - it makes you kind of forget about things for a few hours. It's fun, I enjoy doing it and I would like to do it for as long as I can."

Over the years, Einwich has seen his share of ups and downs on Rocket Hill. There have been playoff years and there have been 0-9 years. One of those playoff teams came to mind first when I asked Mark about his special memories.

"The 2003 team that went 9-0," he said of the Dave Smith-coached squad that finished 11-1 and advanced to the state quarterfinals. "That was a real highlight, to see somebody pull off the undefeated (regular) season."

Einwich recalls a Byron game in which the first three kickoffs of the game went for touchdowns. He also quickly remembers Mike Giffin's 52-yard field goal in awful weather conditions against Lisle in the 2004 playoffs.

"And those playoff games against the Suburban Catholic teams when we always came out on the short end," he said. "I've seen some good football and some great kids go through here."

Kids like?

"Dan Sheldon," Einwich said first, referring to another of the Hall of Fame inductees next weekend "And Chris Wesson (another inductee) and Joe Hosey. And (current Huntley coach) Matt Gehrig. He was always a really good offensive lineman. And Jamie Brettschneider was one of the best kids I've ever seen.

"There have been so many it's hard to pinpoint anyone outside of the obvious."

This has been a difficult season for the 0-5 Rockets but that won't quiet Einwich one bit on Friday night when Central hosts rival Hampshire in the Rockets' Homecoming game.

"You just have to keep your chin up and be positive," Einwich said of the tough seasons. "The big rivalry games I find myself getting more jacked up for than I would against a North Boone."

So expect that booming voice to be heard loud and clear Friday night on Rocket Hill, just as it has for the last 25 years.

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