Called to the Mic: Faith, Sports & Mary Claire Zacharias

Mary Claire Zacharias is a 17-year-old broadcaster from St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas, with experience calling play-by-play for football and soccer, serving as a color commentator for girls basketball, and working as a sideline reporter and pregame show host. After a career-ending neck injury in her freshman year, she turned her passion for sports into broadcasting, covering over 60 games and dozens of pregame shows. Mary Claire loves telling the stories behind the athletes and sharing her deep knowledge of the game. She aspires to work for ESPN as a SportsCenter host or sideline reporter. Her advice to aspiring broadcasters: put in the work, embrace mistakes, trust the process, and let your preparation shine.