COLUMBUS — Mansfield News Journal Sports Reporter Jake Furr was honored by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association last week.
Furr, the Vice President of the OPSWA, was the runner-up for the Division I Sportswriter of the Year behind Dayton Daily News' Jeff Gilbert. Division I is made up of newspapers around the state with 10,000-plus circulation as well as websites and is the biggest division in the OPSWA contest.
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Furr took first place in the news stories category and second in columns to garner enough points to take second place in the overall competition.
Division II and III Writer of the Year honors went to former News Journal scribe Rob McCurdy of the Marion Star and Division IV honors went to Todd Stumpf of the Medina Weekly News.
The contest included submissions from the 2023 calendar year and was judged by OPSWA members. There were four writing categories in three divisions based on circulation size. Each category was judged by two members from another division. Writers and photographers were judged on a body of work that included three submissions per category.
OPSWA membership now stands at 218 writers and photographers around the state. Founded in 1972, the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association works to support and enhance the coverage of high school sports in Ohio and to recognize superior writing among sports journalists. In 2010, the OPSWA partnered with the Ohio High School Athletic Association to create a website, establish electronic communications and increase its membership and recognition.
The OPSWA website is located at http://www.ohsaa.org/news/OPSWA and includes the membership directory, officers information, hall of fame inductees and other updates.
2023 OPSWA SPORTSWRITERS OF THE YEAR
DIVISION 1 – Jeff Gilbert, Dayton Daily News
DIVISION 2-3 (Combined) – Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
DIVISION 4 – Todd Stumpf, Medina Weekly
2023 OPSWA Writing Contest, Division and Category Results
Number of placers dependent on number of entries in each category.
Division 1 – Daily Circulation over 10,000 and Websites
Division 1, Game Stories
1. Jeff Gilbert, Dayton Daily News
Tie-2. Aaron Blankenship, SB Live Sports
Tie-2. Curt Conrad, Richland Source
Tie-4. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald
Tie-4. Chris Lillstrung, Willoughby News-Herald
Division 1, News Stories
1. Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal
2. Aaron Blankenship, SB Live Sports
3. Jeff Gilbert, Dayton Daily News
Tie-4. Rick Cassano, Southwest Ohio Sports Daily
Tie-4. Chris Lillstrung, Willoughby News-Herald
Tie-4. Tom Nader, Portage Sports
Division 1, Feature Stories
1. Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch
2. Jeff Gilbert, Dayton Daily News
Tie-3. Ryan Isley, SB Live
Tie-3. James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer
Tie-5. Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer
Tie-5. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald
Tie-5. Chris Lillstrung, Willoughby News-Herald
Division 1, Columns
1. Curt Conrad, Richland Source
2. Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal
3. Chris Lillstrung, Willoughby News-Herald
Division 1 Writer of the Year: Jeff Gilbert, Dayton Daily News (13 points)
Runner-up: Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal (10 points)
Division 2-3 (combined) – All Other Daily Newspapers (4+ Editions Per Week)
Division 2, Game Stories
1. Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
2. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
3. Matt Horn, Fremont News-Messenger
4. Jonah Levin-Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier
5. Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier
Division 2, News Stories
1. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
2. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector
3. Zachary Holden, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum
4. Lonnie McMillen, Upper Sandusky Daily Chief Union
Division 2, Feature Stories
1. Jonah Levin-Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier
2. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
3. Rick Noland, Medina Gazette
4. Lonnie McMillen, Upper Sandusky Daily Chief Union
5. Michael Cooper, Springfield News-Sun
Division 2, Columns
1. Matt Horn, Fremont News-Messenger
2. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
3. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector
Division 2 Writer of the Year: Rob McCurdy, Marion Star (18 points)
Runner-up: Matt Horn, Fremont News-Messenger (9 points)
Division 4 – Non-Daily Newspapers and Specialty Publications
Division 4, Game Stories
1. Derrick Webb, Southern Ohio Sports Authority
2. Todd Stumpf, Medina Weekly
3. Steven Wright, Xenia Daily Gazette
Division 4, News Stories
1. Todd Stumpf, Medina Weekly
2. Keith Spare, Morgan County Herald
3. Julie Billings, Pike County News Watchman
Division 4, Feature Stories
1. Julie Billings, Pike County News Watchman
2. Brock Netter, Southern Ohio Sports Authority
3. Chris Vogt, Butler County HS Sports Report
4. Stephen Forsha, Highland County Press
Division 4, Columns
1. Derrick Webb, Southern Ohio Sports Authority
2. Todd Stumpf, Medina Weekly
3. Steven Wright, Xenia Daily Gazette
Division 4 Writer of the Year: Todd Stumpf, Medina Weekly(14 points)
Runner-up: Derrick Webb, Southern Ohio Sports Authority (12 point)
Action Photography Contest
1. Tim Phillis, Willoughby News-Herald
2. Michael Cooper, Dayton Daily News
3. Derrick Webb, Southern Ohio Sports Authority
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