Connecticut Chapter of SPJ announces 2022 Excellence in Journalism winners
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 2022.
Gerry deSimas, Jr., a member of the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance, won two first place awards in the Sports News competition. He won a first place in Regional B, which includes smaller newspapers and larger websites from around the state, for the story on the Connecticut Sun rallying to beat the Chicago Sky in game 5 and earn a spot in the 2022 WNBA finals. He also won first place in the hyperlocal category for his story on the Avon High football team forcing a turnover and scoring a touchdown in the final three minutes to beat Lewis Mills, 26-25.
All the sports-related awards are listed below.
Sports-related awards in the 2022 Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) writing and photography contest.
Sports Column
Regional A
First Place: UConn’s special fan; Hearst CT Media; Mike Anthony
Second Place: Louise O’Neal, who died on Sept. 17, was a Hall of Famer and women’s basketball pioneer; Hartford Courant; Lori Riley
Third Place: Video of a tragedy highlights need for openness; Hearst CT Media; Jeff Jacobs
Regional B
First Place: The ruin of college football; Greenwich Time; David Rafferty
Second Place: A new pitch for baseball; Greenwich Time; David Rafferty
Magazine
First Place: CT still loves the Whalers; Connecticut Magazine; David Holahan
Sports Feature
Regional A
First Place: UConn’s reluctant star; Hearst CT Media; Maggie Vanoni
Second Place: Avon field hockey’s Kaylie Murphy scores goal no one on the field will ever forget; Hartford Courant; Lori Riley
Third Place: Introducing the Hartford Braillers; Hartford Courant; Dom Amore
Regional B
First Place: Stamford Bocce League looks to the future as contract for Scalzi Park set to expire Oct. 31; Connecticut Examiner; Angela Carella
Hyperlocal
First Place: Two lives well lived- Coach Profetto & Rose; Easton Courier; Bruce Nelson
Magazine
First Place: Middletown’s little known baseball team; Connecticut Magazine; Christopher Hoffman
Second Place: En garde: SImsbury's unique fencing team; Today Magazine; Bruce Deckert
Broadcast
First Place: Tyler Kolek meets Tyler Kolek; NBC Connecticut; Matt Finkel
Second Place: Back on track; News 12; Jim Mennino, Marissa Alter
Sports News
Regional A
First Place: Roster movement and the WNBA; Hearst CT Media; Maggie Vanoni
Second Place: Inside the transfer portal: How past and future UConn men's basketball players change schools; Hearst CT Media; David Borges
Third Place: Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia reaches 150-day mark; Hartford Courant; Lila Bromberg
Regional B
First Place: Historic finish lifts Connecticut past Sky and into WNBA finals; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr.
Hyperlocal
First Place: Falcons force turnover, score TD in final three minutes to beat Mills, 26-25; CollinsvillePress.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr.
Second Place: JBWA hockey wins conference championship; Easton Courier; Madison Tomas, Ann Marie Somma
Third Place: All eyes on Matt Scott as Barlow takes down Westhill in season opener; Easton Courier; Robert Finzio, Ann Marie Somma
Sports Photo
Regional A
First Place: Little players; New Haven Register; Arnold Gold
Second Place: Leaping coach; Hearst CT Media; Dave Stewart
Third Place: Wheelchair basketball; New Haven Register; Arnold Gold
Regional B
First Place: Taking a field hockey shot for a cause; Record-Journal; Dave Zajac
Second Place: Slamming home the first dunk of the night; Record-Journal; Dave Zajac
Hyperlocal
First Place: Victory under a harvest moon; Guilford Courier; Wesley Bunnell
Second Place: Major leagues prospect Matt Scott delivers a pitch for Joel Barlow Falcons; Easton Courier; Robert Finizio
Broadcast
First Place: UConn wins in double overtime; WNPR; Joe Amon
