The Woodlands Highlanders Football Radio Network is set to cover all Highlanders games, home and away. From left, The Woodlands Highlanders Football Radio Network: Bret Strong, sidelines; Rob Eissler, commentary; The Woodlands Head Football Coach Mark Schmid; Andrew Burnett, stats; and Voice of the Highlanders, Nick Wolda.

Nick Wolda will provide play by play, Texas State Representative Rob Eissler will provide commentary, local attorney / civic leader Bret Strong and local businessman Andrew (Dr. Drew) Burnett will be on the sidelines to make up the broadcast team covering The Woodlands home and away games this year. The broadcast is brought to listeners by Jim Cochran State Farm, The Woodlands Development Company, St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, First Victoria Bank, The Melton Team of Dean & Brandi, other participating sponsors.

Here is a look at The Woodlands Highlanders 2011 Schedule:

• Monterey Tech, Thursday, August 25, 2011, Woodforest Stadium
• Hightower, Friday, September 2, 2011, Away
• Strake Jesuit, Friday, September 9, 2011, Woodforest Stadium
• Tyler Lee, Friday, September 16, 2011, Woodforest Stadium
• Atascocita, Saturday, September 24, 2011, Woodforest Stadium
• Lufkin, Friday, October 7, 2011, Abe Martin Stadium
• Oak Ridge, Thursday, October 14, 2011, Woodforest Stadium
• Kingwood, Friday, October 22, 2011, Turner Stadium
• College Park, Friday, October 28, 2011, Woodforest Stadium
• Conroe, Friday, November 4, 2011, Morehead Stadium

“We have an exciting lineup planned this year,” said Wolda, who is entering his ninth year as the voice of the Highlanders. “I look forward to bringing fantastic action this year along side of Rob, Bret and Andrew.”

Moving to the Internet is a major change for the broadcast, according to Wolda. “After 10 years of broadcasting on KAFR 88.3 FM, the station has decided to remove its local Montgomery County office and beam centralize programming from Mississippi,” he said. “After a 2 month exhaustive search for other radio stations, I have concluded that "over the air" stations are fewer and further between. People are now listening to programming on the Internet and with their smart phones.”

Wolda noted that The Woodlands, a town with a nearly 100,000 people, does not have a radio station.

“One thing is certain and true - Nick, Rob, Bret and Andrew will be on the air this fall with one of the greatest football programs in all the country - The Woodlands Highlanders,” Wolda said.

Wolda, president of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, is the former publisher of Nick Wolda’s East Texas Football magazine. As a hobby, Wolda enjoys following high school sports. Wolda’s daughter, Hylaree, now a freshman at LSU, was a six-year cheerleader for The Woodlands. His son Hudson is a future Highlander, now in 6th grade.

Eissler is the owner of W. Robert Eissler & Associates, Inc. and a Hometown Hero in The Woodlands. An 18-year member of the CISD Board of Directors before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives, Eissler has championed numerous youth athletic programs in the area. Eissler has served as Chairman of the House Public Education Committee the last 2 sessions and was named by Texas Monthly magazine as 1 of the Top Ten Legislators this past session. Eissler’s sons Mark and Craig are both former Highlanders.

Strong owns The Strong Firm, an attorney practice in The Woodlands and is the past Chairman of the Board of the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. He too is involved in a number of charitable organizations in The Woodlands. His son Hunter, now a student at the University of Alabama, was a Highlander offensive lineman.

Burnet brings a wealth of knowledge of the Highlander program to the broadcast, following the program for many years. Burnett is the Worldwide Account Manager of FedEx Services & Technology. His son Jason was the starting free safety for the Highlanders in 2009.

Each week, special guests will be featured at halftime. For a listing of each week’s games, pick up a copy of The Courier and The Villager.

CUTLINE
The Woodlands Highlanders Football Radio Network is set to cover all Highlanders games, home and away. From left, The Woodlands Highlanders Football Radio Network: Bret Strong, sidelines; Rob Eissler, commentary; The Woodlands Head Football Coach Mark Schmid; Andrew Burnett, stats; and Voice of the Highlanders, Nick Wolda.