Alliance Members Win Awards in Connecticut SPJ Contest
- Connecticut Sports Media Alliance
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 20
Connecticut Sports Media Alliance
The Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recently announced the winners of their annual Excellence in Journalism competition for stories, photos and content produced in 2024.
Jimmy Zanor and Gerry deSimas, Jr., members of the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance, each won awards in the competition.
DeSimas of the CollinsvillePress.com was recognized for a first place award in Division C for a sports feature about the passing of Hall of Fame field hockey coach Nancy Grace, a second place award in Division C sports news for the final home basketball game in Farmington High’s gymnasium and a third place award for a Division B sports news story on Ansonia’s last-second win over Woodland in the Class S semifinals.
Zanor of the Norwich Bulletin won a second place award in Division B sports news about a Killingly High pitcher helping the Norwich Sea Unicorns win a crucial contest.
All the sports-related awards are listed below.
Sports Feature
Division A - Large (1) 'Give them hope': A pickleball program inside a CT prison helps incarcerated people find self-worth; WNPR; Eddy Martinez
(2) An outdoor swim festival in Vermont ...in the winter? These hardy CT swimmers are headed there.; Hartford Courant; Lori Riley
(3) Two CT sisters faced a ‘row-off’ for the last spot in Paris. One’s sacrifice made the other an Olympian; Hearst CT Media; Bryant Carpenter
Division B - Medium (1) Iconic Crosby, Kennedy gyms changed the game in the city; Waterbury Republican-American; Michael Griffin
(2) Norwalk female wrestlers show how to be 'Tough for a Girl' in award-winning film; The (Norwalk) Hour; Kalleen Rose Ozanic
(3) Dream come true: UConn marks 25th anniversary of milestone title; Today Magazine; Bruce Deckert
Division C - Small (1) Canton's Hall of Fame coach Nancy Grace has passed away; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr.
(2) Olympic Cycling Success for Princeton Carbonworks; Connecticut East This Week; Brian Scott-Smith (Podcast)
Sports News Division A - Large (1) Why Connecticut Sun are hosting WNBA game at Boston's TD Garden; Hearst CT Media; Maggie Vanoni
(2) What NBA coach Billy Donovan said to UConn's Dan Hurley as he considered offer from LA Lakers; Hearst CT Media; Dave Borges
(3) UConn Back-To-Back National Championships; NBC Connecticut; Jane Caffrey, Nick Doscher
Division B – Medium
(1) Lights out: Waterbury’s football move frustrating for players, parents and fans; Waterbury Republican-American; Roger Cleaveland
(2) Former Killingly baseball star is a hero for Sea Unicorns; Norwich Bulletin; Jimmy Zanor
(3) Memorable rally in final seconds lifts Ansonia past rival Woodland into Class S final; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr.
Division C - Small (1) Barlow baseball repeats as SWC champs, will play St. Joseph on June 4 for trip to state finals; Easton Courier; Rocco Valluzzo
(2) A memorable finale for Farmington on their home floor; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr.
Sports Photo
Division A – Large (1) Cold collision; Hartford Courant; Stan Godlewski
(2) One hand catch; Hearst CT Media; Arnold Gold
(3) Coventry H.S. fans cheer their boys basketball team to a 61-50 win; Hartford Courant; Stan Godlewski Division B – Medium (1) Eyes on the beam; The Day; Sarah Gordon
(2) Panthers on the rise; Waterbury Republican-American; Jim Shannon
Division C – Small (1) Track; The Sound; Wesley Bunnell
(2) Joel Barlow High’s Kyle Rwabukhamba was first in the 110 high hurdles at a boys track meet; Easton Courier; Rocco Valluzzo
(3) Home Run; Harbor News; Wesley Bunnell
Sports Column/Commentary
Division A – Large (1) UConn men overcome Zach Edey, repeat as champions in a run that will stan; Hartford Courant; Dominic Amore
(2) How Geno Auriemma's hobby turned into 40 years at UConn and 1,216 wins; Hearst CT Media; Mike Anthony
(3) Why not them? For UConn football, a coming out party at Fenway; Hartford Courant; Dominic Amore
Division B - Medium (1) Does cheating even matter anymore?; Greenwich Time; David Rafferty
(2) UConn grad shares WTIC memories of ’99 title; Today Magazine; Christopher DeFrancesco
(3) Does Dan Hurley honestly answer to anyone?; The Day; Mike DiMauro
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