“The two basketball player profiles are handled well. Writer clearly knows the kid who signed with Indiana and knows how to go deep into a subject when the occasion calls for it.”

“Each entry is strong. The profile of the basketball player who fought back from hip surgery reveals the life lessons taught by sports. The 50-year mystery of the woman placing flowers on a star athlete’s grave is a sure talker in the town. The 50-year look-back at breaking the color barrier in Legion baseball is well-reported and the timeline adds nicely to the package.”

“Clearly, the best in a very large field. All of the entries show depth and intelligence. The Chris Ball feature brought tears to my eyes. The Title IX reporting was hard-hitting. The range of work is what you want to see in a sports writer of the year.”