The Washington Nationals public address announcer is excited about the possibility of announcing the world champions, but it’s his day job that really fulfills him.
Jerome Hruska has been the Nats’ PA announcer since 2007, but he’s been teaching tech and engineering at Stonewall Jackson High School in Prince William County, Virginia, for longer than that.
Hruska really cares about his students.
“They enter high school not knowing what they want to do; they leave knowing they want to be an engineer,” he said. “It’s changed my life to see how I can impact theirs.”
And they recognize the impact.
“Being in his class for a few years has made me a better student, better man, just better overall person,” student Michael Kinsel said.
On home game days, Hruska leaves school and goes straight to Nationals Park for a little moonlighting.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
“I didn’t even know he did it, the Nationals thing, until like junior year, like last year,” Kinsel said.
“That was surprising for me because he’s always such like a teacher,” student Lauren Yager said.
The Nats are two wins away from winning the World Series with three games to play in D.C., so he could witness a championship.
“I don’t want to say it’s unbelievable, but it’s still magical,” he said.
But he hasn’t what he might say in that moment.
“If the last out is made at home and we win the World Series, I don’t think I’ll have anything to say right away,” Hruska said. “I’ll be able to enjoy the moment. I’ll hear the fans celebrating. I’ll be celebrating. I don’t know what I’m going to do right after that. I don’t know what my line will be. I hope I get a chance to do it.”
Hruska said his family has tickets to Game 5 Sunday and joked he’s torn about wanting them to experience that game and wanting the Nats to sweep the series in four games.
