Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The News & Advance Entry Title: March 23, June 15, Dec. 15 Entry Credit: Jim Steinmiller Judge Comment: Great complete section with broad range of local, collegiate and national coverage. Layout is simple, balanced and convincing. Photography pulls you in and the writing brings it all together. Love to see a paper double-staff big high school events, and send a writer across the country to cover the local university in the NCAA Tournament. I even got to read about Carolina League baseball. Fine section. Keep up the great work.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Daily Progress Entry Title: Reign Supreme Entry Credit: John Abbott, John Shifflett Judge Comment: This came very close to winning. Soccer coverage is strong with this one. So is college football coverage. Pulling off coverage of six state championship games in one day. That kind of coordination is no fluke. Well done. Very complete college football gameday coverage. Writing, photography and design are all first rate. Lack of a columnist presence is only a minor quibble.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Free Lance-Star Entry Title: The Free Lance-Star Sports sections Entry Credit: Amanda Montag, Santos Nazario-Bortz Judge Comment: Good, solid section, but heavy on wire. Would have liked to see more local bylines about local athletes/events. What local writing I saw was good. Layout is crisp and clean.
