20 for 20: The Voice of the Pioneers

The 2020-21 athletic year is the 20th year that I (Paul Welker) have served as Alfred State's Sports Information Director. During this school year I plan on writing a 20-part series on my time covering the Pioneers.

There is a distinct voice that echoes through the valley in Alfred when the Pioneers take the field on a Saturday and throughout the winter months in the Orvis Activities Center. The voice that makes sure everyone knows it's another "Pioneer First Down" or raises the excitement with calls like "Shaulis for Threeeeeeeee". That voice of the Pioneers belongs to Craig Hoyt.

Craig Hoyt came to Alfred State in 2008 after contacting me to inquire if he could do his internship in my office to complete his degree at SUNY Cortland. At that time it was very rare for me to have an intern and I believe Craig was the first intern that worked with me during the school year. I was excited to have a person in my office daily to help progressing what we were doing in the office. This was also close to the period of time where we had gotten permissions to post updates whenever we wanted on the college website (we didn't have alfredstateathletics.com until 2012).

Craig brought experience in the sports information field when he walked in my office for the first time. He had spent time working for the legendary Fran Elia in the SID office at Cortland. Craig also brought more life experience than most students I interact with. Craig was just a little younger than me, had battled some health issues, and was a father of three.

Craig stepped right in and was a big help during the semester. He worked on record books and past stats, put together programs, and even wrote some game recaps (we still laugh to this day about his first baseball recap and how it might have been a little too harsh). It was amazing to have another person that I could trust and take some of the load off of my plate.

After working the fall season in the press box helping with stats and announcing soccer games during his internship, I was in need of a solid PA Announcer for basketball season. Craig was my best option and he added a professionalism to our games right away. After his internship was over I asked him to stay on and become part of my gameday staff. He finished the 2008-09 season and jumped into the full time role of being the Voice of the Pioneers in 2009 when I had a need for a PA Announcer for football games. Since then there has been very few games that Craig has missed.

The games he has missed have mostly been due to the health issues that Craig has dealt with since his senior year of high school at Greenwood Central. During his senior year, Craig found out that his kidneys were not functioning correctly and that he needed a transplant. In the years that followed, Craig had two kidney transplants but unfortunately neither of them solved the issues he was having for long. From the time Craig started his internship to now, he has received dialysis three times a week in the early hours of the morning.

Very few people would know what Craig deals with his daily or weekly with his health because when he is behind the microphone at Pioneer Stadium or inside the Orvis Activities Center he always displays a strong voice for Pioneer athletes.

Craig is the first person I call when we need extra help with multiple games going on at the same time or if the college is hosting a high school tournament or sectional contests.

His hardwork and dedication to the student-athletes that wear the blue & gold is amazing. He takes the time to mentor our current interns, sport management students, and event staff so they can do their job more effectively and efficiently.

On top of being the voice of the Pioneers since starting his internship, Craig has been the summer voice of the Hornell Dodgers, a summer collegiate baseball team. On a clear summer night, you can hear his voice clearly from Maple City Park to the parking lot at Wegmans and Wal-Mart.

I am extremely proud that Craig is the recognizable voice of the Pioneers but even more proud that he is one of my close friends.

Previous 20 for 20's:

Story 1: The First Fall

Story 2: Gina and Juice

Story 3: Nose, Ear, Knee

Story 4: Football Tales

Story 5: Sand Storm