ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — George Vancore Jr. has more than 32 years of experience as a public address announcer. Before joining the Bartram Trail Bears, he worked at Nease High School. It's something he loves — and is well-known for. But less than a year ago, his passion for announcing nearly ended.
"Football, baseball, softball, boys and girls' basketball, boys and girls' volleyball, and flag football," Vancore said, listing the sports he's announced at Bartram Trail.
Vancore has been the voice of Bartram Trail for years.
"My wife and I have been together for 50 years — I've been doing this for 25," he said.
In October 2023, Vancore went to the doctor after not feeling well and experiencing trouble sleeping. He thought he had pneumonia.
"He did my exam, and there are two words you never want to hear a doctor say: 'uh-oh,'" Vancore recalled. "'George, you don't have pneumonia; you have fluid around your heart. You have congestive heart failure. You're going to the emergency room right now.'"
Vancore underwent open-heart surgery.
"For the next 45 to 60 minutes, you're going to feel like…you know. And I did," he said.
As soon as his chest healed, Vancore returned to the mic, having missed four football games and 10 basketball games.
"There's no way I wasn't coming back. You'd have to take me away in a box to get me out of here," he said.
Vancore said his connection to Bartram Trail runs deep. He's now calling games for the next generation of athletes.
"Those kids that played for me, that played T-ball, come up to the booth and say, 'My son is No. 9,' or 'My son is No. 30,'" he said.
Since the surgery, Vancore said his voice can still get hoarse, but he expects to fully recover in six to 12 months.