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Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest
• 2020-21 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest Results – District Winners
National Winners Announced for the 2020-21 CoSIDA Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest
by Jeffrey Bernstein, NYU Sports Information Director, Chair, CoSIDA Fred Stabley Writing Contest Committee
Despite a year filled will turbulence and uncertainty, stability was found in the 2020-21 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest as Stanford University’s David Kiefer collected his fourth consecutive National Story of the Year honor.
“This is such an amazing honor,” Kiefer said. “I certainly never expected this and I am truly humbled.”
Kiefer's “
Together While Apart”, which was selected #1 in the Event Coverage category, depicted the Cardinal Rowing Team adjusting to the COVID-related cancellation of its season. His submission received the highest average point total (47.25 out of a possible 50) of the seven National winning selections…including his other entries. Keifer also won national honors for his submission in the Social Justice/Diversity & Inclusion category.
“’Together While Apart’ really was bittersweet,” Kiefer explained. “The pandemic had just wiped out everything, and being in lock down was surreal for all. I didn’t want to stop telling stories. I felt there was still so much to tell in such a difficult time, stories that could inspire and raise spirits. I just had to search a little harder.”
Last year, Kiefer's Athlete Profile entry – "
I am Jaimi" earned National Story of the Year honors. He also won in 2018-19 for "
Jaylen Jasper: My Story of Appreciation" and in 2017-18 for his submission "
A Reason to Smile."
An overall total of 512 entries were submitted in the 2020-21 contest, with 57 earning District honors and seven receiving National awards.
Seven writing categories were utilized in selecting the winners: Athlete Profile, Coach/Administrator Profile, Event Coverage, General Feature, Social Justice/Diversity & Inclusion (new category), Historical Feature and Season Recap/Preview.
Here are the National winners:
Event Coverage - “
Together While Apart”
by David Kiefer, Stanford University - District 8 (
NATIONAL WINNER)
Athlete Profile - “
The Trustee” by Jeremy Hartigan, Cornell University - District 1
Coach/Administrator Profile - “
Six Years After His Wife and Unborn Daughter Died, ODU's Tony Lucas Recently Became a Father” by Harry Minium, Old Dominion University - District 3
General Feature - “
QMH: 52 Hours and 55 Minutes of Surreal” by Mike Mahoney, University of Pennsylvania - District 2
Historical Feature - “
Sports Information Perspective: Calling it a Career” by Dan Nolan, Monmouth College (IL) - District 5
Season Recap/Preview - “
A Message To The Memorable Razorback Moments We Never Had” by Kevin Trainor, University of Arkansas - District 6
Social Justice/Diversity & Inclusion - “
A Time to be Heard” by David Kiefer, Stanford University - District 8
"A total of 17 committee members and 27 judges combined to produce a thorough job of reading and scoring outstanding submissions throughout the process," said Jeffrey Bernstein, NYU’s Sports Information Director and Chairman of the Stabley Writing Contest Committee. "In an unimaginable year for our profession, our country and our world, the overwhelming amount of entries we received speaks volumes to how we all kept busy and connected during an unprecedented time.”
Judging criteria was based on a point system utilized in these four areas:
Writing Style/Creativity (1-20 points)
Flow/Organization (1-15 points)
Opening/Closing (1-10 points)
Grammar/Punctuation (1-5 points)
Here is the breakdown of submissions for the seven writing categories:
Athlete Profile – 106
Coach/Administrator Profile – 57
Event Coverage – 56
General Feature – 127
Historical Feature - 79
Season Recap/Preview - 48
Social Justice/Diversity & Inclusion - 39
Submissions were first judged at the district level, with the 57 winners (there was one tie) advancing to the national level. A national panel of six judges, all Stabley Committee members, then chose the national winners as well as the National Story of the Year.
Members of the 2020-21 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest Committee were:
Jeffrey Bernstein (Chairman, NYU); Mike Falk (Co-Chair, Muhlenberg College); Barry Beal (The College of New Jersey); Joshua Cornwall (Agnes Scott College); Murray Evans (Oklahoma Christian University); Lance Franey (Whittier College); Joe Giustina (Lycoming College); Emily Loux (Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference); Paul Marboe (Penn State University); James McCumber (Bridgewater College); Miles McQuiggan (St. Francis University-PA); Andrew Mindemann (Covenant College); Greg Royce (Stevenson University); Steve Sheridan (Union College); Lenn Skoros (Hofstra University); and Drew Wilson (Averett University).
"So many dedicated Sports Information professionals were involved in this selection process making sure that we identified the very best of the best," Bernstein explained. "Their time, effort and dedication helped make the process run smoothly and insured that this outstanding annual contest continues to recognize and celebrate outstanding writers within CoSIDA."
Also contributing as district judges were:
Anthony Avila – University of La Verne
Debbie Copp – Oklahoma University (retired)
Steve Cox – Bridgewater College
Joe DiBari – Fordham University
Matt Fenton – Messiah College
Matt Hagy – Albright College
Matt Jackson – Penn State University
Corey Jewart – Gettysburg College
Wendy Jones – Meredith College
Mike Kirk – University of Central Oklahoma (retired)
Owen Lukens – Mansfield University
Kirk McDonnell – Michigan Tech University
Neil Morgan – Biola University
Noreen Mulledy – Temple University
Ali Paquette – Middlebury College
Cyrill Parnam – Salisbury University
Ben Phlegar – Michigan State University
BJ Pickard – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Niki Philpot – St. Joseph’s University (PA)
Mark Robertson – University of Lynchburg
Bridgette Robles – University of Richmond
Casey Schermick – Long Island University (formerly)
Alysse Scipter – Virginia Wesleyan University
Nick Solari – Quinnipiac College
Kelly Thompson – Molloy College
Brian Wolff – University at Buffalo
Jill Yamma – Penn State University Behrend
Click here to see a full listing of the 2020-21 district winners.