SPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards presented to state sportswriters
BERLIN, May 23 -- The Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) held its annual Excellence in Journalism awards banquet on Thursday.
This year’s contest attracted 842 entries in 38 different categories. The two biggest categories were feature story and feature photo with 50 and 45 entries, respectively. We’re sharing with you the results of the sportswriting categories and links to stories that we could find online.
Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance member Gerry deSimas, Jr., of the Collinsville Press was recognized with a pair of second place awards for sports news and sports photo.
Sports Column
Regional A First Place A role model, flaws and all; Hartford Courant; Mike Anthony
Second Place As records fall at girls State Open track, debate rages over transgender issue; GameTimeCT.com; Jeff Jacobs Third Place Family, legacy led Dan Hurley to UConn; Hartford Courant; Dom Amore
Regional B First Place Culture change: New Britain football sees recent season as strong building block for program; New Britain Herald; David Glovach Second Place Clyde Washburn: A life well lived; The Chronicle; Mike Sypher
Sports Feature
Hyperlocal First Place Remembering Frank ‘Coach’ Crisafi; East Haven Courier; PJ Foti Second Place Adakonis go-karts his way to top national ranking; Ridgefield Press; Tim Murphy Third Place ‘A very rewarding journey’; Glastonbury LIFE; Mara Dresner
Regional A First Place The growing pressure and demands of coaching each year lead to some asking: ‘Is it even worth it?’; GameTimeCT.com; Doug Bonjour Second Place Epic rock-paper-scissors battle settles SCC baseball quarterfinal matchup; GameTimeCT.com; Pete Pagagua Third Place Amby Burfoot is giving it another go; The Day; Steve Fagin
Regional B First Place Biggest victory: After beating cancer, football more than game for New Britain’s Hernandez; New Britain Herald; David Glovach Second Place Season-ending injury cannot keep Kellner out of gym; Stamford Advocate; Scott Ericson Third Place ‘I’ve never been a quitter,’ says ex-NFL player Amari Spievey; Middletown Press; Cassandra Day
Regional C (Magazine) First Place At UConn, Dan Hurley is taking on “the ultimate challenge”; Connecticut Magazine; David Borges Second Place For Anne Worcester, this tennis tournament is a labor of love; Connecticut Magazine; Paul Doyle
Regional D (Broadcast) First Place A life saving gift; News 12; Mark Sudol, Robert Cook Second Place Big dreams; News 12; Lauren Fabrizi, Keith Sunthorn
Sports News
Hyperlocal First Place Trailblazer: Gaughran is first girl on Ridgefield LL travel team; Ridgefield Press; Tim Murphy Second Place Simsbury tops Avon for fifth straight win and Valley Gridiron Classic; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr. Third Place Alfredo finds success as rookie in NASCAR series; Ridgefield Press; Tim Murphy
Regional A First Place Playing with risk; Hartford Courant; Alex Putterman Second Place Coaches, parents question policy for high school transgender athletes; Hartford Courant; Lori Riley Third Place NCAA investigating UConn men; New Haven Register; Jeff Jacobs
Regional B First Place Gunn’s three touchdowns spark New Britain football over South Windsor, moves to 3-0; New Britain Herald; David Glovach Second Place Barber, Muir unstoppable as Greenwich shuts out New Canaan for CIAC Class LL state title; Greenwich Time; David Fierro Third Place Brusnwick’s Cornelius Johnson chooses Michigan; Greenwich Time; David Fierro
Sports Photo
Hyperlocal First Place Record set; North Haven Courier; Kelley Fryer Second Place Players and fans celebrate after winning in eight innings; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr.
Regional A First Place No. 1 Ansonia suffers heartbreaking loss; Waterbury Republican-American; Bill Shettle Second Place Goalie save; The Day; Sarah Gordon Third Place Reach for the win; Hartford Courant; Brad Horrigan
Regional B First Place Powder Puff takedown; Record-Journal; Dave Zajac Second Place Not as close as once thought; Stamford Advocate; H. John Voorhees III Third Place Catching some air during Snocross; Record-Journal; Justin Weekes
