FLORENCE, S.D. (KELO) — Taven Sumner has already built an impressive resume.
At just 10 years old, Taven has already been behind the mic for two high school basketball state tournament games.
However, being young is not the only impressive thing about Taven’s radio broadcasting career.
Here’s a glimpse from a game broadcast this season with Taven’s co-host, Mitch Reed:
Mitch Reed: Loue is about 6’9,” and they’ve got some big guys in Lyman, too. What would you do if you’re playing?
Taven Sumner: I would double them.
That was Taven giving the Lyman Raiders advice ahead their state tournament matchup against Castlewood.
“I think it’s cool to talk on the radio,” Taven said.
The 10-year-old gives some good analysis, but what might be even more impressive is that he gave color commentary for two state tournament games without being able to see them. Taven is completely blind.
“It was really exciting,” Taven said.
Taven is a fourth-grader in the Florence School District. He called the games alongside Florence superintendent Mitch Reed. Reed has enjoyed calling games for KS93 out of Watertown for the past 10 years.
“Just seeing the different communities, being able to travel around to different communities, seeing kids competing at a high level in big situations. Sometimes, that’s the only time they’ve been in that situation and seeing the true character of students and student athletes come out,” Reed said.
Taven listens to all of Reed’s broadcasts. As the state tournament approached this year, Taven asked Reed if he was on the call for any of the games.
“I was kind of teasing him a little bit, and I said, ‘Well, this year, you’re going to do it with me.’ He kind of scoffed and smiled a little bit, and I just kept on him about it, and we ended up making it happen,” Reed said.
“It took Taven a little bit to get settled in, but once he did, he gave listeners a broadcast to remember.
“We were doing the pregame show, and he’s just like, ‘Oh, I’ll just call the start of the game.’ I said, ‘No, we’re rolling right now, and you’re going to roll with it.’ As soon as he got comfortable, he had no issues. He added a lot more than I actually thought he was going to once he got comfortable,” Reed said.
It was thanks to Reed leading the way.
“He explained the game so that I knew what was happening,” Taven said.
“One of the coolest things about it is he listens, he understands the game, not being able to see it, but to listen, his ability to to see tendencies in the game. You’d ask some questions, you’d prompt him a little bit because he’s never been on the radio,” Reed said.
The pair created quite the rapport. Here’s another conversation they had during a game:
Mitch: How tall are you? Do you know?
Taven: No.
Mitch: You don’t know? Are you 6’4,” you think?
Taven: I wish.
We asked Taven what he enjoyed the most about being on the radio with Reed.
“Everything,” Taven said.
Two days after Taven’s radio debut, the dynamic duo called the Class B state championship game between Castlewood and Viborg-Hurley. By then, Taven had just about mastered his craft. (
“He was in the driver’s seat that whole weekend; it wasn’t me. I was pumped to be along for the ride,” Reed said.
It’s a story of not letting anything slow you down.
“I think sometimes, when things happen to us, we put barriers out and feel like we can’t achieve them. With Taven, he has no problem going outside of that. What we can learn from him is don’t let anyone tell you no. If you want to do it, and you want to set your heart and your mind on it, you can get it done,” Reed said.
Taven says he hopes to continue calling games on the radio in the future. Along with broadcasting, Taven shows goats, wrestles and plays football.
