2025 LOUISIANA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONTEST

Awards presented June 28, 2026, Natchitoches, La.

 

SPORTS INFORMATION/COMMUNICATIONS

 

DIVISION I – RELEASE/FEATURE (FOOTBALL)

1. HARRISON VALENTINE, LSU Athletics

Feature on Tigers’ cornerback Mansoor Delane

JUDGES COMMENTS: “Winning entry delivered a thorough background feature on the rise of new LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane from his high school days until the present. The story had a good pace, excellent use of selective quotes and pertinent statistics.”

2. Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Athletics

Game story on first NSU football win since November 2022

3. Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Athletics

Feature on NSU QB progress from his first college start to his rematch with the same team

 

DIVISION II - RELEASE/FEATURE (MEN’S BASKETBALL/BASEBALL)

1. HARRISON VALENTINE, LSU Athletics

Story on re-hired LSU head basketball coach Will Wade

JUDGES COMMENTS: It’s absolute talent when a writer writes a lede that perfectly sets the table for the reader. This category winner nailed it. He wrote, “An introductory press conference for a guy that needs no introduction. Has there ever been one?

2. Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Athletics

Feature on former NSU baseball star David Fry a season after his MLB All-Star game review

3. Kent Lowe, LSU Athletics

Release on the hire of Will Wade

 

DIVISION III - RELEASE/FEATURE (WOMEN’S BASKETBALL/SOFTBALL)

1. BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Athletics

Feature on a 15-year relationship between a coach and a graduating player

JUDGES COMMENTS: The writer showed maturity and restraint by not getting in the way of a good storyline. He allowed a softball player and her coach to tell the story of a relationship that started at the beginning of the player’s career and showed up again at the end.

2. Jonathan Zenk, Northwestern State Athletics

Feature on NSU women’s basketball player loving her role as a defensive specialist

3. Matt Hebert, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics

Game story on UL softball win over ranked Ole Miss

 

DIVISION IV - RELEASE/FEATURE (OLYMPIC SPORTS)

1. HARRISON VALENTINE, LSU Athletics

Feature on LSU all-American gymnast Kailin Chio

JUDGES COMMENTS: Winner authored a fascinating dissection of the robotic perfection of LSU gymnast Kailin Chio, touching on her superstitions, her mental routine and how she and new assistant coach/former teammate Haleigh Bryant have connected.

2. Dan McDonald, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics

Story on UL men’s golfer Malan Potgieter in the NCAA tournament and his streak of 91 consecutive holes without a bogey 

3. Matt Sullivan, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics

Story on UL men’s golfer Malan Potgieter’s school-record pace in Trinity Forest Invitational

 

DIVISION V – GAME NOTES (ALL SPORTS)

1 (tie). MATTHEW BONNETTE, McNeese

Men’s Basketball Game Notes vs. Vanderbilt in 2026 NCAA Championships

1 (tie). MATT SULLIVAN, Louisiana

Ragin’ Cajuns Football Notes package for 68 Ventures Bowl 

JUDGES COMMENTS: Many game notes stuff their notes full of information from games during the season that aren't really relevant to the game at hand.  They simply keep passing along notes from games that happened weeks ago and while that information is important, it isn't anything that I would probably bring up during the game and I end up having to wade through that.  Neither one of these winners did that.  Wasn't a lot of filler, just important notes that make them an easier read.  

2. Kent Lowe, LSU Athletics

LSU Men’s Basketball Game Notes vs. Kentucky (SEC Tournament)

3. Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Athletics

Game notes for Southland Conference Tournament

 

DIVISION VI – COLLEGE RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY

1. MIKE HAMMETT, ULM Warhawk Radio Network

ULM Football Broadcast at UTEP

JUDGES COMMENTS: I know being the Voice of the Warhawks isn't always the easiest job, but Mike is consistently a pro's pro. He does a great job of capturing why the big moment is in-fact the big moment. Mike also does a tremendous job of crunching a large amount of information into a small window without feeling rushed, but also making sure he gives his on-air partner plenty of time to break down a play. Mike is incredibly descriptive while not being too wordy, and excited for the big plays without coming across fanatical. Mike is well-deserving of this recognition.

2. Kyle Schassburger, Louisiana Tech Sports Properties

Louisiana Tech vs. Indiana State Men’s Basketball

 

DIVISION VII – COLLEGE GRAPHICS

1. LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS ATHLETICS

Graphic on Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball first baseman Lee Amedee and his perfect season in the field

JUDGES COMMENTS: A simple, clean cut post highlighting incredible stats of an infielder.

2. Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Athletics

Women’s basketball conference player of the year graphic.

3. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics

Graphic on Men’s Basketball Newcomer Isaiah Wilks as the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year

 

DIVISION VIII – BEST COLLEGE PHOTO

1. CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State Athletics

NSU Head Coach Blaine McCorkle receives a Powerade bath after his 20-10 win over Alcorn, his first as a D1 Head Coach.

JUDGES COMMENTS: The epitome of any athletics celebrations, the sports drink bath. A rite of initiation for any coach and team’s accomplishment.

2. Ben Massey, Louisiana Athletics

Louisiana quarterback Lunch Winfield scoring the game-winning TD in overtime in a 54-51 comeback victory over Marshall

 

BROADCASTING AWARDS

 

BEST RADIO SHOW HOST (SOLO & TEAM)

1. MATT MOSCONA (Host), MATT MUSSO & PAUL O’NEIL (Producers), “After Further Review”, 104.5 ESPN, Baton Rouge

JUDGES COMMENTS: Radio is all about generating urgency with the audience and this show does that regardless of the topic.

2. Raymond Partsch III (Host), James Meche (Co-Host-Producer), “RP3 & Meche”, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

3. JJ Marshall & Ben Marshall (Hosts), Travis Stewart (Producer), "SportsTalk with JJ & Bonzai Ben, 1130 The Tiger, Shreveport 

HM. Dawson Eiserloh (Host), James Meche & Dawson Eiserloh (Producers), “The LohDown with D-Loh”, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

 

BEST RADIO INTERVIEW

1. MATT MOSCONA, 104.5 ESPN, Baton Rouge

Interview with Kyren Lacy's father, Kenny Lacy, and his attorney Matthew Ory

JUDGES COMMENTS: Really well done interview where the host got out of the way and let the guest's words and emotions tell the story. Not an easy interview and the host did exactly what was needed. 

2. Dawson Eiserloh, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

Interview with UFC star Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier

3. Raymond Partsch III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

Interview with World Series champion Curt Schilling

HM. JJ Marshall & Ben Marshall, 1130 The Tiger, Shreveport

Interview with prep basketball legend Greg Procell

 

BEST LIVE RADIO EVENT

1. TONY TAGLAVORE & JIMMY MARTIN, KLKL-FM 95.7

JUDGES COMMENTS: I thought it was the most descriptive with great voice inflection and describing the action, breaking down the flow of the game and within a minute or so a great picture was painted… I thought the color analyst was spot on, and did a great job of describing what was happening and played off the play-by-play guy really well…the chemistry was strong!

2. Kyle Roberts & Nick Brown, Ruston High Football, Q94.1 FM 

3. Chad Jones, Jason Burns & Raymond Partsch III, St. Landry Parish Game of the Week, Z105.9 FM

 

BEST PODCAST

1. KENT LOWE, BILL FRANQUES & MICHAEL BONNETTE, “Sports Information”

JUDGES COMMENTS: I chose the winner because the conversations were entertaining and seemed natural.I thought the conversation with Jacob Hester was extremely entertaining and insightful… I also enjoyed the Christmas discussion because it did bring back a lot of memories from my own childhood… We also had a fake tree. 

2. Matthew Musso, “Musso at The Box,”  ESPN Baton Rouge

3. Ralph Malbrough, Andrew Juge, Dave Cariello & Kevin Held, “Saints Happy Hour Podcast” 

HM. Jim Derry, “Dattitude with Jim Derry,” NOLA.com

 

BEST TV SPORTSCAST

1. SETH LEWIS, WWL-TV

JUDGES COMMENTS: This entry was excellent. There was an inspiring and well-produced feature that highlights Cade Anderson’s remarkable journey from a young baseball prodigy in Madisonville to a star pitcher at LSU. The story does an excellent job showcasing not only his talent and perseverance through injury but also the unwavering support of his family. There was also a good mix of current stories that were well written and clearly presented. Strong video elements and effective soundbites enhanced the storytelling, resulting in an engaging and professional broadcast. 

2. Aaron Dietrich, KNOE 8 

3. JaMarcus Fitzpatrick & Anthony Council, KATC-TV

HM. Fletcher Mackel, WDSU

 

BEST TV INTERVIEW

1. FLETCHER MACKEL, WDSU

Interviews with Saints legend Archie Manning and Pelicans’ Joe Dumars

JUDGES COMMENTS: He has lots of energy and inflection in his questions and they were solid. They followed up for more information on the second coaches’ answer which was great. He also knew exactly what he wanted to say. It came out strong, distinct with no fillers. 

2. Aaron Deitrich, KNOE 8

Interviews with Super Bowl champions Terry Bradshaw & Andrew Whitworth

3. JaMarcus Fitzpatrick & Anthony Council, KATC-TV

Interview with from Sun Belt Media Day

 

BEST LIVE TV EVENT

1. DAN MCDONALD & BRENNAN BREAUX, UL Athletic Broadcast Operations

Television broadcast of UL vs DBU baseball game

JUDGES COMMENTS: This was a professional, entertaining, and highly enjoyable baseball broadcast that kept me engaged, even through a lengthy official review. The analyst had a deep understanding of the game situation. He gave great commentary during the review. The play-by-play commentator gave clear descriptions of what was happening during and after each play. The broadcast balanced game analysis and live coverage perfectly, creating an engaging experience for both dedicated baseball fans and casual viewers. 

2. Dawson Eiserloh & Brennan Breaux, UL Athletic Broadcast Operations

Television broadcast of UL vs Nicholls baseball game

3. Lenny Vangilder & Wayde Keiser, Crescent City Sports
Television broadcast of American Heritage (Fla.) vs Edna Karr football

HM. Jeff Palermo & Wayde Keiser, LHSAA Network

Television broadcast of Shaw vs. St. Charles Catholic football game

 

WRITING AWARDS

 

PRO EVENT -- CLASS I

1. LUKE JOHNSON, The Times-Picayune

Game story from the Saints' victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

JUDGES COMMENTS: Solid, descriptive opener. Nice closer at the end. Great stat about the Saints' lack of go-ahead drives (and inability to close out wins when they do go ahead). Story flowed well. Clean copy and strong pacing.

2. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

Recap of how Shreveport ruled the day at the U.S. Open

3. Matthew Paras, The Times-Picayune

Game story from the Saints' victory over the Carolina Panthers

HM. Les East, Crescent City Sports

Story on Saints legends and final home game of the season

 

COLLEGE EVENT -- CLASS I

1. WILSON ALEXANDER, The Advocate

Game story from LSU football team’s victory over Arkansas

JUDGES COMMENTS: This story was a runaway winner. It separated itself with a strong anecdotal lede, raw emotion, tight and effective writing, imagery, solid background information and multiple voices wrapped up into one tidy package. I could see the scene described in the lede without opening my eyes. The writer’s approach accentuated the story and did not get in the way of it. The end of the piece was powerfully, yet neatly, tied to the lede. A real nice read.

2. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

Game story on LSUS still clinching berth to NAIA World Series

3. Koki Riley, The Advocate

Game story from LSU baseball winning the national championship

HM. Lenny Vangilder, Crescent City Sports
Story on Tulane’s victory in American Conference football championship game

 

PREP EVENT -- CLASS I 

1. ROD WALKER, The Times-Picayune

Story on Edna Karr’s state championship win over St. Augustine

JUDGES COMMENTS: We love sports because they are about so much more than the games. That truth was captured in this game story.

2. Les East, Crescent City Sports

Game story on Haynesville winning state championship in football

3. Jim Derry, Varsity Sports Now 

Gamer on Shaw’s heartbreaking defeat to St. Charles in Division II state title game

HM. John James Marshall, Shreveport Bossier Journal
Game story on Parkway saving the best for last (play)

 

PRO COLUMN -- CLASS I

1. JEFF DUNCAN, The Times-Picayune

Column on a famous bar in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX

JUDGES COMMENTS: Tremendous story telling with fabulous details that kept the reader intrigued from start to finish.

2. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

Column on local golfer goes viral at U.S. Open, but has to prove he’s more than just ‘clicks’

3. Scooter Hobbs, Lake Charles American Press

Column on Livvy Dunne learns maybe you can’t have it all 

HM. Dawson Eiserloh, ESPN Southwest Louisiana   

Column on Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough

 

COLLEGE COLUMN -- CLASS I

1. RON HIGGINS, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

Column on Louisiana governor living up to stereotypical “Waterboy” image

JUDGES COMMENTS: An excellent example of speaking truth to power. Columns like this were an important reminder to audiences during the coach/AD drama that nothing is as inconvenient to politics and other leaders as facts. Well reported, well written.

2. Glenn Guilbeau, Tiger Rag

Column on Halloween coming early at LSU with board members appearing as clowns

3. John James Marshall, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

Column on the stupidity of tax-free NIL

HM. Scooter Hobbs, Lake Charles American Press

Column on nobody likes a good political football circus more than LSU

 

PREP COLUMN -- CLASS I

1. JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

Column on a closed school that still looms large

JUDGES COMMENTS: Interesting angle on an otherwise run-of-the-mill media day. Vivid wording in the opener. A fun read about a now-defunct high school that had some impressive history.

2. Doug Ireland, Shreveport-Bossier Journal 

Column on advocating a high school basketball event in honor of a deceased journalist

3. Raymond Partsch III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

Column on how NCAA Transfer Portal is killing high school recruiting

HM. Teddy Allen, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

Column on the pull of Friday night high school football

 

PRO FEATURE -- CLASS I

1. LUKE JOHNSON, The Times-Picayune

Feature on new Saints coach Kellen Moore and his upbringing in Washington

JUDGES COMMENTS: “This is an incredible longform story on the roots of Kellen Moore — and the writer did a great job of weaving in vignettes, sourcing and top-shelf writing in telling an in-depth story about the New Orleans Saints coach. Longform can be superfluous and it is always a challenge to keep the reader’s attention, but I found myself wanting to read more with each detail about Moore’s family, upbringing and path from Prosser to the pros. This story always moves forward and allows you to visualize that path. It’s a fantastic example of story-telling and deserving of first place.” 

2. Matthew Paras, The Times-Picayune

Feature on Kellen Moore and how the Saints will measure success under him

3. John James Marshall, Shreveport-Bossier Journal
Feature on controversial former Shreveport Pirates owner

HM. Ross Jackson, LouisianaSports.net

Feature on Spencer Rattler as one of 16 Black Quarterbacks to start Week 1

 

COLLEGE FEATURE -- CLASS I

1. WILSON ALEXANDER, The Advocate

Feature on what led to Brian Kelly’s ouster as LSU football coach

JUDGES COMMENTS: I love the honest, comprehensive breakdown of how it went down and how it all went wrong with this situation, backed by some powerful quotes that say plenty. The writer did well to put together everything needed to explain and support the disappointment and weird nature of the Kelly tenure at LSU. There is a lot of detailed storytelling that takes the reader to be part of the experience and eventual outcome. I appreciate the major execution on such a big college story.

2. Reed Darcey, The Advocate

Feature on LSU women’s basketball star Mikaylah Williams

3. Koki Riley. The Advocate

Feature on LSU slugger Ethan Frey and his hometown of Rosepine, Louisiana

HM. Raymond Partsch III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

Feature on the Sliman family and Ragin’ Cajuns golf 

 

PREP FEATURE -- CLASS I 

1. RAYMOND PARTSCH III, Ville Platte Gazette

Feature on Sacred Heart boxing and football legend George “Bobby” Soileau

JUDGES COMMENTS: Well-crafted story on a tough high school coach with an excellent, emotional ending that connects skillfully and brings the feature full-circle.

2. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

Feature on Calvary softball wins state title for late senior, her grieving family

3. John James Marshall, Shreveport Bossier Journal
Feature on the legend of Greg Procell

HM. Robin Fambrough, The Advocate

Feature on DeVonta Smith’s rise from small town hero to Heisman, Super Bowl

 

BREAKING NEWS -- OPEN CLASS 

1. GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag

Story on the firing of LSU football coach Brian Kelly.

JUDGES COMMENTS: While LSU’s decision to fire Brian Kelly was one of the biggest sports stories in Louisiana in 2025, this article takes advantage of deep institutional knowledge and sourcing—anonymous or otherwise—to paint as comprehensive a picture as possible. It includes tidbits about what Kelly’s exit will entail, the university’s athletic director’s hiring record and whether he will play a role in finding Kelly’s replacement. This is a very well-reported and well-written piece that takes well-trodden territory to a new place.

2. Piper Hutchinson, Tiger Rag

Story on how LSU swimming/diving coaches bullied athletes and “made life hell” 

3. Wilson Alexander, The Advocate

Story on LSU’s interest in hiring Lane Kiffin

HM. Lenny Vangilder, Crescent City Sports
Story on death of former Tulane baseball coach Joe Brockhoff

 

AMATEUR SPORTS -- OPEN CLASS

1. DOUG IRELAND, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

Story on pitcher flies in, flies out, fires two-hitter in Legion state tourney

JUDGES COMMENTS: It was by far the most cleanly written of the stories in this category. The AP style was used like it should be, and the writer did a tremendous job of explaining the most important things that happened in the story within the first three paragraphs. For the most part, the story explained details and used quotes very well. Spelling and grammar was on point. Overall a very good story, extremely well-written.

2. Kent Lowe, WBRZ.com

Story on 2025 USBC Open may not be city’s last chance to host major event

3. Tina Howell, News Break

Story on Banana Ball taking over Baton Rouge

HM. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

Story on iPad glitch, third-period onslaught help Shreveport Mudbugs

 

OUTDOORS WRITING -- OPEN CLASS

1. GLENN QUEBEDEAUX, Crowley Post-Signal

Feature story on the legend of “The Peanut Man”

JUDGES COMMENTS: D-Day in Gueydan. A federal sting operation labeled a quiet southwest Louisiana city as a den of wildlife outlaws, unfairly tainting the reputations of dozens of duck and goose hunters from this quaint community, while creating the legend of the Peanut Man. It’s a story the locals know well, but I’d never heard of it until this well-told piece.

2. Raymond Partsch III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

Feature on former LSU football star Taylor’s lifelong love for hunting

3. Bob Tompkins, Rapides Parish Journal

Column on award-winning outdoor photographer Jim Johnson

HM. Louis Bonnette, Lake Charles American Press

Column on man fishing with old partner

 

HEADLINES -- OPEN CLASS

1. RAYMOND PARTSCH III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

Headlines on Notre Dame football being entitled and Ragin’ Cajuns softball program

JUDGES COMMENTS: What's more disappointing than an unfrosted Pop-Tart? What a hook! Aside from the headline, the first four paragraphs of this story are some of the most creative, vivid and offbeat pieces of sportswriting I've seen in a long time. Also, the headline illustrating that the Cajuns softball program is being an organ donor for bigger programs was top notch.

2. Teddy Allen, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

3. Glenn Quebedeaux, Crowley Post-Signal

HM. Tony Marks, Oakdale Journal

 

PHOTOGRAPHY -- OPEN CLASS

1. MICHAEL JOHNSON, The Advocate

JUDGES COMMENTS: A visually striking shot that really captures the contortions that a gymnast's body must go through. The fence-catch shot is a wonderful capture not only of the catch itself, but of all the different reactions from the crowd. Well done!

2. Brennen Zigler, Ouachita Citizen 

3. Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune

HM. Joseph Halm, St. Tammany Farmer

 

PREP EVENT -- CLASS II

1. WILLIAM WEATHERS, GeauxPreps.com

Story on Central basketball team hosts touring team from Australia 

JUDGES COMMENTS: I thought the writer did a great job of setting the scene with that lede, and then bringing the timely element early enough in the story. It was a unique set of circumstances, and instead of just acknowledging that they came from the other side of the world, the writer got into excellent detail about why they took the tour. It did the best job of acknowledging unique circumstances of any of the stories.

2. Tony Marks, Oakdale Journal

Story on Plainview boys' basketball capturing first state championship in 60 years

3. Joseph Halm, St. Tammany Farmer

Story on Northshore’s Connor Smith tosses a no-hitter to clinch playoff series win

HM. Malcolm Butler, Lincoln Parish Journal

Story on Cedar Creek rallies late to down JS Clark in semifinals

 

PREP COLUMN -- CLASS II

1. GLENN QUEBEDEAUX, Crowley Post-Signal

Column on the passing of Jimmy Vincent Meche

JUDGES COMMENTS: Great columns have a solid lead, a hook which grabs the readers’ attention and beckons them to keep reading. This column does a great job with just the first line. What follows is a touching tribute to a well-known individual remembered for his toughness, his loyalty and his compassion for people. The tribute provides a strong glimpse into the subject of the column and was an enjoyable read.

2. Bob Tompkins, Rapides Parish Journal

Column about how volunteers built Menard stadium, saved school

3. Matt Belinson, Ruston Daily Leader

Column on Cedar Creek girls basketball

HM. Joey Martin, Concordia Sentinel

Column on lack of  a home field advantage for Ferriday football team

 

GENERAL SPORTS COLUMN -- CLASS II

1. CHRIS SINGLETON, The Times of Houma-Thibodaux

Column on Kyren Lacy’s legacy will forever live on in Thibodaux

JUDGES COMMENTS: A touching tribute to one of Louisiana's most tragic products. The author managed to cut through potentially sticky subject matter to deliver a heartfelt portrait of an athlete gone too soon, and a plea for humanity despite a controversial subject. 

2. Doug Ireland, Rapides Parish Journal

Column on coach’s record-breaking success is just part of his importance

3. Malcolm Butler, Lincoln Parish Journal

Column on La. Tech comes full circle with invite back to Sun Belt Conference 

HM. Tony Marks, Ville Platte Gazette

Column on everything being okay after LSU hires Kiffin

 

GENERAL SPORTS FEATURE -- CLASS II

1. WILLIAM WEATHERS, GeauxPreps.com

Feature on Franklin Parish coach walking daughter for homecoming, and then coaches in suit JUDGES COMMENTS: A delightful retelling of a unique scenario: Franklin Parish football coach Adrian Burnette coaching the second half of his team's homecoming game in a suit so he could accompany his daughter Andrané on the field at halftime as she was announced on the homecoming court. I like that this story weaves several threads together. Andrané isn't just presented as the coach's daughter; we see things through her eyes. 

2. Matt Belinson, Ruston Daily Leader

Feature on Ruston High’s volleyball manager

3. Robin Fambrough, Geaux Preps

Feature on Prep Classic berth a dream come true for long “suffering” Jena

HM. Kyle Roberts, Lincoln Parish Journal 

Feature on history of Ruston High’s cross country excellence 

 

MAJOR WRITING AWARDS

 

BEST SECTION -- OPEN CLASS

1. THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

JUDGES COMMENTS: The final decision came down to the superior design elements included in the TP's product. The visual presentation and organization of the content made the engagement more dynamic than some of the other entrants. The volume and depth of the content provided a rich experience as well. The flip side of this element, however, is a sense of distance in some of the coverage which had more emphasis on the more national brands of sports teams. The publication with its role in a market as visible as New Orleans has a responsibility to provide exceptional coverage in these areas, but the submissions analyzed do seem to overlook or minimize stories about milestone moments on a more local scale. It is nice to read about the next chapter of the Manning dynasty, but Arch will get his press. The kid whose career performance in the last game of his senior high school season to put his team in the playoffs may be a life-defining moment for them, and our local publications (even those with a national footprint) should also make sure it provides best efforts to tell the stories that will hang on dad's office wall or in a frame in the living room for the next couple decades. 

2. St. Tammany Farmer

3. Lake Charles American Press

HM. Ouachita Citizen

 

PREP WRITER OF THE YEAR -- CLASS I

1. JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

JUDGES COMMENTS:  In a star-studded category such as this, it’s rare to have an entry which simply stands out above the rest. That speaks to the overall depth of this category, as well as the strength of the winning entry. This year’s “Prep Writer of the Year” has a style that is entrancing in a way that makes you upset when you’ve reached the end. This entry hits all the highlights it takes to win a category as strong as this one — solid structure, captivating content and an ability to weave a story. The longform feature — the crown jewel of this entry — is, simply put, on another level. The second “feature” harkens back to the history of a once proud school, one in which had definitely seen better times, but still lives on in the heart of its proud alumni.All this to say, this writer shined in a field that is absolutely full of heavy hitters.

2. Raymond Partsch III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

3. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

HM. Jimmy Watson, Shreveport Times

 

PREP WRITER OF THE YEAR - CLASS II

1. TONY MARKS, Oakdale Journal & Ville Platte Gazette

JUDGES COMMENTS: Great job with the leads (they definitely made me want to keep reading the respective stories), as well as being descriptive and giving good details in stories. The stories were also well-written and very consistent. Nice job overall.

2. Matt Belinson, Ruston Daily Leader

3. Jake Martin, The Ouachita Citizen 

HM. Chris Singleton, The Times of Houma and Thibodaux

 

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR -- CLASS I

1. RAYMOND PARTSCH III, ESPN Southwest Louisiana

JUDGES COMMENTS: I very much appreciate it when a local journalist takes the Machine to task, which is exactly what happened in one of the most entertaining ways as he broke down the mess that was the LSU football program. Great points done in a humorous manner. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed the column about how a mid-major program has been gutted by bigger programs in this new NIL era of college athletics, and finally a humorous piece about remembering a forgotten Louisiana legend in a place like Lambeau Field was tremendous. 

2. Roy Lang III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

3. Glenn Guilbeau, Tiger Rag

HM. Hunt Palmer, LouisianaSports.net

 

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR -- CLASS II

1. TONY MARKS, Oakdale Journal & Ville Platte Gazette

JUDGES COMMENTS: In a category that was filled with entries that had good subjects but were extremely light on opinion and heavy on cliche, the winner knew his subject matter well and that is what separated the entry from the others. 

2. Malcolm Butler, Lincoln Parish Journal

3 TIE. Joey Martin, Concordia Sentinel & Bob Tompkins, Rapides Parish Journal

 

BEAT WRITER OF THE YEAR -- OPEN CLASS

1. WILSON ALEXANDER, The Advocate 

JUDGES COMMENTS: The details and organization of the story on Brian Kelly’s firing stood out above all the other work, but when combined with the column on the LSU offense and the feature on Frank Wilson, the writer proved their strength in each of the requirements. This was solid, thought-provoking work by someone who obviously knows this beat — and their audience — well. Good work.

2. Koki Riley, The Advocate 

3. Matthew Paras, The Times-Picayune

HM. Ron Higgins, Shreveport-Bossier Journal

 

STORY OF THE YEAR

RAYMOND PARTSCH III, Ville Platte Gazette

Long-form feature on Sacred Heart boxing legend and football coach George “Bobby” Soileau

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “This was just an amazing portrait of the life of a legendary boxer and coach and what he meant to those around him. It was well-sourced and written concisely and cleanly. I could visualize Soileau throughout the story;  which speaks to how the writer made the story appeal to readers.” 

 

SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Awarded to the writer who accumulates the most points (points awarded on a 3-2-1 basis) in regular writing categories. Points are NOT awarded for Prep Writer of the Year, Beat Writer of the Year, Columnist of the Year, Photography, Headlines or Story of the Year.

 

ROY LANG III, Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate