Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Contest Award Winners
The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association released the winners of the OPSMA writing and photography contest for submissions from the 2024 calendar year. Highland County Press sports editor Stephen Forsha was voted fifth place in the Division 2 game stories category.
Division 2 is for newspapers from Ohio under 10,000 daily circulation. This is the second consecutive year Forsha and the Highland County Press have been recognized in the awards contest by the OPSMA.
Below is the press release:
Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Contest Award Winners
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association held its annual member meeting last Thursday, May 1, and announced the results of its annual writing and photography contest. Writer of the Year honors went to John Kampf from the Willoughby News-Herald in Division I, and Rob McCurdy of the Marion Star in Division 2.
The contest included submissions from the 2024 calendar year and was judged by OPSMA members. There were four writing categories in two 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.
OPSMA membership now stands at 218 writers and photographers around the state. Founded in 1972, the Ohio Prep Sports Media 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 includes the membership directory, officers information, hall of fame inductees and other updates.
2024 OPSMA SPORTSWRITERS OF THE YEAR
- DIVISION 1 – John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald
- DIVISION 2 – Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
2024 OPSMA 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. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald
2. Aaron Blankenship, SB Live Sports
3. Curt Conrad, Richland Source
4. Rick Cassano, Southwest Ohio Sports Daily
5. Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch
Division 1, News Stories
1. Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch
2. Curt Conrad, Richland Source
3. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald
4. Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch
5. Rick Cassano, Southwest Ohio Sports Daily
Division 1, Feature Stories
1. Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch
2. Curt Conrad, Richland Source
3. Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch
4. Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer
5. Steve Junga, Toledo Blade
Division 1, Columns
1. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald
2. Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal
3. Curt Conrad, Richland Source
Division 1 Writer of the Year: John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald (15 points, two first-place entries and a third-place entry)
Runner-up: Curt Conrad, Richland Source (14 points, placed in all four categories)
Third-place: Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch (10 points)
Division 2 – All Other Daily Newspapers (4+ Editions Per Week)
Division 2, Game Stories
1. Rick Noland, Medina Gazette
2. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
3. Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier
4. Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier
5. Stephen Forsha, Highland County Press
Division 2, News Stories
1. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
2. Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier
3. Julie Billings, Pike County News Watchman
4. Keith Spare, Morgan County Herald
5. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector
Division 2, Feature Stories
1. Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier
2. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector
3. Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier
4. Brandon Hannah, Zanesville Times-Recorder
5. Rick Noland, Medina Gazette
Division 2, Columns
1. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector
2. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
3. Rick Noland, Medina Gazette
4. Steven Wright, Xenia Daily Gazette
5. Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Division 2 Writer of the Year: Rob McCurdy, Marion Star (14 points, had one first-place entry and placed in two other categories)
Runner-up: Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier (13 points, had one first-place entry and placed in two other categories
Third-place: Rick Noland, Medina Gazette (10 points)
Action Photography Contest
1. Rick Cassano, Southwest Ohio Sports Daily
2. Michael Cooper, Dayton Daily News
3. Kathy Root, Norwalk Reflector
4. Julie Billings, Pike County News Watchman