Editor's Note:  This is the most recent piece in a series of stories shared by Gorillas to Gorillas as we all embark upon this new "season" in our lives. These certainly are unprecedented times, for young and old alike. Our hope is for Gorilla student-athletes, past and present, coaches and members of Gorilla Nation to read these pieces, awaken their Gorilla memories and then compose their own story to share with us. There is strength in numbers.
 
When I was first asked by Dan Wilkes to submit a piece for this feature I initially wondered if he was serious. I've known Dan a long time through my work in radio and certainly consider him a good friend. Believe it or not he's been known to yank your chain on occasion to see what kind of response he can generate, but Dan immediately assured me he was serious given my connection to Pitt State Athletics and my perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic since I have a son who had his senior year of high school cut short.

Before I ever typed my first word for this piece I was incredibly humbled when I thought about being included in a feature with so many individuals who had accomplished so much in their time at Pittsburg State. I don't consider myself in their class when it comes to the impact they have made at our university and on their respective athletic programs.

I am often asked and I have spoken to different civic groups about my job from how it all came about to preparing for game day and some of my most memorable games. Before I address any of that I tell everyone how unique it is to be able to work in sports radio in a market of this size without also having to work in sales or handle a board shift in the studio and I'm able to do that because of the commitment that ownership and management have made to covering Pitt State athletics; both in my 20 years at KKOW and now for the last 3 years with ESPN 100.7 and My Town Media. I don't ever take it for granted because I come across plenty of broadcasters at this level who have to wear more than one hat for their radio station and never mind to be able to do it in my hometown for my alma mater; it is very special to me. 

Having grown up in Pittsburg, my earliest memories of Pitt State Athletics are seeing the resurgence in the football program under Ron Randleman and seeing some lean years in basketball under Bob Johnson and John Hickman. The facilities were pretty modest to say the least, but it's all you knew at the time.

I am amazed when I look at Pitt State today and what we have in terms of facilities, some of the travel that takes place and the level of competition in the MIAA and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a front row you seat to it all.

My first eight years in the business were spent as the sideline reporter for the football games which also carried the duty of a being a chauffeur for Tom Van Hoy and Lynn Meredith. Also in those years I served as a second set of eyes on the basketball broadcasts for Tom and you certainly needed it in those days broadcasting games from the crow's nest at John Lance Arena.

I vividly remember getting to call my first Pitt State event by myself. It was November of 1997 and there was a scheduling conflict with football so while Tom and Lynn went to Topeka for the football game I traveled to Springfield for a men's basketball game at Evangel. I remember being a little nervous, but excited because I was sitting in the "big chair." I still have a picture, courtesy of Carol Eddington, of me putting away my equipment after that win.

Everything changed in January of 2005. Tom Van Hoy left for South Carolina following the 2004 football season and I've had the pleasure of being labeled as "the voice of the Gorillas" since that time.

Fast forward to the present day and, no matter your profession, when you've done the same job for this long you are going to have relationships that are the first thing that comes to mind when you take time to reflect. I wouldn't trade those relationships for anything. I love athletics for the opportunity to compete and for the life lessons that come out of it. The opportunity to get to work with and become friends with so many good people associated with Pitt State Athletics has been priceless.

All the coaches in the different sports have been more than gracious with their time and cooperation. I've always said my job is a lot easier when I'm informed and that has always been the case working with our coaches and Dan Wilkes.

I'm not sure I've ever met a better storyteller than Coach Broyles. Coach Iba was a tremendous basketball resource given his family background and that's barely scratching the surface of how blessed I've been to work with, to be around and to learn about different sports from very accomplished college coaches. The most memorable games are easy to recall because they're generally associated with success. The 2004 and 2011 football seasons and the 2012 and 2016 women's basketball regional finals are at the top of the list.

The road trips are memorable as well. A lot of that content I can't share here, but Dan Wilkes and coach Lane Lord kept me in stitches on some long rides home. Sharing some of those same moments with former football greats Andy Majors, Aaron McConnell and Zac Dickey as well as B.J. Harris and now Mike Smith have made football season that much more fun.

It's still surreal in a lot of ways to think about the current times and how the sports world and so much of the world is at a standstill. My son Andrew lost the final two plus months of his senior year of high school. I remember feeling like I was punched in the gut when that news broke, but he and his classmates have handled it well, hopefully drawing on some of those life lessons obtained through athletics. It should make us all feel fortunate for the experiences we've had and I know there will be a deep appreciation when we get to experience some of those things in the future.

Thanks again to Dan for inviting me to be a part of this feature. Here's to 23 wonderful years and hopefully many more to come.

Go Gorillas!

Eddie Lomshek
 
Eddie Lomshek has worked on the Pittsburg State University Athletics play-by-play broadcast team for the past 23 years, including the past 16 years as "The Voice of the Gorillas" for football and men's and women's basketball with KKOW Radio and My Town Media. The Pittsburg native is a 1999 graduate of Pitt State with a communication degree. Eddie and his wife, Amy, have three sons:  Matthew, Andrew and Joseph.
 
Please share your own personal stories/thoughts via email to dwilkes@pittstate.edu. We want to share them! (PSU Athletics reserves the right to edit content for space and appropriateness. We cannot promise to publish every submission, but we will do our best.) Thanks Gorilla Nation!
 
Through the Eyes of a Gorilla Archives
Vol. I - Dan Wilkes, Associate AD/Communications (Apr. 3)
Vol. II - Levi Wyrick, Football/Track & Field Athlete (Apr. 7)
Vol. III - Amanda Davied, Women's Basketball Coach (Apr. 10)
Vol. IV - Chris Hanna, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 13)
Vol. V - Jeff Moreland, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 15)
Vol. VI - Emily Hanenberg, Volleyball Athlete (Apr. 17)
Vol. VII - Ashley Balazs, Softball Coach (Apr. 20)
Vol. VIII - Peter Euler, PSU Alum/CC T&F Athlete (Apr. 22)
Vol. IX - Caitlin Demarest, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (Apr. 24)
Vol. X - Tyson Cushman, Baseball Athlete (Apr. 27)
Vol. XI - Oscar Gonzalez, PSU Alum/Men's Basketball Athlete (Apr. 29)
Vol. XII - Russ Jewett, Cross Country/Track & Field Coach (May 1)
Vol. XIII - Ronald Moore, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (May 4)
Vol. XIV - Emily Regier, Volleyball Athlete (May 6)
Vol. XV - Wendi (Rickson) Horak, PSU Alum/Softball Athlete (May 8)
Vol. XVI - Josh Lattimer, PSU Alum/Football Coach (May 11)
Vol. XVII - Brad Buckley, PSU Alum/Baseball Coach (May 13)
Vol. XVIII - Piper Misse, Cross Country/Track & Field Athlete (May 15)
Vol. XVIV - Alexa (Bordewick) Dreiling, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (May 18)
Vol. XX - Jen Gomez, Volleyball Coach (May 20)
Vol. XXI - Harlan Hess, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (May 22)
Vol. XXII - Kaity Kukowski, Softball Athlete (May 25)