Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Richmond Times-Dispatch Entry Title: Eric Kolenich Entry Credit: Eric Kolenich Judge Comment: This was a thought-provoking collection of stories. But it was the detailed and tragic story of Nick Ackies and Jaquan Anderson that set this entry apart. More of a crime epic than a sports story, this piece highlighted the writer's versatility as he skillfully blended the technical with the emotional. The story about high school athletic department embezzlement was well done and managed to take your through the stuffy safeguards without losing your interest. Well done.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Daily Press Entry Title: 2019 body of work Entry Credit: David Teel Judge Comment: Fine example of telling the human-aspect of sports. Thoroughly enjoyed the story of University of Virginia QB Bryce Perkins' adversity-filled journey to become one of the top signal callers in the country. And on the business side of sport, Teel even managed to make the emergence of the ACC Network interesting. Nice touch.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Washington Times Entry Title: Paras Portfolio – Combine also test of a player's job-interview skills; In the mix; The one that got away Entry Credit: Matthew Paras Judge Comment: Too often sportswriters tend to stray from the notion of simplicity. Not here, where its the strength of Paras' entries. Clean copy, well structured, concise and not overwritten. Only quibble I had was the lack of Marc McClung's voice in a story that revolved around him.