Matt Vargo, SCDS athletic director and boys’ varsity soccer coach, has been using his soccer knowledge for more than just a Country Day playoff run this season.

Vargo was the game analyst for Access Sacramento’s broadcast of Pleasant Grove High School’s 3-0 win over Sheldon High School on Sept. 29.

In the past, the channel has broadcasted high-school football and basketball games for their “game of the week.” This year, however, the station has expanded into other sports, including soccer and water polo.

Robin Fullum, who is very involved in Country Day sports, has been the game analyst for girls’ basketball games. After finding out that the station was planning to broadcast soccer games, Fullum recommended Vargo to Will James, the play-by-play announcer.

“Will said I would be perfect for the job,” Vargo said.

The Sept. 29 game was the first soccer broadcast on Access Sacramento, and Vargo’s announcing debut was a success. “They made me feel really comfortable,” he said.

Vargo did admit that because he was doing something new, he was nervous early on. He laughed about a minor slip-up that occurred at the very beginning of the broadcast, during a pregame report from the field.

“I forgot what I was going to say about one of the players,” he said. “It seemed like minutes, but it was just a couple of seconds.”

However, James stepped in, and Vargo believes the moment was probably a lot more awkward for himself than for the channel and its viewers.

As Vargo became caught up in the game, his early nerves relaxed. “Once the game got rolling, the time flew by,” he said.

Vargo had a relaxed approach in the booth, staying out of his head and not trying to pattern himself after anyone else. “I just went with it,” he said.

The Sacramento Access channel hopes to broadcast more important soccer games in the future. If so, they are likely to approach Vargo after the successful first broadcast, he said.

Vargo is enthusiastic about the possibility. “I’m willing to do it again,” he said.

Vargo enjoyed being introduced to a side of sports that he had not experienced before.

Although Vargo enjoyed the experience and may announce on Access Sacramento again, he has no plans of pursuing anything bigger in broadcasting in the near future.

“I really enjoy SCDS,” he said.