By Mike Sherman, APSE First Vice President/Contest Chair
The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News’ series on opportunities for disabled for athletes in that community won first place in the 2013 Associated Press Sports Editors contest for Projects in the under 30,000 circulation category.
Zackary Al-Khateeb, Andrew Carroll, Tommy Deas and Jamon Smith collaborated on a series that began Feb. 25, 2013, just over two weeks after the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidelines mandating that students with disabilities have a legal right to participate in sports. The Tuscaloosa News staff, which received four of six first-place votes, will be presented a first-place plaque at the 2014 APSE Banquet June 28 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
The Yakima (Wash.) Herald Republic team of Scott Sandsberry, Dave Thomas and Roger Underwood placed second for a project on the future of professional sports in Yakima. Jeff Graham of the Kitsap (Wash.) Sun placed third for a project on club soccer.
The top 10 is listed below with links to writers’ available Twitter pages and entries.
Sports editors in the under 30,000 circulation category submitted 17 Project entries. 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 Project category showcases a collection of articles that shed new light on personalities and issues in the news, including trends and original ideas. Entries are limited to 10 stories, though additional material may be attached and read at the judges’ discretion. The material is not required to have appeared in a single day or on consecutive days.
The contest is open to APSE members. Go to this link to join.
2013 APSE Contest: Projects, under 30,000 circulation
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Zackary Al-Khateeb, Andrew Carroll, Tommy Deas and Jamon Smith, The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News, (4), 55 points
Coaches: Directive a good move
Private schools open to accommodations
University of Alabama's adapted athletics program an example to emulate
Coach puts passion into University of Alabama’s adapted golf program
Miracle League a model for new federal guidelines
2. Scott Sandsberry, Dave Thomas and Roger Underwood, Yakima (Wash.) Herald Republic, 44 points
Pro sports in Yakima Valley face uphill struggle
What will it take for pro sports success?
Pro Sports: Population comparison to Yakima
Reaching Latino audience a challenge, opportunity for teams
3. Jeff Graham, Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Wash.), (1) 43 points (Pay wall)
Is club soccer around Kitsap still a beautiful game?
4. Jeremiah Johnke, Wyoming Tribune Eagle (Cheyenne), 41 points
Okie Blanchard Stadium weaved a common thread through Cheyenne
Cheyenne East's $14 million Okie Blanchard Sports Complex will be ready for 2014 football season
5. Ross Jacobson, Steve Nitz, John Sahly and Kate Schott, Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), (1) 40 points
MIDWEEK #MACTION PART 1: The price of exposure
Teams, players find ways to adjust to midweek #MACtion
What is the future of #MACtion?
6. Kalle Oakes, Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine), 31 points (Pay wall)
Mixed Martial Arts: 'We're a fighting state'
7. Christopher Walsh, BamaOnline (Northport), 25 points
(No link available)
8. Nick Ruland, Twin Falls (Idaho) Times-News, 23 points
When Will Canyon Ridge Win? We Look at the Challenges of Program Building
Stability, Dedicated Staff Are Key in Building Successful Programs
Middle School Programs Critical to High School Sports Success
Money Matters in High School Athletics
9. Mick Hatten, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times, 15 points
University renames arena after Herb Brooks
Home sweeter home
Addition of suites helps men's season ticket sales rise
$1.6 million is left for 1st phase
It's a proud day for SCSU, hockey fans, donors
10. Ben Baby, Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle, 13 points
Girls soccer: Concussions derailed pursuit of game
(Mike Sherman, APSE first vice president and contest chair, is sports editor of The Oklahoman. Email him at msherman@opubco.com, follow him at @MikeSherman or call 405-475-3164.)
