The 2021-2022 School Year was the last for Shoemaker, who has been has been offering play-by-play commentary at Mars Area High School varsity football games, basketball games and track & field meets since 1984.
Shoemaker began his teaching career as a mathematics teacher at Mars Area Middle School in 1972 and he has served as a head coach of both varsity and junior high girls basketball teams as well as the ninth grade and junior high boys basketball teams. He was the first head coach of junior high track & field teams (in the early 1990s) and he was also an assistant coach for varsity football, boys and girls tennis, and girls golf.
By 1984, Shoemaker, who was coaching multiple teams, decided to leave his position as an assistant football coach to spend more time with his wife and family. Terry Dillner, then head coach of the Fightin’ Planets, asked if he would be interested in serving as the football game announcer.
He agreed to take the post, first announcing games at the Marburger Field (Mars) and then at Mars Athletic Complex. In the 1990s, Scott Heinauer, then boys varsity football head coach, anointed Shoemaker as the “Voice of the Planets” and the nickname stuck.
Despite retiring from teaching in 2007, Shoemaker continued to announce football and basketball games. He went to firefighter school; became well versed in emergency medical care; and is now employed by Quality EMS ambulance service.
In 2012, Shoemaker was inducted into the Mars Area High School Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his service as the “Voice of the Planets.” He and his wife, Josie have two grown daughters, Fawn and Amber.
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