Anyone who has ever listened to a Lynx radio broadcast will recognize the voice of John Focke. Focke has been the full-time radio play-by-play voice of the Lynx since 2015, but started out calling Lynx road games in 2012. On Monday night, he will accept an award for Minnesota State Sportscaster of the Year presented by the National Sports Media Association. We caught up with Focke to chat about the award and his career in radio.

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Julian Andrews, Web Editorial Associate: What does receiving this award mean to you?

John Focke: It’s very humbling. There are so many great broadcasters in the state of Minnesota, on all levels, that is an honor to be voted by my peers for this award.  I also think it’s a great way to shine the light on our radio team and flagship station and network who work so hard to bring Lynx basketball to the Upper Midwest and I am incredibly proud of the fact that our organization is still so committed to radio and carry all the games, home and away.

JA: What do you think makes a good radio play-by-play announcer?

JF: There are many things that go into it, but first and foremost I would say preparation, being ready for any situation that may happen. I have been fortunate over the years to learn from people like Alan Horton and Tom Hanneman, two of the most prepared broadcasters out there.  I think understanding the teams and backstories of the players goes a long way toward telling the story of the game.

JA: What call or calls of yours are you most proud of?

JF: Game 3 vs. Indiana in 2015, the Maya Moore buzzer beater to give Minnesota a 2-1 series lead was a really fun moment in Lynx history.  It was cool to be part of that. Also, the fourth championship and tying the Houston Comets for the most all time, and Rebekkah Brunson’s fifth championship (the only player ever to win five) was incredible for what that moment meant in the history of the league. And being there to call the win over the Mystics last year that made Lindsay Whalen the all-time winningest player was another great moment in the history—not only of the Lynx but the league—to be a part of.

JA: Going into your fourth full-time season as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Lynx, what’s gotten easier for you, and what are some of the challenges you face on the job?

JF: What’s gotten easier is just knowing the league, when you prepare for every team over and over, year after year, you can start to layer your knowledge of the teams, players and leagues and it gives you a great understanding of things and the history of things. The challenge is striving to improve every year, adding things to the broadcast, working to get better on certain things, layering in more information, and continuing to raise the bar for our network.

JA: Calling almost every Lynx game, how do you keep things fresh for yourself and your listeners?

JF: By enjoying every minute you’re on the air.  It’s just a joy to call these games and to tell the stories of our players, coaches and league.  They are incredible players and coaches but also people, and to be able to share their stories is one of the best parts of my job.

JA: What are some of your favorite memories from your time with the Lynx?

JF: The road trips are a lot of fun. Our traveling party is like family which makes it a blast and getting to experience the different venues and fan bases and calling wins on the road in hostile environments is a ton of fun.

JA: What do you think makes the Lynx such a special team and organization?

JF: The attention to detail and leadership that this team has at all levels is outstanding.  From the front office, to the coaching staff and players, to the training staff.  They all hold themselves to a very high standard and it’s all about the team. Also understanding what’s important. Winning is a huge part of that but how the team and organization impact the community is one of the things that makes me so proud to be a part of.