Oct. 19, 2006

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher has announced an agreement with WJOL-AM 1340 in Joliet to broadcast all Flyer men's and women's basketball home games on the newly created Flyer Radio Network.

Schumacher also announced that Bettenhausen Dodge in Tinley Park has agreed to be the primary sponsor of the Flyer Radio Network, and that Mark Vasko of Sporting News Radio in Northbrook will handle play-by-play duties.

"The creation of the Flyer Radio Network is a vital step in the process of increasing public awareness of Lewis University and its athletics program," Schumacher said.

"Our institution is growing, and we in athletics want and need our department to be an integral component of that growth. Developing a strong broadcast and Internet presence for our basketball teams will help us achieve that objective, and we're very pleased and excited about it.

"We're also very happy about developing a relationship with WJOL, Bettenhausen Dodge and Mark Vasko," Schumacher added. "We believe this agreement will benefit all parties, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening our association in the future."

"Certainly we're excited to enter this partnership with Lewis University, and particularly with the athletics program," Bettenhausen Dodge general manager Mike Bettenhausen said. "We're always proud to support organizations in our region, especially educational institutions, and we see a lot of upside and potential in sponsoring Flyer basketball."

The basketball broadcasts also will be available on the University's official athletics Web site, www.LewisFlyers.com. As an additional feature on its Web site, Lewis will provide links to other schools' Web broadcasts, if available, when the Flyers play away from home.

Also on the Flyer Radio Network broadcast schedule are men's exhibition games at Illinois (Nov. 1) and DePaul (Nov. 4) and the men's regular-season game at Illinois State (Dec. 19); the women's exhibition game at Illinois (Nov. 7); games for both teams at Wisconsin-Parkside (Jan. 13); and all Great Lakes Valley Conference and NCAA tournament games.

Vasko, a Chicago-area broadcasting veteran, has served as play-by-play voice of Lewis men's basketball in recent years. His experience also includes a stint with WSCR-AM 670 "The Score" in Chicago; minor-league baseball play-by-play with the Kane County Cougars (five years) and the Joliet JackHammers (four years); and basketball and football play-by-play with the Northern Illinois University radio network.