BamaCentral, AL.com Top ASWA Writing Awards, David Glovach Wins Story of the Year
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — BamaCentral won 15 awards, including seven first-place honors, to top all media outlets in the Alabama Sports Writers Association's annual writing contest announced Sunday night.
AL.com won 10 awards, including four first-place honors.
David Glovach of the Florence TimesDaily won the Herby Kirby Award for story of the year. He's just the second writer from the TimesDaily to win the award, joining Gregg DeWalt in 2016.
The winning entry was: Former UNA football player Dwayne Williams, who died in the Pentagon on 9/11, honored on 20th anniversary of tragedy.
Glovach also won the award for best basketball feature, and his story on Williams won best football story (general).
Bill Lumpkin III of Al.com won four awards, including best story while writing on a deadline, prep or other amateur. Tom Green, Mike Rodak and Ben Thomas placed first for writing on a deadline (college or pro), football feature (Power 5 Programs or NFL) and breaking news, respectfully.
Christopher Walsh and Joey Blackwell of BamaCentral both won four awards as well, including sharing first-place in projects along with Edwin Stanton and Tyler Martin. Walsh placed first in columns and best general feature, while Blackwell was also first in baseball feature.
BamaCentral's other first-place awards were Katie Windham for best softball feature, while Blake Byler and Clayton Connick split the student-division awards.
Tommy Hicks of Lagniappe won both non-daily categories.
Kirk McNair BamaOnline won for best enterprise/explanatory story for the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Alabama football.
The ASWA celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday, with the awards banquet featuring the induction Cecil Hurt and Mark McCarter in the Hall of Fame, Vic Knight into the Hall of Honors, and the presentation of the 50 Legends.
Walsh, the outgoing ASWA president, announced that the organization will begin compiling a book that will hopefully include one article from each of the 50 Legends.
The late Charles Hollis was posthumously honored with the Bill Shelton Award for promoting journalism throughout his life, and former Auburn athletic director David Housel was named the second winner of the Presidents' Award, which was created in 2021.
The banquet was sponsored by AL.com, Regions Bank, the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
2022 ASWA Writing Contest Winners
Best Sports Story, Writing on a Deadline, Professional or College Event
Tom Green, AL.com; Bo Nix quiets the noise, takes command for Auburn in win at LSU
Runner-up; Katie Windham, BamaCentral
Best Sports Story, Writing on a Deadline, Prep or Other Amateur
Bill Lumpkin III, Al.com; Hall of Fame baseball coach, William Booth, diagnosed with cancer
Runner-up: Ben Thomas, AL.com
Best Column
Christopher Walsh, BamaCentral
- There’s no doubt who should, and will, win the Heisman Trophy, Bryce Young
- Alabama will celebrate epic four-overtime Iron Bowl forever
- One simple state demonstrates the difference between Alabama and Cincinnati
- Alabama athletics quietly made history this week
Runner-up: Joey Blackwell, BamaCentral
Best Football Feature (Power 5 Programs or NFL)
Mike Rodak, AL.com: Nick Saban turns 70 on Sunday
Runner-up: Edwin Stanton, BamaCentral/Creg Stephenson AL.com
Football Feature, General
David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily: Former UNA football player Dwayne Williams, who died in the Pentagon on 9/11, honored on 20th anniversary of tragedy
Runner-up: Bill Lumpkin III, AL.com
Basketball Feature
David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily: Pape Cisse’s journey to UNA has those excited about this future
Joey Blackwell, BamaCentral/Tony Tsoukalas, BamaInsider
Baseball Feature
Joey Blackwell, BamaCentral: To Alabama baseball, the game they loved was a return to normalcy following the April 27 tornado
Runner-up: Bill Lumpkin III, AL.com
Softball Feature
Katie Windham, BamaCentral: NIL success highlights the ever-growing popularity of Alabama softball
Runner-up: Bill Lumpkin III, AL.com
Best General Feature
Christopher Walsh, BamaCentral: August 11 a trailblazing day for Alabama athletes that needs to be recognized
Runner-up: Becky Hopf, The Tuscaloosa News
Best Enterprise Story/Explanatory Story
Kirk McNair, BamaOnline: 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Alabama football
Runner-up: Christopher Walsh, BamaCentral
Breaking News
Ben Thomas, AL.com: “Bush League: “Oxford coach says new Tennessee staff pulled wide receiver’s offer one day before signing day
Runner-up: Creg Stephenson, AL.com; Tyler Martin, BamaCentral
Project Story
Christopher Walsh, Joey Blackwell, Edwin Stanton and Tyler Martin, BamaCentral: Tuscaloosa is still recovering from tornado, 10 years later
Best Column or a Feature, Non-Daily
Tommy Hicks, Lagniappe: Paige Madden’s magical, Olympic summer
Runner-up: Tommy Hicks, Lagniappe
Best Game Story, Non-Daily
Tommy Hicks, Lagniappe: Orange Beach takes 2A softball crown in dramatic fashion
Runner-up: Arthur L. Mack, Citronelle Call News
Best Deadline Story/Game Story, Student
Blake Byler, BamaCentral: Alabama basketball earns impressive win over Gonzaga in battle in Seattle, 91-82
Runner-up: Clayton Connick, BamaCentral
Best Enterprise/Feature, Student
Clayton Connick, BamaCentral: Brittany Davis shinning in her return to action for Alabama women’s basketball
Runner-up: Clayton Connick, BamaCentral
Herby Kirby Award (Story of the Year): David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily: Former UNA football player Dwayne Williams, who died in the Pentagon on 9/11, honored on 20th anniversary of tragedy