The State’s Sports team earns multiple APSE national writing, section awards
The State was named one of the top sports news outlets in the country this past week by the Associated Press Sports Editors in the organization’s prestigious annual contest.
The State earned 12 total awards this year, including Top 10 designations for its sports print portfolio; its digital sports offerings; and its project reporting, a trifecta that earned the news outlet a rare Triple Crown designation.
The State writers and photographers took home 10 honors, led by Chapel Fowler with three. Fowler also added two more honors from his time at The Fayetteville (NC) Observer.
The APSE is a collection of sports editors and writers from around the country. Its contest, which began in the 1980s, honors the best sportswriting in the country.
The State competes in Division C, the third of four divisions in the APSE contest, based on circulation size. Other media outlets in this classification include The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger, The Memphis Commercial Appeal and The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star.
USC football writer Ben Portnoy was honored in the beat writing and explanatory categories. Portnoy’s beat writing top 10 came from a five-story portfolio, while his explanatory story was a look at the 30-year anniversary of South Carolina and Arkansas joining the Southeastern Conference.
Gamecocks men’s basketball reporter Michael Lananna was honored in the long feature and projects categories in this year’s contest. Lananna’s work included a profile on the legacy of Columbia basketball legend George Glymph and a storytelling project on Midlands native and hoops star Stanley Roberts.
Fowler was honored in five categories — short feature, long feature and game story for The State, and projects categories (twice) from work with The Fayetteville Observer. Fowler’s stories included a piece on the only high school football coach in South Carolina who works for free, a story on an elementary school student who went viral for his dancing at Tigers football games and his game story from the South Carolina-Clemson game this fall.
Fowler was also part of reporting teams at his previous job with Gannett that earned top 10 honors in the Class B and C/D categories section.
The State prep sports coordinator Lou Bezjak was honored in the game story category for his piece on the Chick-fil-A Classic featuring its first girls basketball game.
Former State sports reporter Augusta Stone’s story on South Carolina women’s basketball star Aliyah Boston’s body transformation chosen for top 10 honors in the explanatory category.
Photographer Jeff Blake received top 10 honors in action photography.
An exact Top 10 ranking for each category will be released at a later date.
The State’s sister papers The Charlotte Observer and the (Raleigh) News & Observer also earned multiple awards at this year’s APSE contest.
This story was originally published February 27, 2023 at 2:10 PM.