Courtesy of Wade Steinlage, William Penn University SID/Chair of the Stabley Writing Contest Committee
The Sports Information office at the University of Montana took on the traits of its nickname, the Grizzlies, and ripped through the competition in taking two of the top awards as the 2012 CoSIDA Fred Stabley Sr. Writing contest winners have been announced.
Joel Carlson of Montana claimed Story of the Year honors with his submission about former Indiana soccer player Vijay Dias, who, as a native of Helena, Mont., volunteered as an assistant coach for the Grizzlies last fall.
“Joel Carlson is a skilled writer with a command of the language,” one national judge said. “He mixes humor, color and facts into an enjoyable meal for the mind. With time and more seasoning, he has the potential to become a must-read down the road.”
Read Joel Carlson’s National Story of the Year:
The passion of Vijay Dias
Carlson says the story was engineered like many others with his women’s soccer coach pitching the story of a volunteer coach.
“Our coach had a good relationship with Vijay and when he was back in town, he helped out that fall,” Carlson said. “He introduced me to him and started to rattle off his resume and I thought, ‘this is definitely a story right here.”
“Sometimes it’s a little too easy to follow a formula, so I tried to tell the story a little different and
approach it from a different angle,” Carlson added. “Normally women’s soccer stories are rarely read, so I tried to find a way to grab attention.”
He and his staff definitely accomplished those goals. A department that had done little feature writing prior to 2011, Montana and Carlson collected two national awards by also receiving the National Athlete Profile of the Year for ‘Meet the Griz: Ciara Lozier’.
Read Joel Carlson’s National Athlete Profile of the Year story
Meet the Griz: Freshman soccer player Ciara Lozier
“Our writing here has evolved,” Carlson said. “We have tried to draw people in with things they won’t get from the local paper. We turned our focus in the last 18 months and are looking to use some of our creative talents. We want to inform while entertain people.”
“I had never nominated before, but I thought the stuff we were doing was pretty good,” Carlson concluded. “I wanted to see where it ranked, but to get these national honors, obviously I feel like we are doing the right thing.”
Joel, there is no question you are doing the right thing and the sports world, especially those Griz fans in the northwest, owe you a debt of thanks for your contributions!
Kate Nicewicz of Tennessee Tech University claimed General Feature of the Year laurels. Nicewicz’s story was entitled ‘Peseverance Pays Off as Hixon Accepts His Master’s Degree at Graduation’.
Read Kate Nicewicz’s General Feature of the Year
Perseverence pays off as Hixon accepts his Master's Degree at graduation
Luke Reid of Chico State University was the recipient of the Event Coverage of the Year award for ‘Crown the ‘Cats West Region Champs!’, while
Jerry Price of Princeton University defended his Blog/Interview of the Year title for ‘Saying Goodbye’.
Read Luke Reid’s Event Coverage of the Year entry
Crown the 'Cats West Region champs!
Read Jerry Price’s Blog/Interview of the Year entry
Saying Goodbye
The 2012 contest drew 330 total entries, more than double last year’s tally, with the General Feature category leading the way with 95 entries. Submissions were first judged at the district level with district winners advancing to a national committee.
All district and national winners will be recognized at the CoSIDA Annual Convention in St. Louis, Mo. Information on the awards ceremony will be listed in the convention schedule.
The 2013 contest will include entries written from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. More details on the 2013 contest will be announced at a later date.
2012 Fred S. Stabley Sr. Writing Contest Results
National Winners
• Story of the Year
Joel Carlson (University of Montana, Mont.) District 7, “
The Passion of Vijay Dias”
• Athlete Profile
Joel Carlson (University of Montana, Mont.) District 7, “
Meet the Griz: Ciara Lozier”
• Event Coverage
Luke Reid (Chico State University, Calif.) District 8, “
Crown the ‘Cats West Region Champs!”
• General Feature
Kate Nicewicz (Tennessee Tech University) District 4, “
Perseverance Pays Off as Hixon Accepts His Master’s Degree at Graduation”
• Blog/Interview
Jerry Price (Princeton University, N.J.) District 2, “
Saying Goodbye ”
District Winners
• District 1
Athlete Profile
Brian Kenneth (Hofstra University, N.Y.) “
Mike Moore Takes on Leadership Role for Pride”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
Justin Long (Amherst College, Mass.) “
Tracy Mehr’s Homecoming”
General Feature
Joe Seil (Nazareth College, N.Y.) “
Flyer Volleyball is Molten Hot”
Blog/Interview
Justin Long (Amherst College, Mass.) “
A Great Day for Amherst”
• District 2
Athlete Profile
Tom McGuire (Bloomsburg, Pa.) “
Standing Tall”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
Kevin Bonner (La Salle University, Pa.) “
In Memoriam: Charles Torpey”
Event Coverage
Corey Jewart (Gettysburg College, Pa.) “
Bullet’s Moment is Now as National Champions”
General Feature
Matthew Levy (Delaware Valley , Pa.) “
Men’s Basketball Ignites Campus with Magical Run to NCAAs”
• District 3
Athlete Profile
Dave Beyer (Mercer University, Ga.) “
Justice Prevails”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
Jim Junot (Virginia Union University, Va.) “
Huc: The Story of Henry Hucles”
Event Coverage
Matt Michalec (Norfolk State University, Va.) “
Spartans Win 1st Ever Outright MEAC Title with 47-14 Victory Over Morgan State”
General Feature
Brendan Bergen (Wake Forest University, N.C.) “
Sanford’s Son”
Blog/Interview
Alex Podlogar (Fayetteville State University, N.C.) “
FSU Broncos National Signing Day”
• District 4
Athlete Profile
Adam Moussa (University of Memphis, Tenn.) “
On the Right Track”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
John Painter (University of Tennessee, Tenn.) “
Powering the T: Allison Maurer”
Event Coverage
John Painter (University of Tennessee, Tenn.) “
Oklahoma! Vols Rally for Finals Berth”
General Feature
John Painter (University of Tennessee, Tenn.) “
Powering the T: Vols Equipment Staff Goes Extra Miles”
Blog/Interview
Sean Cartell (Southeastern Conference, Ala.) “
Home on the Range”
• District 5
Athlete Profile
John Heisler (University of Notre Dame, Ind.) “
Tory Jackson”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
John Heisler (University of Notre Dame, Ind.) “
Greg Crawford”
Event Coverage
Kevin O’Connor (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wis.) “
Panthers are League Champs”
General Feature
Kyle Wright (University of Indiana-East, Ind.) “
The Voice and The Spirit”
Blog/Interview
Gene McGivern (University of St. Thomas, Minn.) “
Fast Football Facts for Mr. Lee, WCCO”
• District 6
Athlete Profile
Robby Edwards (University of Arkansas, Ark.) “
Bequette Legacy Continues - On Field & In Classroom”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
Travis Feldhaus (University of Texas, Texas) “
Longhorn Hall of Honor: Kris Kubik”
Event Coverage
Ed Cassiere (Xavier University of Louisiana, La.) “
Gold Nuggets See Stars—and Lots of OCU Free Throws”
Ed Cassiere (Xavier University of Louisiana, La.) “
Nuggets Outlast Dillard, Reach Title Round of GCAC Tourney”
Blog/Interview
Chris Yandle (Baylor University, Texas) “
The Day After College Game Day”
• District 7
Event Coverage
Alex Helmbrecht (Chadron State College) “
Gamble Grinds to Conference Title in Decathlon”
General Feature
Joel Carlson (University of Montana, Mont.) “
New Day Dawns Bright for Griz Soccer Program”
• District 8
Athlete Profile
Luke Reid (Chico State University, Calif.) “
Kyle Souza: 2011 NCAA Golf Champion!!”
Coach/Administrator Profile/Historical Feature
Dan Pambianco (Humboldt State University, Calif.) “
Remembering 9/11”
General Feature
Jim Young (Stanford University, Calif.) “
Andrew Luck: A Different Perspective”
Blog/Interview
David Kiefer (Stanford University, Calif.) “
Forever Cardinal: Conversation with Ryan Hall"