KMIH, Mercer Island Goes to the Races – audio

   August 30, 2026

Again this year, student broadcasters at Mercer Island High School’s KMIH-FM, 88.9 “The Bridge” continued their tradition of covering the Seattle Seafair Hydroplane Race and U.S. Navy Blue Angels exhibition on and above Lake Washington.

Each summer throughout Seafair weekend, KMIH becomes “Logboom Radio” with students providing updates, commentary, interviews and music.

In the audio posted below, sophomore Toly Odievich is at the controls along with Eric Shao, as the station defers to professional announcers Mark Christopher, Brad Luce, Dustin Echols, and pit reporter Dannie Rogers for play by play via the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Network.

This aired Sunday afternoon, August 2nd, and has been edited to give you a condensed version of the afternoon’s broadcast.

Runtime:  17:06

Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. "After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!" ---Click here for other Sam Lawson articles ---and here for Sam Lawson airchecks

1 thought on “KMIH, Mercer Island Goes to the Races – audio”

  1. The Sound of the Hydros

    Jason Remington • August 30, 2026

    Likely as entertaining and informative as board ops at any commercial stations that have carried the races. Toly Odievich did a good job at the station, keeping listeners tied-in during breaks.

    Reply

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