33rd annual FWAA Best Writing Contest results

DALLAS (FWAA) – Seven members of the Football Writers Association of America won at least two awards – and one of those claimed three – in the association's 33rd Annual Best Writing Contest presented by collegepressbox announced today. In this group, three writers from ESPN.com were first-place winners in the four categories.

Immediate Past President Andrea  Adelson of ESPN.com won first place in enterprise for a story on the custom of spreading ashes in the spaces of college football fields and areas around stadiums. One of her colleagues at ESPN.com, Ryan McGee, penned a first-place column on revisting the late Coach Mike Leach's haunt in Key West, Fla. The third ESPN.com winner was David Hale for a story on a North Carolina State football player who had to overcome the memory of his sister drowning in a pool where he was swimming and the guilt he felt for not saving her. Hale was the only repeat first-place winner from a year ago when he won in Enterprise.

The fourth first-place winner in the 33rd Annual Contest was Bryan Fischer of Sports Illustrated, the FWAA's 2025 third vice president. He won in tje game story category for covering the Texas-Ohio State Game in the Cotton Bowl, a CFP semifinal game last January. The only three-time awardee in the 33rd Contest was Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports (2023 President), two second-place awards and an honorable mention.

Other writers who claimed double awards were Chris Hummer of 247Sports/CBS Sports (third place, honorable mention); Amie Just of the Lincoln Journal Star (third place, honorable mention); McGee (first place, honorable mention); Travis Hines of the Des Moines Register (second place, honorable mention); Alex Scarborough of 247Sports (two honorable mentions,) and Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com (two honorable mentions).

First-place finishers receive a custom football from the Big Game USA, a certificate and a cash prize; second and third-place finishers receive a certificate and cash prize, and honorable mentions a certificate.

33RD ANNUAL FWAA BEST WRITING CONTEST RESULTS

COLUMN

First Place: Ryan McGee, ESPN.com (The enduring Key West legacy of Mike Leach)

Second Place: Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports

Third Place: Michael Casagrande, AL.com

Honorable Mention: Amie Just, Lincoln Journal Star; Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports; Alex Scarborough, 247 Sports.

ENTERPRISE

First Place: Andrea Adelson, ESPN.com (Even in death, college football fans want to be at their favorite stadiums)

Second Place: Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports

Third Place: Chris Vannini and Justin Williams, The Athletic

Honorable Mention: Michael Cohen, Fox Sports; Adam Rittenberg, ESPN.com; Alex Scarborough. 247 Sports.

FEATURE

First Place: David Hale, ESPN.com (A journey toward forgiveness: Davin Vann has finally found himself years after his sister's death)

Second Place: Travis Hines, Des Moines Register

Third Place: Amie Just, Lincoln Journal Star

Honorable Mention: Chris Hummer, 247 Sports/CBS Sports; Ryan McGee, ESPN.com; Adam Rittenberg, ESPN.com.

GAME STORY

First Place: Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated (‘It’s Not Finished’: Ohio State Runs Into Title Game Ready for Redemption)

Second Place: Jeff Gilbert, PressProsMagazine.com

Third Place: Chris Hummer, 247Sports/CBS Sports

Honorable Mention: Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports; Travis Hines, Des Moines Register: Jake Trotter, ESPN.com.