By: Justin R. Swallows
Last Tuesday, I found out that after eight incredible years behind the mic, the Clarksville Academy Sports Network is coming to a close.
No more Friday night football calls. No more buzzer-beaters, postgame interviews, or tracking stat sheets on long road trips. It's the end of an era—but more than anything, it's a moment for reflection and gratitude.
The official reasons are understandable—budget priorities, shifting focus—but I don’t think that’s the real story.
The real story is what we built. Together.
I started calling CA games in 2017. My first assignment was football season—and honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into. I’d recently returned to Clarksville after five years running a “Game of the Week” package in western Kentucky, and I was ready to invest in local high school sports. Initially, I was eyeing a chance to work with Clarksville High. But fate had other plans.
Patrick Miller, then CA’s Sports Information Director, pushed for something different. He convinced Head of School Kay Drew that if we were going to do Cougar broadcasts, I needed to be the voice behind the mic. That single decision turned into eight unforgettable years of storytelling, laughter, late-night drives, and community connection.
Patrick and I started on 105.5 FM. He ran stats; I called games. We made a lot of memories. One stands out—a sit-down dinner in Bellevue that nearly made us miss kickoff at Nashville Christian. Greg Walker wasn’t thrilled. But we laughed about it the whole ride home.
The coaches were a huge part of the journey. JD Sellers, in his first head coaching job, matched my rookie energy that first season. Carrie Daniels had just taken over the girls basketball team and was quietly building a powerhouse. Matt Wallace made the bold move to bring in Coach Dave Loos to support the boys—and the result was a state tournament appearance right out of the gate.
Later came Coach Charles Clark, bringing a new player-first focus to the girls program. Scott Murray brought grit and belief to football, building something powerful even when the scoreboard didn’t always reflect it. His internal recruiting helped shape some unforgettable seasons—including the rise of Mr. Football winner DJ Merriwether.
And then there’s Matt Hoppe. When he took the boys job, I figured he’d come in with a clean slate and a strong voice. He had every right to. Instead, he sat down with me, more than once, just to listen and learn. He led with humility, respected what was in place, and quietly made it better. We didn’t lose again after a tough semifinal bus ride in 2023 until the heartbreak in the state semis—one of the most intense calls I’ve ever made. The whistle, the free throws, the controversy. I’ll never forget it. And neither will anyone who was there.
Of course, the best part of all of this? The athletes.
Bryce Robinson’s passing records. Sydney Boykin’s state tournament leadership. Eddie Ricks owning the paint. Jac Wyatt’s game-altering breakaway. DJ showing up late and still making history. Ashley Roberts—now chasing a sports media career and calling for advice from time to time. These weren’t just highlights. These were lives in motion, and I got to help narrate their journey.
In 2022, we hosted our first—and only—Cougar-Casting Camp. Seven students spent a week learning what it meant to call a game, run a broadcast, and find their voice. I’ll always be proud of that.
The network went fully digital in 2021, and the impact was immediate. More than 20,000 unique listeners tuned in to hear Cougar games over the next four years. Families, alumni, friends across the country—they all found a way to stay connected.
Clarksville Academy has become home for my family too. After we adopted our son Sam, we enrolled him at CA. He thrived. He even played a season of varsity football. My wife Whitney now serves as Director of Admissions. And our youngest, Whitten, will be a Cougar in 2026. This school has been a gift to us.
So no, this isn’t a bitter goodbye. It’s a thank-you.
Thank you to every coach who gave me time, every player who gave us magic, every fan who tuned in. Thank you to the administrators who made room for this idea in the first place.
I don’t know exactly what’s next, but I know my mic won’t stay silent for long.
If there’s a school out there ready to build something meaningful—something that celebrates student-athletes, gives kids a real platform, and brings the community together—well, I’d love to help you tell those stories.
Because I’ve seen what this can become.
And I’d love nothing more than to do it again.
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