A pair of talented writers from NCAA Division III institutions took the top honors in the 2009 CoSIDA Fred S. Stabley Sr. Writing contest.
Justin Zackal of Westminster College took the national Story of the Year honor with a poignant piece titled “Through the Looking Glass”, a feature profile on men’s basketball player Bobby Glass, who returned to the court after having open heart surgery.
“Justin Zackal’s detailed account of Bobby Glass’ frightening diagnosis, surgery and eventual return to basketball is an outstanding job of storytelling,” said one national judge.
Said another judge: “Excellent use of narrative to move a compelling story along. A fine human interest story of an athlete who truly overcame adversity.”
Read Justin Zackal’s National Story of the Year HERE: “Through the Looking Glass”
Stuart Kaufman from Keene State in New Hampshire took second place honors in the national Story of the Year category with a general feature. He wrote about two former baseball players who were beginning their careers as police officers.
“Stuart Kaufman describes the transition of Ryan Jones and Joe Rousseau from Keene State baseball players to Nashua police officers. The detailed description of their career path is mixed with their feelings about the sport they left behind,” said one national judge.
Read Stuart Kaufman’s story: “From baseball to the city beat”
David Kiefer of Stanford took third place in the Story of the Year category with an athlete profile on a star softball pitcher. That was one of four entries by Kiefer to place in the national judging, including two first places.
Read David Kiefer’s story: "Stanford's record-breaking pitcher is competitive on the field, compassionate off it"
Kiefer also earned top national honors in Coach/Administrative Profile for his work on former track/cross country coach Payton Jordan, and in the Historical Feature with his story on Stanford's men's volleyball. His work also finished second in the national Athlete Profile and General Feature categories and he claimed top honors in all five District 8 categories as well.
The 2008-09 contest drew 316 total entries. More than a third (115) were athlete profiles. Entries were first judged at the district level, with district winners advancing to a national committee.
This year’s contest will collect entries written from the end of May 2009 through mid-May 2010. More details on the 2009-10 contest will be announced at a later date.
2009 Fred S. Stabley Sr. Writing Contest NATIONAL RESULTS
Athlete Profile
First Place: Justin Zackal (Westminster, Pa., Dist. 2) “Through the looking Glass”
Second Place: David Kiefer (Stanford, Dist. 8) “Star Quality”
Third Place (tie): Tim Volkmann, (Army, Dist. 1) “A Golden Opportunity”
Third Place (tie): Martin Fuller, (Kenyon College, Dist. 4) “Before the glory”
Coach/Administrator Profile
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford, Dist. 8) “Payton Jordan: Former Stanford coach wasn’t immortal”
Read story here
Second Place: Justin Long (Amherst, Dist. 1) “A look inside the wonderful, whimsical mind of Sue Everden”
Third Place: Richard Retyi (Michigan) Dist. 4 “Greg Frey, More than meets the eye”
Event Coverage
First Place: Ken Gerlinger (Peach Belt Conference) Dist. 3 “If you stage it, they will come”
Second Place: Richard Retyi (Michigan) Dist. 4 “Alumni Game”
Third Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) Dist. 8 “USC powers past Stanford”
General Feature
First Place: Stuart Kaufman (Keene State) Dist. 1 “From baseball to the city beat”
Second Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) Dist. 8 “Presidential recollection: One Stanford student recalls…”
Third Place: Ralph S. Ventre (Northeast Conference) Dist. 2 “Retiring his whistle”
Historical Feature
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) Dist. 8 “The fight for respect: Stanford men’s volleyball…”
Second Place: Jerry Price (Princeton) Dist. 2 “Two goalies, one championship”
Third Place: Ralph S. Ventre (Northeast Conference) Dist. 2 “Reaching higher”
2009 Fred S. Stabley Sr. Writing Contest
DISTRICT JUDGING RESULTS
Athlete Profile
District 1
First Place: Tim Volkmann (Army) “A Golden Opportunity”
Second Place: Stuart Kaufman (Keene State) “Autism Doesn’t Slow Down Keene Stat’s Pierce”
Third Place: Julie Greco (Cornell University) “With the Pen and In the Post”
District 2
First Place: Justin Zackal (Westminster, Pa.) “Through the Looking Glass”
Second Place: Jerry Price (Princeton) “This Lefty is All Right”
Third Place: Anthony Naglieri (Navy) “Raising the Bar”
District 3
First Place: Sean Cartell (Florida) “Georgia on Her Mind”
Second Place: Matt Kovatch (Virginia Tech) “Making a Difference for Muscular Dystrophy”
Third Place: Dennis Switzer (South Atlantic Conference) “Feature: Anna Atkinson”
District 4
First Place (tie): Brandon Kolditz (Memphis) “An Act of Faith”
First Place (tie): Martin Fuller (Kenyon College) “Before the glory”,
Third Place: Richard Retyi (Michigan) “Mesko Prevails from Romania in the Maize and Blue”
District 5
First Place: Jason Kaufman (Western Illinois) “Jason Williams: Numbers Don’t Lie”
District 6
First Place: Will Stafford (LSU) “Thompson’s Olympic Dream is Four Years in the Making”
Second Place (tie): Jennifer Van Tuyl (Oklahoma) “An Olympic Hero and Sooner Legend”
Second Place (tie): Brandon Rizzuto (Nicholls State) “Putting on for His University”
Second Place (tie): Austin Staton (Big 12 Campus Correspondent) “Baylor Student-Athlete Spotlight: Kendal Volz”
District 7
First Place: Alex Helmbrecht (Chardron State) “Hyatt Taking Advantage of Second Chance”
District 8
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) “Star quality”
Second Place: Herb Benenson (California) “Christopher”
Third Place: Herb Henenson (California) “Vollmer”
Coach/Administrator Profile
District 1
First Place: Justin Long (Amherst) “A look inside the wonderful, whimsical mind of Sue Everden”
District 2
First Place: John Regenfuss (Penn State) “Success With Honor”
Second Place: Shannon McNamara (West Virginia) “A Coach’s Odyssey”
District 3
First Place: Tim Bourret (Clemson) “The Last Word: Tommy Bowden”
Second Place: Matt Kovatch (Virginia Tech) “The First Ladies of Football”
District 4
First Place: Richard Retyi (Michigan) “Greg Frey, More than meets the eye”
District 5
First Place: Dave Beyer (Benedictine) “Time Flies as Longtime Eagles Mentor Says Good-Bye”
District 6
First Place: Jesse Delerno (LSU) “GameDay Xtra: Winstead Taps Recruiting Pipeline to LSU”
District 7
No entries
District 8
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) “Payton Jordan: Former Stanford coach wasn’t immortal”
Event Coverage
District 1
First Place: Ryan Yanoshak (Army) “Army shocks No. 2 Miami”
Second Place: Stuart Kaufman (Keene State) “Colina Sets Owl Javelin Record on First Try”
District 2
First Place: Craig Sachson (Princeton) “Trinity Outlasts Princeton Squash 5-4 In National Championship Thriller”
Second Place (tie): Rob Knox (Lincoln) “Dramatic Finish Lifts Lincoln Past Cheyney In Thriller”
Second Place (tie): Ralph S. Ventre (Northeast Conference) “Storied Saint Francis (PA) and Surging Sacred Heart Final(ly) Collide For NEC Women’s Basketball Crown”
Second Place (tie): Ralph S. Ventre (Northeast Conference) “Firing on all Cylinders, Farleigh Dickinson Captures Inaugural NEC Bowling Crown”
District 3
First Place: Ken Gerlinger (Peach Belt Conference) “If You Stage It, They Will Come”
Second Place (tie): Joe Wasiluk (Virginia Wesleyan) “Virginia Wesleyan Steps Up To Take 2009 Conference Men’s Basketball Championship”
Second Place (tie): Joe Wasiluk (Virginia Wesleyan) “Thriller in Baltimore! Lennox Stop Helps Marlins to Advance in NCAA Tournament”
District 4
First Place: Richard Retyi (Michigan) “Alumni Game”
Second Place: Mark McGee (Lipscomb) “Bisons win First-Ever NCAA game with 10-7 Decision Over Georgia”
Third Place (tie): Mark McGee (Lipscomb) “Bisons Game Plan From the Beginning Was a Championship”
Third Place (tie): Becky Hopf (Alabama) “Tide’s Golfers Credit Their Coach Jay Seawell to Bama’s Rise to the Top”
District 5
First Place: Gene McGivern (Univ. of St. Thomas, Minn.) “The Best Game I’ve (N)ever Seen”
District 6
First Place (tie): Debbie Copp (Oklahoma) “What a Game!”
First Place (tie): Kent Lowe (LSU) “Trent Johnson Era Begins Today”
Third Place: Rich Tortorelli (Oklahoma City) “Ledbetter’s 3 Brings OCU a 62-60 Semifinals Win Over LCU”
District 7
First Place: Alex Helmbrecht (Chadron State) “Hunter Claims Second National Championship Title With 3-2 Decision Over Usman”
District 8
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) “USC powers past Stanford”
Second Place: Blake Timm (Pacific) “Journey to the Nationals”
General Feature
District 1
First Place: Stuart Kaufman (Keene State) “From Baseball to the City Beat”
Second Place: Will Tomasian (Connecticut College) “Hockey Team Finds a New Goal”
District 2
First Place: Ralph S. Ventre (Northeast Conference) “Retiring His Whistle”
Second Place: Jerry Price (Princeton) “Men’s Lacrosse Trip: Walking the Ruins with John McPhee”
District 3
First Place: Matt Kovatch (Virginia Tech) “Throwing Like a Girl No Easy Task”
Second Place: Matt Kovatch (Virginia Tech) “[Not] Home for the Holidays”
Third Place: Blake Freeland (Charleston Southern) “Young Man’s Battle Continues to Inspire a Year Later”
District 4
First Place: Mark Bankert (Malone University) “Real Victory”
Second Place: Richard Retyi (Michigan) “How They Clean the Big House”
Third Place (tie): “Man on a Mission”
Third Place (tie): Bruce Madej (Michigan) “Jim Abbott the Man”
District 5
First Place: Luke LeNoble (Marquette) “Off the Court – Bob Wanek: Marquette’s Official Scorer Brings Over A Half Century of Experience to the Scorer’s Table”
District 6
First Place: Debbie Copp (Oklahoma) “Celebrating Academic Excellence”
Second Place: Kent Lowe (LSU) “Meaningful Games in May Again the Norm at the Box”
District 7
First Place: KatieJo Kuhens (Maryville) “The True Meaning of Teamwork”
Second Place: Dave Reed (Colorado College) “Spinal Cord Injuries Give Fadrhonc New Opportunities”
District 8
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) “Presidential recollection: One Stanford student recalls…”,
Second Place (tie): Mark Wallington (UNLV) “Football Helmets”
Second Place (tie) Mark Wallington (UNLV) “40th Anniversary”
Historical Feature
District 1
First Place: John Paquette (Big East Conference) “Hoop Dreams”
District 2
First Place: Jerry Price (Princeton) “Two Goalies, One Championship”
District 3
First Place: Al Adams (Clemson) “Marion Reeves: Clemson’s First African-American Football Player”
District 4
First Place: Richard Retyi (Michicagn) “One armed diver who struck gold”
District 5
First Place: Tim Peterman (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) “For One Week, Eau Claire Was Hockey Hotbed”
District 6
First Place: Will Stafford (LSU) “1933 Track Team Sparks a Legacy of Champions”
Second Place: Will Stafford (LSU) “Meet the 1933 National Champion Track and Field Team”
District 7
No entries
District 8
First Place: David Kiefer (Stanford) “The fight for respect: Stanford men’s volleyball…”
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