From Staff reports
NATCHITOCHES – The Kinder Courier News took home Class II sweepstakes honors while Louisiana State Newspapers reporters Raymond Partsch III and Tony Marks took home multiple honors at the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Award Luncheon held Sunday in Natchitoches.
Partsch won first place in the General Sports Column (Class II) category for his column on the corrupt state of the Southeastern Conference.
The judge’s comments stated, “A very pointed column and a strong commentary on how money rules SEC sports (and all sports). Excellent research, backs up the opinion with a litany of important and often forgotten perpetrators. Things are different in the SEC? This column follows that thought to completion in a compelling, entertaining and informative manner. Easily the best in class in this category.”
Partsch also took home first place in the Outdoors Writing (Open Class) for his feature on Oberlin hunter Heidi Manuel honoring her late father.
The judge wrote, “A touching and economically told story with a fine balance of trenchant facts and lively quotes.”
Partsch also won Columnist of the Year (Class II) and was second place in Prep Writer of the Year (Class II) for his work for the Kinder Courier News.
In the LSWA Newspaper Sweepstakes award (where papers receive points on a 3-2-1 basis), The Kinder Courier News took home first-place honors in Class II division as it earned 6 points.
Tony Marks meanwhile took home a pair of third-place honors for his work with the Oakdale Journal and Ville Platte Gazette.
Marks placed third in the Prep Event (Class II) category for his story on Fairview advancing to the state semifinals, while also earning third place in Outdoors Writing (Open) category for his story on Roberie turning childhood hobby into career.
Marks also received honorable mention honors in the College-Pro Photography (Open) category for a photo of LSU playing Southern Miss in the Hattiesburg Regional. Marks also received honorable mention honors for Columnist of the Year (Class II) for a series of columns that appeared in the Ville Platte Gazette.
The other major award winners went to the Shreveport Times’ Jimmy Watson (Prep Writer of the Year — Class I), Ouachita Citizen’s Jake Martin (Prep Writer of the Year — Class II), Tiger Details’ Ron Higgins (Beat Writer of the Year — Open Class), and Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s J.J. Marshall (Columnist of the Year — Class I).
The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander won Story of the Year for his feature on LSU’s other Super Bowl quarterback David Woodley while Crescent City Sports’ Les East was named Sports Writer of the Year.