The narrative of a young man whose life was cut much too short but whose spirit still lives strong in his future
school’s golf program was named National Story of the Year as the 2015 CoSIDA Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest winners have been announced.
Chelsey Kraft of the University of Oklahoma earned the highest honor with her story entitled “Tragedy to Legacy: The Missing Member of OU Men’s Golf’s 2014 Class”. The story was entered in the Athlete Profile category.
“Ms. Kraft’s story about Kyle Lewis, a young man who never actually competed but left an amazing mark at his future University was an incredible read,” one national judge said. “You feel terrible for his family and his future teammates and coaches, but you can see that all of their lives were enriched because they knew him.”
Read Chelsey Kraft’s national-winning entry:
http://www.soonersports.com/fls/31000/projects/14mgo_lewis/
Six other awards were claimed at the national level as well with
Sam Parker of Chadron State College (Neb.) (sponsored by Alex Helmbrecht) winning the Blog category for “On the Line…with Sam Parker.”
Read Sam Parker’s Blog entry:
http://chadroneagles.com/sports/2014/9/3/FB_0903144328.aspx
Jeremy Wangler of Washburn University (Kan.) took the Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature category for his entry “Washburn Remembers Steve Anson: Generations of Ichabods Saw His Dedication.”
Read Jeremy Wangler’s Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature entry:
http://www.wusports.com/news/2014/6/26/BB_0626142414.aspx
Keene State College’s (N.H.) Stuart Kaufman topped the Event Coverage group with “No Regrets: Widzgowski Leaves it All on the Track at NCAA Outdoor Championships.”
Read Stuart Kaufman’s Event Coverage entry:
http://www.keene.edu/news/stories/detail/1402586882972/
“The Tambourine Man” by
Chris Kowalczyk of Virginia Commonwealth University (Va.) was first in the General Feature category.
Read Chris Kowalczyk’s General Feature entry:
https://aroundthehorns.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/the-tambourine-man/
Brad Collignon of Valparaiso University (Ind.) inked the best Season Preview/Recap with “What You Need to Know - Valpo Baseball.”
Read Brad Collignon’s Season Preview/Recap entry:
http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2013-14/13378/what-you-need-to-know---valpo-baseball/#.VWkwWk3bLIX
Lastly, in the "Story With Video" category,
Chris Cook of Longwood University (Va.) claimed the prize for “Longwood Women’s Soccer Player Goes Beyond the Numbers.”
Read Chris Cook’s Story With Video entry:
http://www.longwoodlancers.com/news/2014/12/22/WSOC_1222143401.aspx?path=wsoc
The 2015 contest drew 363 total entries with the Athlete Profile category leading the way with 83 stories. Submissions were first judged at the district level with district winners advancing to a national committee.
The 2016 contest will include entries written from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.
Just a reminder: Current (2015-16) CoSIDA members are only allowed to submit one (1) entry per category. So please, submit ONLY your BEST!
2015 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest Results
National Winners
• Story of the Year
Chelsey Kraft (University of Oklahoma, Okla.), District 6, “Tragedy to Legacy: The Missing Member of OU Men’s Golf’s 2014 Class”
• Blog
Alex Helmbrecht, Sam Parker (Chadron State College, Neb.), District 7, “On the Line…with Sam Park”
• Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Jeremy Wangler (Washburn University, Kan.), District 7, “Washburn Remembers Steve Anson: Generations of Ichabods Saw His Dedication”
• Event Coverage
Stuart Kaufman (Keene State College, N.H.), District 1, “No Regrets: Widzgowski Leaves it All on the Track at NCAA Outdoor Championships”
• General Feature
Chris Kowalczyk (Virginia Commonwealth University, Va.), District 3, “The Tambourine Man”
• Season Preview/Recap
Brad Collignon (Valparaiso University, Ind.), District 5, “What You Need to Know - Valpo Baseball”
• Story With Video
Chris Cook (Longwood University, Va.), District 3, “Longwood Women’s Soccer Player Goes Beyond the Numbers”
District Winners
District 1
Athlete Profile
Stuart Kaufman (Keene State College, N.H.), “Ryan Hart a Finalist for Rising Star Award”
Blog
Steven Miller, Jr. (Worcester State University, Mass.), “Follow the Field Hockey Squad as They Travel Holland”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Adam Levin (Brandeis University, Mass.), “Jordan Zides ’15: Miracle on the Sidelines”
Brian Bohl (Hofstra University, N.Y.), “Bill Edwards: A Winning Legacy”
General Feature
Stuart Kaufman (Keene State College, N.H.), “Army Brings Out the Best in Alum Charlie Bailey”
Season Preview/Recap
Brian Bohl (Hofstra University, N.Y.), “WSOC: 2014 Season Outlook”
District 2
Athlete Profile
Scott Eddy (Bloomsburg, Pa.), “Huskies Spotlight: Schwartz Making Most of Second Chance at College Football Career”
Blog
John Monahan (Marywood University, Pa.), “2014 Landmark Swimming & Diving Championships Live Blog”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Mark Fleming (Moravian College, Pa.), “Ketterman-Benner Calling it a Career After 43 Years at Moravian”
Event Coverage
Corey Jewart (Gettysburg College, Pa.), “Bullets Dig Deep, Erase Deficit to Reach Regional Final”
General Feature
Corey Jewart (Gettysburg College, Pa.), “Mowery Sisters Create Their Own Legacies”
Season Preview/Recap
Ira Thor (New Jersey City University, N.J.), “2014 New Jersey City University Baseball Outlook”
Story With Video
Corey Jewart (Gettysburg College, Pa.), “Gettysburg Battles F&M in 100th Meeting”
District 3
Athlete Profile
Randall Stewart (Brevard College, N.C.), “Men’s Volleyball Team Springs into Action to Help Man Having Seizure”
Jenna Marina (University of Central Florida, Fla.), “Hunger Games”
Blog
Randall Stewart (Brevard College, N.C.), “Four Brevard High Products Joining BC Soccer Roster”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Mike Mobley (University of Georgia, Ga.), “Andy Landers Bio”
Event Coverage
Jenna Marina (University of Central Florida, Fla.), “Just Believe”
General Feature
Jenna Marina (University of Central Florida, Fla.), “Modern Family”
Season Preview/Recap
Jason Hendrix (Thomas University, Ga.), “Baseball Releases 2015 Schedule”
District 4
Athlete Profile
Brian Fremund (University of South Alabama, Ala.), “Basic Instinct: It’s How Jaguars’ Harris Survives, Thrives Despite Size”
Blog
Rob Bentley (Ferris State University, Mich.), “Ferris State Hockey Success and Strong Support Leave Big Impression”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Colby Wilson (Austin Peay University, Tenn.), “The Baddest Man in College Football”
Event Coverage
Zach Dirlam (Grand Valley State University, Mich.), “Tim Crouch Repeats, Nova Southeastern Runs Away with No. 1 Seed”
General Feature
Roots Woodruff (University of Alabama, Ala.), “John Servati Earns NCAA Award of Valor”
Season Preview/Recap
Mark McGee (Lipscomb University, Tenn.), “Volleyball Getting Crazy in 2014”
Story With Video
Rob Bentley (Ferris State University, Mich.), “Ferris State’s Jason Vander Laan Named Harlon Hill Trophy Recipient as Nation’s Top Player”
District 5
Athlete Profile
Gene McGivern (University of St. Thomas, Minn.), “Cancer-Free Has a Nice Ring to it for Tommie Senior”
Blog
Matt Higgins (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Minn.), “MIAC Friday Feature - 2014 Football Camp Tour Reveals Hope Throughout MIAC”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Brad Collignon (Valparaiso University, Ind.), “Born to Run: One Year After the Boston Marathon”
Event Coverage
Ryan Davis (Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Ind.), “MSJ’s Lauren Hill Presented with HCAC Inspiration Award Following 66-55 Win Over Hiram”
General Feature
Megan Gaard (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Minn.), “MIAC Friday Feature - SCU’s Buysse Returns to Court in Admirable Fashion”
Story With Video
Megan Gaard (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Minn.), “MIAC Friday Feature - SCU’s Mosbeck Masters Communication”
District 6
Blog
David Noblett (Southern Nazarene University, Okla.), “Starting Off Big”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Murray Evans (Oklahoma Christian University, Okla.), “Gibson’s Path Thru OC Led to World-Record 55, British Open Berth”
Ed Cassiere (Xavier University of Louisiana, La.), “Louisiana Sports Hall Selects ’61 XU Grad Washington”
Event Coverage
Murray Evans (Oklahoma Christian University, Okla.), “OC Wins First Softball Postseason Crown, Taking NCCAA Central Region Tournament Title”
General Feature
Wes Bloomquist (Angelo State University, Texas), “Broadcaster Spotlight: Bryan Set to Begin 14th Season Covering ASU Athletics”
Murray Evans (Oklahoma Christian University, Okla.), “Remarkable Turnaround is Nice, but Eagles Looking for More at NCCAA World Series”
Season Preview/Recap
Murray Evans (Oklahoma Christian University, Okla.), “OCXC Looks to Extend Run of Success as 2014 Campaign Begins”
Story With Video
Nicholas Robinson (John Brown University, Ark.), “Golden Eagles Ride 25 Hopfgartner Points to 82-67 Win in 34th Annual Toilet Paper Game”
District 7
Athlete Profile
Matt Schmidt (South Dakota State University, S.D.), “Internship Allowed Megan Stuart to Combine Her Loves of Art and Medicine”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Nicole Greiner (Iowa State University, Iowa), “A Jolt, Something Different: 20 Years of Bill Fennelly”
Event Coverage
Steve Wilson (Park University, Mo.), “Champions!”
General Feature
Mike Green (Iowa State University, Iowa), “How The Mayor Became The Mayor”
Season Preview/Recap
Jake Knabel (Concordia University, Neb.), “How Concordia Volleyball Got Its Groove Back”
Story With Video
Jeremy Wangler (Washburn University, Kan.), “Ichabods Hope They Can Share Joy and Excitement with Newest Member of Their Teams”
District 8
Athlete Profile
Herb Benenson (University of California, Calif.), “The Meaning of Balance”
Blog
Jordan Stepp (University of California, Calif.), “Cal Soccer World Cup Blog: Is it 2018 Yet?”
Coach/Administrator Profile & Historical Feature
Jonathan Okanes (University of California, Calif.), “Emotional Montgomery Says Farewell to Cal”
David Kiefer (Stanford University, Calif.), “Satisfaction”
Event Coverage
David Kiefer (Stanford University, Calif.), “Stanford Men Win NCAA Relay”
General Feature
Herb Beneson (University of California, Calif.), “Back in Berkeley”
Season Preview/Recap
Blake Timm (Pacific University, Ore.), “Coming Back for More in 2014”
Story With Video
Kyle McRae (University of California, Calif.), “Making a Difference”