Franklin Teen Becomes Celtics Broadcaster of the Day

On March 14th, Celtics fans catching the game play-by-play heard a voice a little younger, but no less professional, than usual when 14-year-old Ryan Martin, of Franklin, joined Celtics sportscaster Sean Grande as a Celtics Broadcaster for a Day, a junior broadcasting competition that has been sponsored by Arbella Insurance for the past few years. Young Martin also appeared on the TV Broadcast on NBC Sports Boston and was able to meet other Celtics broadcasters, participate in the press conference and take photos on the court.
Ryan’s video submission won the spot among contestants all over Massachusetts.
“There was something very engaging and professional about him at that age. He really stood out. He was just tremendous, and had his banter down. I think the whole town should keep their eye on this kid. He’ll do well no matter what he does,” says Mary Ann Hailer, of Arbella Insurance, which has created various community partnerships with the Celtics for nearly a decade, many of them personalized experiences like Ryan had.
“It was a truly incredible experience, just being able to see Mike Gorman, the voice of the Celtics, and learning all his advice, and Kyle Draper. Just to hear all the great voices in the Boston sports arena,” says Ryan, who has been fascinated by sports broadcasting since age 7, when, with his Dad, he watched Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen announcing Super Bowl XXIII. At that age, he began receiving a subscription to Sports Illustrated Kids – and when he was 11, he saw an ad for Play by Play Sports Broadcasting Camp in Boston, where he has spent the past three summers. During the summer of 2018, Ryan joined Josh Maurer and Mike Monaco in the broadcast booth to announce an inning of the Pawtucket Red Sox-Indianapolis Indians game. The 8th grader at Annie Sullivan Middle School hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of Michaels, Albert and Scully.
“Ryan is a really unique kid. I’m just impressed that at 14, he’s just so driven and he knows what he wants,” says Ryan’s mother, Heather. “He found the contest, found the sports broadcasting camp originally and said, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and I think that’s just fantastic.” She adds that the teen has even learned how to network.
“I’ve started reaching out to a lot of people, to connect with as many people as I can, because this is something I’m very passionate about, and I would definitely see it as a career opportunity,” says Ryan, who will attend Franklin High next year. The broadcasting camp, he says has helped him with the technique of the play-by-play as well as how to enunciate, something very important.
As for his Celtics performance, Ryan says, “I was a bit nervous, but my Mom and Dad were both there – it was his 45th birthday – they really helped me calm myself, and I was able to do a great job, I think.”