Awtrey, Page, Paglia win Bisher Sweepstakes Awards


Stan Awtrey, Fletcher Page and Brian Paglia won the GSWA’s Furman Bisher Sweepstakes Award to highlight the 2015 writing and editing competition.

In Division I, Awtrey, writing for the Macon Telegraph, won for his story detailing the Georgia Tech-Florida State football game.

In Division II, Page, the sports editor of the Athens Banner Herald, won for a feature on UGA kicker Billy Bennett.

In Division III, Paglia, the sports editor of the Forsyth County News, won for his coverage of the Lambert soccer team’s state championship.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Division I 

Best Event Story On Deadline – Pro/College Sports

  1. Stan Awtrey, The Telegraph (Georgia Tech beats Florida State)
  2. Nathan Deen, Savannah Morning News (Georgia wins over Ga. Southern)
  3. David Westin, The Augusta Chronicle (Jordan Spieth wins Masters)

 

Best Event Story On Deadline — High School Sports

  1. Dennis Knight, Savannah Morning News (Jenkins brings home state title)
  2. Ron Seibel, The Telegraph (Veterans girls fall in state basketball playoffs)
  3. Wayne Staats, The Augusta Chronicle (Laney coach enjoys title)

 

Best Sports News Story On Deadline – Pro/College Sports

  1. John Boyette, The Augusta Chronicle (Spurrier resigns from S.C.)
  2. Nathan Deen, Savannah Morning News (Willie Fritz takes Tulane job)
  3. Jason Butt, The Telegraph (Georgia first Mark Richt)

 

Best Sports News Story On Deadline — High School Sports

  1. Wayne Staats, The Augusta Chronicle (Burke County plays in wake of

fallen teammate)

  1. Ron Seibel, The Telegraph (Roquan Smith announces UCLA but no letter

of intent  signed)

  1. David Mitchell, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Ette Ndem smiles through

tough times)

 

Best Feature Or Series – Non-Deadline – Pro/College Sports

  1. David Westin, The Augusta Chronicle (Ben Crenshaw emotional in final

round)

  1. Nathan Deen, Savannah Morning News (UAB transfer Byrd relishing

time at GSU)

(T)  Nathan Deen, Savannah Morning News (GSU star Breida appreciates

adoptive parents)

  1. Nathan Dominitz, Savannah Morning News (Former Sand Gnats

p.layers reflect

(T) John Boyette, The Augusta Chronicle (Mount Vintage investors seek

answers)

 

Best Feature Or Series – Non-Deadline –High School Sports

  1. Gabriel Stovall, Southern Crescent Buzz (Eagle’s Landing coach Joe

Teknipp fights cancer)

  1. Michael Lough, The Telegraph (Walker Juhan’s standout senior season

after injury)

  1. Dennis Knight, Savannah Morning News (Benedictine assistant Ken

Cooper still at it)

(T)  Dennis Knight, Savannah Morning News (SCD’s Amari Oliver

overcomes obstacles)

 

Best Column

  1. Daniel Shirley, The Telegraph (BCS lie has been exposed)
  2. Gabriel Stovall, Southern Crescent Buzz (Memories covering Coach Joe

Teknipp)

  1. Scott Michaux, The Augusta Chronicle (Richt wins final press

conference

(T) Daniel Shirley, The Telegraph (Roquan Smith did what was best)

(T)  Nathan Dominitz, Savannah Morning News (Tiger, Sergio pair off at

Masters)

 

Best Columnist

  1. Scott Michaux, The Augusta Chronicle
  2. Daniel Shirley, The Telegraph
  3. Nathan Deen, Savannah Morning News

 

Outdoors Writing/Amateur Non-Scholastic Sports

  1. Chris Gay, The Augusta Chronicle (Ironman participant’s road to

recovery)

  1. Nathan Dominitz, Savannah Morning News (Race car collector Dale

Critz)

  1. Michael Lough, The Telegraph (Little League coach Harry DeHart)

 

Sweepstakes Award — Best overall story from all categories

Stan Awtrey (Georgia Tech’s dramatic win over Florida State)

 

 

Sports Sections Contest Results – Division I

Best Sports Section

  1. The Augusta Chronicle
  2. The Telegraph
  3. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

 

Best Sunday Sports Section

  1. The Telegraph
  2. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
  3. Savannah Morning News

 

Best Special Section

  1. The Augusta Chronicle (Masters, 2015)
  2. The Telegraph (High School Football, 2015)
  3. The Telegraph (College Football 2015)

Division II 

Best Event Story On Deadline – Pro/College Sports

  1. Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (Gators beat Georgia)
  2. Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald (Alabama wins over Georgia)
  3. Christine Troyke, Gwinnett Daily Post (Banuelos sizzles in shutout)

 

Best Event Story On Deadline — High School Sports

  1. Cassandra Negley, Thomasville Times-Enterprise (Coach Ron Best wins

No. 300)

  1. Colin Ochs, Gainesville Times (Dawson County football loses in

quarterfinals)

  1. David Friedlander, Gwinnett Daily Post (Buford loses to Cartersville)

 

Best Sports News Story On Deadline – Pro/College Sports

  1. Will Hammock, Gwinnett Daily Post (Former Bulldogs react to Mark Richt

departure)

  1. Christine Troyke, Gwinnett Daily Post (Gladiators land major piece to

puzzle)

  1. David Friedlander, Gwinnett Daily Post (Former Hawk Bob Kauffman

remembered)

 

Best Sports News Story On Deadline — High School Sports

  1. Paul Thomas, Gwinnett Daily Post (Mill Creek’s Alli Shaw motivates

soccer team)

  1. Will Hammock, Gwinnett Daily Post (Legendary football coach passes

away)

  1. Carlton White, Marietta Daily Journal (Ken Sprague retires)

 

Best Feature Or Series – Non-Deadline – Pro/College Sports

  1. Fletcher Page, Athens Banner Herald (Ballad of Billy Bennett)
  2. Fletcher Page, Athens Banner Herald (Southern University and Athens

share exchange)

  1. Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald (Former UGA Athletic Director

Damon Evans)

 

Best Feature Or Series – Non-Deadline –High School Sports

  1. David Thackham, Gainesville Times Enterprise (Gainesville High

linebacker excels on field)

  1. David Thackham, Gainesville Times Enterprise (Johnny Smith, P.A.

Announcer for 40- years)

  1. David Thackham, Gainesville Times Enterprise (Gainesville’s A.J.

Smallwood recovery from cancer)

 

 

Best Column

  1. Fletcher Page, Athens Banner-Herald (The John Huff story)
  2. David Thackham, Gainesville Times (West Hall’s Reachel Beaulieu never-

say-die attitude)

  1. Cassandra Negley, Thomasville Times Enterprise (Clifford Kerbo tears up

at Hall induction)

 

Best Columnist

  1. John Bednarowski, Marietta Daily Journal
  2. Fletcher Page, Athens Banner-Herald
  3. John Bednarowski, Marietta Daily Journal

 

Outdoors Writing/Amateur Non-Scholastic Sports

  1. Fletcher Page, Athens Banner Herald (Baseball opens the door for folks

with disabilities)

  1. Christine Troyke, Gwinnett Daily Post (Mom and daughter powerlifting

championship)

  1. David Friedlander, Gwinnett Daily Post (Providence connections help

Meier develop protective gear)

 

Sweepstakes Award — Best overall story from all categories

Fletcher Page, Athens Banner Herald (Ballad of Billy Bennett)

 

Sports Sections Contest Results – Division II

Best Sports Section

  1. Gwinnett Daily Post
  2. Marietta Daily Journal
  3. Athens Banner Herald

 

Best Sunday Sports Section

  1. Marietta Daily Journal
  2. Gwinnett Daily Post
  3. Athens Banner Herald

 

Best Special Section

  1. Marietta Daily Journal (High School Kickoff 2015)
  2. Athens Banner Herald (Alabama vs. Georgia preview)
  3. Athens Banner Herald (High School Football, 2015)

 

 

 

Division III

Best Local Event Story

  1. Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (Lambert girls soccer defeats Lassiter)
  2. Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (South Forsyth volleyball outlasts

Harrison)

  1. Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (McEachern eliminates South Forsyth

girls)

 

Best Local News Story

  1. Michael Foster, Forsyth County News (Headband ruling issue of

enforcement)

  1. Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (Pinecrest Academy’s Haynes revels in

Ohio State title)

  1. Derrick Mahone, Douglas County Sentinel (Brandon Robinson commits to

UNC)

 

Best Local Feature Story

  1. Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (Colleges turn up pressure on

female athletes)

  1. Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (One win left for Pinecrest’s

Haynes and Ohio St)

  1. Michael Foster, Forsyth County News (South Forsyth’s Epeagba lifts

War Eagles)

(T)  Ben Munro, The Jackson Herald (Bolling DuBose enters 40

th season coaching)

 

Best Column

  1. Michael Foster, Forsyth County News (Green’s Top 3 finish erased by

GHSA ruling))

  1. Cameron Whitlock, The Banks County News/Commerce News (My

trek in Peru)

  1. Chris Bridges, Barrow Journal (Will recent super fight be enough to

save boxing?)

 

Best Photo

  1. Jessica Brown, Barrow Journal (Youth Football Camp)
  2. Jessica Brown, Barrow Journal (I’ve got it!)
  3. Duane Winn, The Toccoa Record (Karate kid strikes board

(T)  Duane Winn, The Toccoa Record (Soccer player avoids kick)

 

Sweepstakes Award

Brian Paglia, Forsyth County News (Lambert girls soccer defeats Lassiter)

Sports Sections Contest Results – Division III

 

Best Sports Section

  1. Forsyth County News
  2. Barrow Journal
  3. Banks County/Commerce News

 

Best Special Section

  1. Forsyth County News (Pigskin Preview, 2015)
  2. Douglas County Sentinel (Football Preview, 2015)
  3. Barrow Journal (Friday Night Lights, 2015)

 

JUDGES:

Josh Katzowitz, cbssports.com and former college and boxing beat writer at the

Cincinnati Post;  Chris Dufresne, former national columnist for the LA Times

and president of the Football Writers Association of America; Gene Duffey,

former sports writer at the Houston Post and Huntsville Times; Ivan Aronin,

Nashville Tennessean.