“Hello, ‘Cat fans.”

This familiar greeting from public address announcer Jay Long welcomes the crowd at each Oak Harbor High school football and basketball game.

What started out as a fill-in gig for Long turned into a 25-year performance.

Long was asked to substitute for the regular announcer at the final Oak Harbor football game in 1989.

The following fall he was offered the job permanently by then-athletic director Stan Nelson, becoming just the third football announcer since 1950.

The legendary John Vanderzicht handled the microphone from 1950-79; Ted Knutson followed from 1980-89.

Long, a 1969 Oak Harbor High School graduate, majored in radio/TV broadcasting at the University of Washington.

“Other than an internship at a Seattle TV station and working part time for a couple of local newspapers, I never really pursued the profession,” Long said. “Then 15 years later I became the ‘Voice of the Wildcats.’

“I’ve always been very sports-minded, and I just have a passion for it.”

Long has missed calling only two Oak Harbor football games — once to umpire in a national softball tournament and the other to attend an away UW football game.

Long began volunteering for Oak Harbor High School girls basketball games in December of 1990. A few years later, he started working the boys games when announcer Mert Waller stepped down to watch his grandsons play.

Long is a lifelong Husky football fan and enjoyed the work of UW announcer Lou Gellerman, who called Washington football games from 1985-2007.

“Upon (Gellerman’s) retirement,” Long said, “I decided to pattern myself after him.”

Gellerman, with a deep, rumbling voice, opened each game at Husky Stadium with  “Hello, Dawg fans.”

In a salute to Gellerman, Long begins Wildcat contests with his version of the iconic greeting.

Long has parlayed his local success into work for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

“I always had a desire to work at the state level,” he said.

With the help of resume letters from former Oak Harbor High School Athletic Director Jeff Stone, former Wildcat Booster Club President Mike Waller and Mountlake Terrace Athletic Director Kim Stewart, Long received an audition in 2004.

He “passed” and is now one of six announcers for the state basketball tournaments. Over the past 11 years, Long has announced numerous 3A and 4A games, including six championship contests that have been broadcast on television.

“It’s been a thrill to work alongside such people as Kevin Calabro, Bill Krueger and others,” Long said.

In addition to Oak Harbor and state games, Long has announced district basketball games around the area, three seasons of Bellingham Bulldog semi-pro football and several state Little League tournaments.

His most memorable moment was announcing Oak Harbor’s home games on the Wildcats’ way to the state football title in 2006.

Long’s success in sports goes beyond the announcer’s booth.

After playing slow- and fast-pitch softball for 20 years, he started umpiring for the Amateur Softball Association. His 25-year umpiring career includes games at the local, state, national and international levels.

“The friendships and camaraderie I have gained through announcing and umpiring have been tremendous,” Long said. “And a very big thanks to my No. 1 supporter and my very best friend, my wife Suzie Long.”

Long plans to continue announcing as “long as the voice holds out” and “as long as they’ll let me continue.”

“So many people give back to the community and school,” he said. “This is just my small way to do so.”

Oak Harbor High School handed Long a microphone in 1989 and he never let go.

You’re lucky, ‘Cat fans.