By Mike Sherman, APSE First Vice President/Contest Chair
Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman in Boise took first place in the Associated Press Sports Editors 2013 contest for Beat Writing in the 30,001 to 75,000 circulation category.
Cripe, whose five-story entries highlighted his work on the Boise State football beat, will be presented a first-place plaque at the 2014 APSE Banquet June 28 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
Cripe received five of six first-place votes from APSE judges, who ranked him ahead of runner-up Brent Briggeman of The Gazette in Colorado Springs and third-place finisher Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss. The top 10 is listed below with links to each writer’s Twitter page and available entries.
Sports editors in the 30,001 to 75,000 circulation category submitted a total of 54 Beat Writing entries from APSE member sports departments in 2013. Contest catchers numbered each entry, assuring they had been stripped of headlines, graphics, bylines and any other element that would identify the writer or news organization.
In early March, preliminary judges at the APSE Winter Conference in Indianapolis selected a top 10, with each judge ranking the entries in order from 1 to 10 separately on a secret ballot. Entries were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for second and so on down to 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The final 10 were given to a second judging group, which ranked the entries 1-10 in the same fashion. The winner and final rankings are determined by tallying the ballots.
The Beat Writing category recognizes the most authoritative, newsy and innovative coverage of a beat during 2013. Each APSE member news organization was permitted to submit up to two entries of five stories each. Each entry consisted of at least one breaking news story, one event or game coverage, one enterprise piece and two wild-card stories that could include a blog post.
The contest is open to APSE members. Go to this link to join.
2013 APSE Contest: Beat Writing, 30,001 to 75,000 circulation
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman (Boise), (5), 59 points
Chris Petersen leaves Boise State quickly, quietly
Huskies rout Broncos in rematch of last year’s MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
Boise State proving you can coach speed
Boise State's Linehan following in footsteps of his father and brothers
Boise State football coaches detail pursuit of this year’s offensive recruits
2. Brent Briggeman, The Gazette (Colorado Springs), 44 points
Back to the basics: Following Air Force freshmen football players through the summer
Air Force men knock off No. 12 New Mexico 89-88
Private funding could save Air Force-Navy game, which for now is off
Air Force at Navy football game is officially back on
Air Force quarterback Jaleel Awini suspended from team
3. Hugh Kellenberger, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.), 42 points
Why Ole Miss gave Marshall Henderson another chance
Last-second field goal lifts Ole Miss past No. 6 LSU
Negative spotlight again on Ole Miss
Patrick Willis’ road to Super Bowl a tough one
4. John Talty, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.), 37 points
Ole Miss target Nkemdiche in middle of recruiting storm
Quack science? Coaches will use anything for an edge in recruiting, even 'Duck Dynasty'
Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze amazes by signing greatest recruiting class in school history
Record makes recruiting an uphill battle for Southern Miss
Football recruits forced to sift through red tape to see if offers are legitimate
5. Ryan Thorburn, The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.), (1), 34 points
6. (tie) Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, 32 points
Colleagues say goodbye to Maine Warden Service legend
Which Maine towns have the lion's share of big-game kills?
Maine's bear hunting practices back in the crosshairs
Large tract near Baxter State Park opening to hunters
Roxanne Quimby's son offers new hope for national park plan
6. (tie) James Crepea, The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, 32 points
The doctor is in: Auburn's Garner calls on 'Dr. Rush' to help make over D-line
Auburn football: Marshall named starting QB
Auburn football – New lease on life: Marshall leaves Georgia past behind, revives career with Tigers
Jordan-Hare prayer: Marshall dismisses Georgia on miraculous fourth-down play
Kick, Bama, Kick: Davis returns missed field goal 100 yards for win
8. Jim Meehan, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.), 21 points
7-foot Zag has transformed into WCC player of year candidate
Butler steals win away from Gonzaga
Gonzaga’s Olynyk opts for NBA draft
Morrison adapts to new role as coach
9. Norm Wood, Daily Press (Newport News, Va.), 17 points
Tajh Boyd blossoms from Phoebus star to ACC main attraction
Virginia Tech runs winning streak against Virginia to 10 games with 16-6 victory
Junior days are becoming more important in football recruiting process
Virginia Tech recruit Drew Harris is in junior college while wading through academic issues
Liddle sisters draw support for mom from Virginia Tech athletic community
10. David Dorsey, The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.), 12 points
Twins prospect Miguel Sano, two others promoted to Double-A
(No other available links among his five entries)
(Mike Sherman, APSE first vice president and contest chair, is sports editor of The Oklahoman. Email him at msherman@opubco.com or call 405-475-3164.)
