Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1422227
TEXT BY SUZANNE WARING WORKING LIFE URBAN AFFAIRS PHOTOGRAPHER CRYSTAL GILLEN 18 | SIGNATURE MONTANA he greatest moments of high school sports are remembered for the play on the court or field and the skill of the broadcaster announcing it. Great color commentators are master storytellers who bring personality to the mic. Chris Kelly is one of a handful of class C radio personalities with a strong voice and a remarkable ability to convey urgency and excitement to any game she's broadcasting. Kelly was involved in athletics in high school and college, but it was her days as an athletic trainer at the University of Montana, where she picked up her wide range of sports terminology. Today Kelly has three jobs: vice president of Kelly Signs in Great Falls, instructor in the sciences at the University of Providence, and KMON radio announcer and commentator for Montana Class C football, basketball, and other athletic events. Being a sports commentator is so much fun; she calls it her hobby. Watching and announcing as a game unfolds, Kelly reaches back to that swirl of descriptive language she listened to when working with the football and basketball players at the University of Montana from 1986-1998. She quickly describes for listeners precisely what is happening at the moment. Chris' biggest fan is her mother, who tunes in when Chris is announcing. "When Robin McKnight partners with me, Mom can't tell us apart. If she can't, I'm guessing many listeners can't tell which one of us is doing the play-by-play or the color. Actually, we oen switch back and forth, and that makes it even more challenging for my mom," said Kelly. Chris arrives at a game prepared because she has done her homework. As soon as she learns which game she will be announcing, she researches the teams' histories, the age and names of the players, and all about the coaches. Chris is a big promoter of Class C athletics that people across the state also support. "Not only do mom and dad listen to a broadcast if they are unable to aend a game, but many of the players' other relatives, friends, and communities are tuning in," said Kelly. "I know that I have to pronounce the players' names correctly because it is important to everyone listening." Going live on the radio, Kelly keeps the objectives for broadcasting athletics in mind: "It's all about the kids, keeping the communities involved, and entertaining listeners. We are also appreciative of the businesses that make puing these games on the radio possible," she said. To catch Chris Kelly and other announcers calling the play-by-play or color commentating , tune in to KMON 560 AM during the 2021-2022 class C football and basketball seasons. Bringing Class C Sports to Life through Play-By-Play and Color Commentary Chris Kelly Behind the Mic with T S MT Chris Kelly gives the play-by-play from her outdoor broadcast setup in Dutton, Montana.