Janus Named Delaware Sportscaster of the Year

Wilmington, DE -- The Wilmington Blue Rocks are proud to announce that lead radio play-by-play broadcaster Matt Janus has been named the 2017 Delaware Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. The award is voted on by members of the media from the state of Delaware. It is the second time Janus has won the award.

"Matt brings a high amount of passion, energy and excitement to every broadcast," said Blue Rocks general manager Andrew Layman. "Through the years, we have had some incredible announcers who have achieved great success. Jim Rosenhaus is in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Bob McElligott calls NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Mark Nasser announces Triple-A baseball for the Omaha Storm Chasers, and John Sadak does national television and radio work for CBS Sports Network and Westwood One. I'm proud that Matt has carried on that tradition and is living up to the high standard we have set on our radio broadcasts."
In 2017 Janus completed his fifth season as the voice of the Blue Rocks, calling 140 baseball games on the airwaves of the team's radio partner, 89.7 WGLS-FM. The Middletown, DE native has been a staple within the organization for almost two decades. He began working for the Blue Rocks as a 15-year-old sophomore in high school when he sold yearbooks and scorecards. He moved to the marketing department during college, and then joined the media relations staff as the team's assistant director of broadcasting and media relations in 2009. He was promoted to New Media Manager prior to the 2011 season, and took over the lead play-by-play job two years later.
During the Blue Rocks' offseason, Janus does television work on both football and basketball broadcasts. In 2017 he provided play-by-play for the CAA Football Game of the Week on Fox College Sports and called women's basketball for both the CAA and on the Big East's Digital Package.
He is also a key contributor to the radio broadcasts at his alma matter, the University of Delaware. The 2007 UD graduate has spent the last 11 years on the 94.7 WDSD football radio crew, serving as color commentator for six seasons before transitioning to a role on the pregame show in 2017. He is currently in the midst of his ninth campaign calling University of Delaware women's basketball on Fox Sports 1290 AM and 1410 WDOV, and his sixth as the team's primary play-by-play voice.
The National Sports Media Association is an organization of more than 1,000 members that honors excellence in the industry, while passing along knowledge and history in the crafts of sportscasting and sportswriting through the generations.
The News Journal's Kevin Tresolini claimed Delaware Sportswriter of the Year honors from the organization for the 11th time. National Sportscaster of the Year Kevin Harlan of CBS and Turner Sports and National Sportswriter of the Year Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, along with Janus, Tresolini and all of the other state victors, will be honored at the 59th Annual NSSA Awards Weekend, June 23-25, 2018 in Winston-Salem, NC.
The Blue Rocks open their season on Thursday, April 5 at Potomac and start their home slate at Frawley Stadium on Thursday, April 12 versus the Lynchburg Hillcats. Hear Janus call all of the action on 89.7 WGLS-FM. Season seats, mini plans and group packages for the upcoming campaign are on sale now. For more information, please see the team's website at BlueRocks.com.