AL.com, BamaCentral Lead Alabama Sports Writers Association Awards

Best sports story, Writing on a Deadline (must be published, online or print, within 24 hours of event and written by an individual):

Winner: Katie Windham, BamaCentral; Alabama Leaves No Doubt After Beating Georgia, Tide is one of the Four Best Teams

Runner-up: Tony Tsoukalas, Tide Illustrated; Jalen Milroe’s Resiliency Encapsulates Alabama’s Identity

Best Column (entrant judged on four columns from anytime in year)

Winner: Ben Thomas, AL.com, Is Recruiting Really a Big Problem in High School Sports; Tim Becker’s 30th Baseball Season will be the First Without his “Rock”; Bo Jackson’s Prep Coach Still Lives to Serve Others; Soy Taylor Always Found a Reason to Choose Joy

Best Football Feature (Power 5 programs or NFL)

Winner: Michael Casagrande, AL.com; Bryant’s Pallbearers Recall Experience 40 Years Later

Runner-up: Cody Goodwin, Bama247; Guest Speakers Give the Crimson Tide a Lift in Fall Camp

Best Basketball Feature

Winner: David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily; Going-Away Gift: From Japan to U.S., Suzuki’s Family Helps Honor UNA Guard

Runner-up: Bob Labbe, Huntsville Magazine; Tim Miller Legendary Coach

Best Baseball Feature

Winner: Ben Thomas, AL.com; ‘An Old Soul:’ Mobile Christian’s Ben Brewer Battles on Despite Losing his “Rock’ 2 Years Ago

Runner-up: Will Miller, BamaCentral; People are the Focus for New Alabama Baseball Head Coach Rob Vaughn

Best Softball Feature

Winner: Katie Windham, BamaCentral; Montana Fouts Leaves Legacy of Loyalty, Leadership, Love

Runner-up: David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily; ‘Quite the Journey:’ Plenty of Moving Parts, Adaptions as UNA, Florence Ready for Tide

Best General Feature

Winner: David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily; ‘The Best in the Business:’ After 40 Years at UNA, Hodges has had Lasting Impact

Runner-up: David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily; Slava Ukrani: Deshley Kicker’s Thoughts Often on War-Torn Home

Best Enterprise/Explanatory Story

Winner: Creg Stephenson, AL.com; Birmingham’s Multi-Decade Flirtation with the NFL

Runner-up: Michael Casagrande, AL.com; Dixieland Delight Songwriter has Surreal First Alabama Game

Breaking News Story

Winner: Ben Thomas, AL.com; ‘Everybody Loved Phil:’ Star Dadeville Athlete Among Those Killed in Mass Shooting

Runner-up: Christopher Walsh/Mason Smith; BamaCentral, Alabama Basketball Player Darius Miles Charged with Capital Murder

Project

Winner: Christopher Walsh, BamaCentral, for a 33-part series that examined Alabama football’s history with each NFL team

Best stories or series writing: Students

Winner: Will Miller, BamaCentral; Revenge and Revitalization: How an Upset Brought New Life to an Old Rivalry

Runner-up: Mathey Gibson, BamaCentral: Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze After Iron Bowl Defeat: “That’s Gonna Strick with us for a While”

Sweepstakes Award (Herby Kirby Memorial Award)

Best story from all categories above: Michael Casagrande, AL.com; Bryant’s Pallbearers Recall Experience 40 Years Later

UWA’s Kent Partridge to Enter ASWA’s Hall of Honor