Four Alliance members recognized in Connecticut SPJ contest.

Connecticut Sports Media Alliance

Four members of the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance were recognized with Excellence in Journalism awards by the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in their recent competition.

Vickie Fulkerson of the Day in New London, Jimmy Zanor of the Norwich Bulletin, Gerry deSimas, Jr., of the Collinsville Press and Rick Wilson from Litchfield County Sports were each recognized in the 2025 Excellence in Journalist contest.

Fulkerson won a pair of first place awards in Division B, which includes mid-size publications around the state. She won first place in sports news for her story on the passing of Dave Shea, the legendary basketball coach at Bacon Academy and her sports feature story on Abby Steeno, the senior coxswain for the Stonington girls crew team.

Zanor won a first place award in Division B for his sports commentary piece about the Killingly baseball program and a second place award for his sports feature story about Killingly seniors looking to cap their legacy with a state championship.

DeSimas won a first place award in Division C, for hyperlocal publications, for his sports feature on the Canton High baseball that won the 1986 Class S championship. Canton was the lowest seed in the tournament and their pitcher was on the mound for every inning of every game. He also won a third place award in Division B for his sports commentary piece on the sale of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun basketball team.

In Division C, Wilson swept the sports commentary category with three award-winning pieces. First place went to his column about a championship season by the Bethlehem baseball team winning a Tri-State League championship. Second place went to his story about legendary Ansonia High football coach Tom Brockett and third place was for his remembering Thomaston’s Dick Embleton.

Here the list of sports-related winners in the 2025 Connecticut SPJ Excellence in Journalism contest. 

Sports News

Division A

First Place

Abdou Toure didn't get enough love or money from UConn. John Calipari offered both.; Hearst CT Media; Mike Anthony https://sports.yahoo.com/article/mike-anthony-abdou-toure-didnt-090019375.html

Second Place

UConn's NCAA title reign ends with March Madness loss to Florida: 'We played with honor'; Hearst CT Media; David Borges https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/florida-ncaa-march-madness-uconn-huskies-20236612.php

Division B

First Place

Legendary Bacon Academy basketball coach Dave Shea dies at 91; The Day; Vickie Fulkerson https://www.theday.com/news/794107/legendary-bacon-academy-basketball-coach-dave-shea-dies-at-91/

Division C

First Place

Shooting hoops with CT's Senior Women's Basketball Club; Connecticut East This Week; Brian Scott-Smith https://youtu.be/CCCoMhaBGjE?si=2H0_UAYFlX6U9U9o

Sports Feature

Division A

First Place

Twenty years later, a Connecticut town still honors its star pitcher and fallen hero; Hearst CT Media; Bryant Carpenter https://www.msn.com/en-us/society-culture-and-history/history/twenty-years-later-a-connecticut-town-still-honors-its-star-pitcher-fallen-hero/ar-AA1FubCK

Second Place

A CT athlete started losing her sight as a child. That didn’t stop her from becoming an ace pitcher; Hartford Courant; Lori Riley https://www.courant.com/2025/04/18/a-ct-athlete-started-losing-her-sight-as-a-child-that-didnt-stop-her-from-becoming-an-ace-pitcher/

Third Place

Autistic field hockey player and Avon High School teammates an inspiring story of inclusion; Hearst CT Media; Bryant Carpenter https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/field-hockey/article/avon-kaylie-murphy-terri-ziemnicki-21115690.php

Division B

First Place

Coach on the Water: Abby Steeno is the senior coxswain for Stonington's defending team; The Day; Vickie Fulkerson https://www.theday.com/news/732839/coach-on-the-water-abby-steeno-is-the-senior-coxswain-for-stoningtons-defending-state-champion-boys-varsity-eight/

Second Place

Killingly seniors aim to cap legacy with another state title; Norwich Bulletin; Jimmy Zanor https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2025/11/24/killingly-seniors-aim-to-cap-legacy-with-another-state-title-hayden-allard-michael-allen-chad-neal/86916812007/

Third Place

The studious fury of marvelous Mykquan Williams; Connecticut Examiner; Andy Thibault https://ctexaminer.com/2025/01/19/the-studious-fury-of-marvelous-mykquan-williams/

Division C

First Place

Different Times. Different Rules. Canton's Memorable 1986 Championship Run; Collinsville Press.com; Gerry deSimas, Jr. https://collinsvillepress.com/2025/10/different-times-different-rules-cantons-memorable-1986-championship-run/42385/

Second Place

Exciting every time; West Hartford LIFE; Mara Dresner

Third Place

How the Larit sisters got hooked on field hockey; Westport Journal; Andy Hutchison https://westportjournal.com/sports/how-the-larit-sisters-got-hooked-on-field-hockey/

Sports column/commentary

Division A

First Place

How UConn basketball gave a Connecticut couple joy and strength through heartbreak; Hearst CT Media; Mike Anthony https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/anthony-how-uconn-basketball-gave-ct-couple-joy-through-heartbreak/ar-AA1P23wy

Second Place

How UConn got Samson Johnson's parents to Storrs for Senior Day; Hearst CT Media; Mike Anthony https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/samson-johnson-dan-hurley-senior-day-uconn-huskies-20210456.php

Third Place

A dynasty restored, Paige Bueckers and UConn women leave no unfinished business; Hartford Courant; Dom Amore https://www.courant.com/2025/04/06/dom-amore-a-dynasty-restored-paige-bueckers-uconn-women-leave-no-unfinished-business/

Division B

First Place

Killingly baseball raises the bar again; Norwich Bulletin; Jimmy Zanor https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2025/06/17/zanor-column-killingly-baseball-raises-the-bar-again-ben-desaulnier-brady-zadora/84228631007/

Second Place

The cap that isn't going to happen; Greenwich Time; David Rafferty https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/david-rafferty-opinion-a-mlb-salary-cap-just-isnt-going-to-happen/ar-AA1Kb1Ms

Third Place

News about potential sale of Sun and move to Boston isn’t surprising; Collinsville Press, Gerry deSimas, Jr. https://collinsvillepress.com/2025/08/news-about-potential-sale-of-sun-and-move-to-boston-isnt-surprising/41625/

Division C

First Place

A Plowboy season; Litchfield County Sports; Rick Wilson https://litchfieldcountysports.com/a-plowboy-season/

Second Place

Ansonia’s legendary Tom Brockett made the best better; Litchfield County Sports; Rick Wilson https://litchfieldcountysports.com/ansonias-legendary-tom-brockett-made-the-best-better/

Third Place

Good guy, tough guy; Litchfield County Sports; Rick Wilson  https://litchfieldcountysports.com/tough-guy-good-guy/

Sports Photo

Division A

First Place

St. Joseph goalie celebrates after defeating Fairfield Ludlowe 10-5; Hearst CT Media; Arnold Gold

Second Place

Foran High School girls soccer team celebrates a win; Hearst CT Media; Arnold Gold

Third Place

Pheasant hunt; WNPR; Joe Amon

Division B

First Place

Gilbert player celebrates at the buzzer as the Yellowjackets defeat Northwestern; New Haven Register; Dave Zajac

Division C

First Place

New England bound; Guilford Courier; Wesley Bunnell

Second Place

Championship shower; The Sound; Wesley Bunnell

Third Place

Thunderbirds celebrate state championship victory; The Sound; Wesley Bunnell

Category: Diversity Coverage

Division A

First Place

Autistic field hockey player and Avon High School teammates an inspiring story of inclusion; Hearst CT Media; Bryant Carpenter  https://www.ctinsider.com/gametimect/field-hockey/article/avon-kaylie-murphy-terri-ziemnicki-21115690.php

All Awards 2025