Wichita Eagle reporters earn multiple APSE Top 10 honors for WSU, KSU sports coverage
The Wichita Eagle this week garnered national recognition for its overall portfolio of printed sports coverage in the annual Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) contest.
Additionally, two Wichita Eagle sportswriters — Taylor Eldridge and Kellis Robinett — were honored individually by sports editors and writers from across the nation.
The APSE awards are considered sports journalism’s version of the Emmys.
Eldridge who covers Wichita State Shockers athletics for The Eagle and Kansas.com, took home two Top 10s: one for Long Feature — ‘Count your blessings’: Former Shocker DJ Bowles grateful for second chance at life — and one for Beat Writing, an entry comprised of five parts:
- Wichita State never publicly announced AD Darron Boatright’s contract extension
- Respect, revenge and a paycheck: How SWAC’s Alcorn State upset Wichita State basketball
- How can Wichita State catch up in college basketball’s unregulated NIL money game?
- ‘Count your blessings’: Former Shocker DJ Bowles grateful for second chance at life
- How Wichita State’s Craig Porter broke the cycle to become a Terre Haute hero
K-State beat writer Kellis Robinett earned Top 10 in Long Feature Writing for his story entitled, New Kansas State coach Jerome Tang is the ultimate self-made man in college basketball.
Eagle photographer Travis Heying earned Top 10 in the Action Photo category.
The Eagle’s sister publication, The Kansas City Star, garnered Top 10s for its overall digital sports coverage, as well as a collection of five stories/columns from KU’s NCAA title game victory over North Carolina and its Chiefs season preview edition.
The coverage team of Gary Bedore, Jesse Newell, Sam McDowell, Vahe Gregorian and Eldridge brought home the Event Coverage Top 10 for these stories from KU’s championship win vs. UNC:
- ‘Wouldn’t Dad love this?’: NCAA title bears bittersweet joy for Bill Self and family
- How Bill Self’s words — from a year ago — spurred Kansas Jayhawks to NCAA championship
- Why Ochai Agbaji fell into his parents’ arms, crying, after Kansas Jayhawks’ title win
- Devon Dotson celebrates the title he couldn’t win in 2020 because of COVID
- Mario Chalmers, hero of KU’s 2008 title, ‘even more happy’ about this Jayhawks championship
Columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian and reporter Jesse Newell also received individual recognition.
McDowell’s Top 10-winning four-part Sports Columns entry for 2022 included the following pieces:
- In candid interview, Tyrann Mathieu says he’s ‘heartbroken’ to not be back with Chiefs
- The social media hate for KC Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and his fiancee is the worst of us
- Britt Reid lost three years as a free man. The effects on Ariel Young are forever
- Why it’s time for the Kansas City Royals to trade Whit Merrifield
Gregorian earned two Top 10 honors in the APSE contest — one for Long Feature Writing (over 1,500 words) and one for Short Feature Writing (under 1,500 words):
- Long Feature: Through 43 years in prison, sports was a guiding light for exonerated Kevin Strickland
- Short Feature: ‘No bad days’: How Chiefs’ Justin Watson was driven and shaped by older brother Tommy
Newell, who just completed his first season on the Chiefs beat after a distinguished run covering the Kansas Jayhawks, garnered a prestigious Top 10 in Explanatory Writing for his piece entitled, ‘Do it, Kels!’: How Patrick Mahomes’ audible forced overtime in Chiefs win over Bills.
He also netted Top 10 honors in Beat Writing, a five-part compilation of the following KU stories:
- KU asks for ‘alternative resolution’ of NCAA basketball case — with Big 12’s support
- Why Kansas Jayhawks’ One Shining Moment vs. North Carolina was 5 months in making
- Kansas Jayhawks basketball’s secret edge? This trainer — and a church gym near KU
- Why Bill Self admires this Kansas Jayhawk: ‘He’s had more hardship than anybody else’
- Why Kansas Jayhawks’ win vs. K-State meant so much to Bill Self after dad’s passing
All APSE awards for 2022 will be handed out at the organization’s annual summer conference, which this year is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis June 15-18.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 11:47 AM.