NSMA Releases 2021 Awards Ballot
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA (December 9, 2021) -- The National Sports Media Association has released its final ballot for the 2021 NSMA Awards and 2022 Hall of Fame class.
Headlining the Hall of Fame class of sportscasters are the late Stuart Scott, Tim Brando, Tom Jackson, Pam Oliver, and Joe Buck. Hall of Fame sportswriters finalists include Jackie MacMullan, Christopher Clarey, Claire Smith, and Mike Downey.
Included among the National Sportscaster of the Year finalists are Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Malika Andrews. At 26 years old, Andrews, who is appearing on the ballot for the first time, is one of the youngest finalists in the history of the awards.
There are also three new National Sportswriter of the Year finalists. Katie Strang, Jerry Brewer, and Jim Trotter are all making their first appearance on the final ballot.
The number of finalists for NSMA’s state awards has increased to 343, 47 more than in 2020. The awards are contested in 49 states, plus the District of Columbia.
NSMA members provide the nominations for the 2021 state and national awards, while a group of current Hall of Famers provides nominations for the Hall of Fame.
Voting by NSMA members is open until December 31.
Award winners will be informed in early January with a public announcement to follow in the second week of January. Winners will be honored at the 62nd NSMA Awards Weekend, June 25-27, 2022 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
| ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Andy Burcham, Auburn Sports Network, Auburn | |
| Chris Stewart, Crimson Tide Sports Network & The Press Box, Birmingham | |
David Crane, UAB Blazer Network, Birmingham Jeff Speegle, ABC 33/40, Birmingham | |
| ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER | |
Jason Caldwell, AUTigers.com Mark Inabinette, AL.com, Auburn | |
| Matt Zenitz, AL.com, Birmingham | |
| ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER | |
Matt McConnell, Coyotes TV, Phoenix Al McCoy, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix | |
| Mitch Strohman, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff | |
| ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Michelle Gardner, azcentral.com, Phoenix | |
| Michael Lev, Tucson Star | |
| Jeff Metcalfe, azcentral.com, Phoenix | |
| ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER | |
| Chuck Barrett, Razorback Sports Network, Fayetteville | |
| Jourdan Black, 40/29 Sports, Fayetteville | |
| Phil Elson, Razorback Sports Network/ESPN Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER | |
| Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville | |
| Tom Murphy Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Fayetteville | |
| CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Dave Flemming, KNBR Radio, San Francisco | |
| Ken Korach, Oakland A's/95.7 FM, Oakland | |
| Kate Scott, PAC12 Network, San Francisco | |
| CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Dylan Hernandez, L.A. Times, Los Angeles | |
Melissa Lockard, The Athletic Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, Los Angeles Susan Slusser, Chronicle, San Francisco Marcus Thompson, The Athletic | |
| COLORADO SPORTSCASTER | |
Conor McGahey, Altitude Radio, Denver Jenny Cavnar, AT&T Sports Rocky Mountain, Denver Marc Moser, Avalanche TV/Altitude Radio, Denver | |
| COLORADO SPORTSWRITER | |
Lindsay Jones, The Athletic, Denver Mark Kiszla, Denver Post, Denver Mike Singer, Denver Post, Denver | |
| CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER | |
| John Pierson, WTNH-TV New Haven | |
Kainani Stevens, FOX 61, Hartford Joe Zone- WFSB-TV Hartford | |
| CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER | |
| Mike Anthony, Hearst Connecticut Media, Connecticut | |
| Mike DiMauro- The Day of New London | |
| DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER | |
Gary Laing, HSRN, Dover Sean Greene, WDEL Radio, Wilmington | |
DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER Kevin Tresolini, News Journal, Wilmington William Bretzger, News Journal, Wilmington | |
| DC SPORTSCASTER | |
| Joe Beninati, NBC Sports Washington/Capitals, Washington | |
Darren M. Haynes, WUSA-TV, Washington Grant Paulsen, WJFK 106.7-FM, Washington, D.C. | |
| Kevin Sheehan, The Team 980-AM, Washington, D.C. | |
| DC SPORTSWRITER | |
| Candace Buckner, Washington Post | |
| Emily Giambalvo, Washington Post, Washington | |
| Mark Zuckerman, MASNsports.com, Washington | |
| FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER | |
| David Steele, Bally Sports Florida, Orlando | |
| Jose Paneda, Heat Spanish Radio, Miami | |
| Shayne Wright, WPBF, West Palm Beach | |
| FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, Miami | |
Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg Omar Kelly, Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach | |
| GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Alison Mastrangelo, WSB-TV, Atlanta | |
| Andy Demetra, Georgia Tech Radio Network, Atlanta | |
| Steve Holman, Atlanta Hawks Radio/92.9 The Game, Atlanta | |
| Scott Howard, UGA Radio Network, Athens | |
| Zach Klein, WSB-TV, Atlanta | |
| GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta | |
Steve Hummer, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Chris Kirschner, The Athletic, Atlanta | |
| Ken Suguira, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta | |
| HAWAII SPORTSCASTER | |
Alan Hoshida, KHON2 TV, Honolulu Kanoa Leahey, Spectrum Sports | |
| HAWAII SPORTSWRITER | |
| Kalani Takase, scoringlive.com, Oahu | |
| Rob Collias, Maui News, Wailuku | |
| IDAHO SPORTSCASTER | |
| Bob Behler, Bronco Sports Properties/Learfield & KTIK Radio, Boise | |
| Brittany Cooper, KMVT Twin Falls Idaho | |
Chris Lewis, Bronco Sports Properties, CBS Sports Network, NBC Sports, Boise John Mallory, KTIK Radio, Boise | |
| IDAHO SPORTSWRITER | |
B.J. Rains, Idaho Press, Nampa Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, Boise | |
| Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, Boise | |
| ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER | |
Adam Amin, NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Dionne Miller, WLS-TV, Chicago | |
Chuck Swirsky, 670 The Score, Chicago Lauren Magiera, WGN-TV, Chicago | |
| ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER | |
| Dave Eminian, Journal Star, Peoria | |
| James Fegan, The Athletic, Chicago | |
| Meghan Montemurro, The Chicago Tribune | |
| INDIANA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Anthony Calhoun, WISH-TV, Indianapolis | |
Don Fischer, IU Sports Properties, Bloomington Tim Newton, Purdue Football and Basketball Networks | |
| INDIANA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis | |
| Zak Keefer, The Athletic, Indianapolis | |
| Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis | |
| IOWA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Celia Palermo, WQAD-TV, Davenport | |
| Gary Dolphin, Hawkeye Sports Network, Iowa City | |
Keith Murphy, WHO-TV, Des Moines Elgin Rucker, KCCI-TV, Des Moines | |
| John Sears, WHO-TV, Des Moines | |
| IOWA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Travis Hines, Ames Tribune, Ames | |
| Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids | |
| KANSAS SPORTSCASTER | |
| Brian Hanni, Kansas Radio Network, Lawrence | |
Chris Lilly, KAKE-TV, Wichita Gerard Wellbrock, Eagles Radio, Hays | |
| KANSAS SPORTSWRITER | |
| Matt Tait - Lawrence Journal World | |
| Taylor Eldridge - Wichita Eagle | |
| KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER | |
Fred Cowgill, WLKY-TV, Louisville Jody Demling, CardinalSports.com, Louisville | |
| Kendrick Haskins, WAVE-TV, Louisville | |
| Maggie Davis, WLEX-TV, Lexington | |
| Matt Jones, Kentucky Sports Radio, Louisville | |
| KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER | |
| Jody Demling, CardinalSports.com, Louisville | |
| Jon Hale, Courier-Journal, Louisville | |
| Mark Story, Herald-Leader, Lexington | |
LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER David Grubb, 103.7 The Game, New Orleans Doug Mouton, WWL-TV, New Orleans Jacques Doucet, WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge | |
LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER Amie Just, New Orleans Advocate/Times-Picayune Brody Miller, The Athletic, New Orleans Jeff Duncan, New Orleans Advocate/Times-Picayune Robin Fambrough, The Advocate, Baton Rouge Rod Walker, New Orleans Advocate/Times-Picayune
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MAINE SPORTSCASTER Bryan Sidelinger, WABI-TV, Bangor Jon Shields, Maine Black Bears Hockey/Learfield, Orono | |
MAINE SPORTSWRITER Ernie Clark, Bangor Daily News, Bangor Travis Lazarczyk, Portland Press Herald, Portland
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| MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER | |
| Bruce Cunningham, FOX 45, Baltimore. | |
Gerry Sandusky, WBAL-TV, Ravens broadcast team, Baltimore Keith Mills, Ravens broadcast team, Baltimore | |
| MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER | |
| Bill Wagner, Annapolis Capital, Annapolis | |
Jeff Zriebec, The Athletic, Baltimore Rich Dubroff, Baltimorebaseball.com, Baltimore | |
| MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER | |
| Bob Socci, Sports Hub, Boston (Patriots play-by-play) | |
| Jerry Remy, NESN, Boston | |
| Jon Meterparel, WEEI 850, Boston | |
| Michael Holley, NBC Sports Boston | |
| MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER | |
| Bon Hohler, Boston Globe, Boston | |
Kevin Dupont, Boston Globe, Boston Brian Robb, MassLive, Boston Julian McWilliams, Boston Globe, Boston | |
| MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER | |
| Jack Ebling, The Drive with Jack Ebling, Lansing | |
| Jamie Edmonds, WDIV-TV, Detroit | |
| Brad Galli, WXYZ-TV, Detroit | |
MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER James Edwards, The Athletic, Detroit | |
| Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, Detroit | |
| Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, Detroit | |
| MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Marney Gellner, Bally Sports North/KFXN-FM, Minneapolis | |
| Mike Grimm, Gopher Sports Properties/Learfield, Minneapolis | |
| MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic, Minneapolis | |
Andy Greder, Pioneer Press, St Paul Michael Russo, The Athletic, Minneapolis | |
| MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER | |
| Noah Newman, WJTV-TV, Jackson | |
| Taylor Curet, WDAM-TV, Hattiesburg | |
| MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER | |
| Deanna Tisdale Johnson, Jackson Advocate, Jackson | |
| Parrish Alford, Daily Journal, Tupelo | |
| MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER | |
| Dan McLaughlin, Bally Sports Midwest, St. Louis | |
| John Rooney, KMOX, St. Louis | |
| MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER | |
| Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis | |
| Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, Kansas City | |
| MONTANA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Jason Walker, Jason Walker Media, Helena | |
| Zach Mackey, Bobcat Sports Properties/ Learfield, Bozeman | |
| MONTANA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Jeff Welsch, 406mtsports.com, Bozeman | |
| John Letasky, Billings Gazette | |
| NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER | |
Chris Schmidt, KLMS Radio, Lincoln Jessica Coody, Huskers Radio, Lincoln Kendall Grayson, Tri-City Storm, Kearney | |
| Matt Foster, KETV-TV, Omaha | |
| NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Luke Mullin, Lincoln Journal Star | |
| Tom Shatel, Omaha World Herald, Omaha | |
| NEVADA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Dave Goucher, Golden Knights TV, Las Vegas | |
| Russ Langer, Aviators Radio/UNLV Sports Network, Las Vegas | |
| NEVADA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas | |
Willie Ramirez, AP, Las Vegas Vic Tafur, The Athletic, Las Vegas | |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER | |
| Bob Lipman, Fisher Cats and UNH Radio Networks, Manchester, Durham | |
| Brett Franklin, Dartmouth Radio and 94 ESPN Upper Valley, Lebanon | |
| Justin McIsaac, UNH Radio Network, Durham | |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER | |
| Alex Hall, Union Leader, Manchester | |
| Ben Conant, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, Peterborough | |
| NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER | |
| Jerry Recco, Rutgers Sports Properties, New Brunswick | |
| Tom Williams, Prime Events, Ocean City | |
| NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER | |
| Dave Weinberg, Gazette, Atlantic City | |
James Kratch, NJ Advance Media, Newark Keith Sargeant, NJ Advance Media, Newark Mark Narducci, NJ Advance Media, Newark Mick McGarry, Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City | |
| NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER | |
| Jeff Mathews, KSNM, Las Cruces | |
| Jeff Siembieda, KNML The Sports Animal, Albuquerque | |
| Steve Davis, ProView Networks, Albuquerque | |
| NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER | |
| Geoff Grammer, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque | |
| James Barrone, Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe | |
| NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER | |
| Brendan Burke, MSG Network, New York | |
Mike Breen, MSG Network, New York Sarah Kustok, YES-TV, New York Tina Cervasio, WNYW-TV, New York | |
| NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER | |
| Bob Glauber, Newsday, New York | |
| Donna Ditota Syracuse Post Standard, Syracuse | |
Sean Kirst, Buffalo News, Buffalo Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News, Buffalo | |
| NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Adam Gold, WRAL Radio, Raleigh | |
Chris Lea, WRAL Radio & TV, Raleigh Jones Angell, University of North Carolina Radio Network, Chapel Hill | |
| NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Brendan Marks, The Athletic, Durham | |
C.L. Brown, News & Observer, Raleigh Ethan Joyce, Winston Salem Journal, Winston-Salem | |
| Joe Person, The Athletic, Charlotte | |
Jonas Pope IV, News & Observer, Raleigh Jonathan Alexander, Charlotte Observer | |
Sara Civian, The Athletic, Raleigh Steve Wiseman, News & Observer, Raleigh | |
| NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Brad Anderson, 103.9 The Truck, Casselton | |
Brian Shawn, MidCo Sports, Fargo Dom Izzo, WDAY-TV, Fargo Jeff Culhane, Bison 1660, Fargo | |
| NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Brad Schlossman, The Forum, Fargo | |
| Carissa Wigginton, The Forum, Fargo | |
| Jeff Kolpack, The Forum, Fargo | |
| Matthew Semisch, Bottineau Current, Bottineau | |
| OHIO SPORTSCASTER | |
| Jerrod Smalley, WCMH-TV, Columbus | |
| John Sadak, Bally Sports Ohio, Cincinnati | |
| Paul Keels, Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Network, Columbus | |
| OHIO SPORTSWRITER | |
Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, Columbus Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch, Columbus | |
| Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, Cincinnati | |
| Paul Dehner, Jr., The Athletic, Cincinnati | |
| Zack Meisel, The Athletic, Cleveland | |
| OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER | |
Adam Hildebrandt, Oral Roberts, Tulsa Bruce Howard, Univ. of Tulsa Radio Network, Tulsa | |
Dave Hunziker, Oklahoma State Radio Network, Stillwater John Rhadigan, BallySports Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Paris Lawson, Oklahoma City Thunder, Oklahoma City | |
| Toby Rowland, OU Sooners Radio Network, Norman | |
| OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Bill Haisten, Tulsa World, Tulsa | |
| Guerin Emig, Tulsa World, Tulsa | |
| Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City | |
| Ken MacLeod, Golf Oklahoma, Tulsa | |
| OREGON SPORTSCASTER | |
| Joe Becker, KATU-TV, Portland | |
Nick Krupke, KPTV-TV, Portland AJ McCord, KOIN-TV, Portland | |
| OREGON SPORTSWRITER | |
Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor, Portland John Canzano, The Oregonian, Portland Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian | |
| Jason Quick, The Athletic, Portland | |
| Joe Freeman, The Oregonian | |
| PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Marc Zumoff, NBC Sports, Philadelphia | |
| Scott Franzke, Phillies Radio Network, Philadelphia | |
| PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER | |
Jim Salisbury, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Philadelphia Keith Pompey, The Inquirer, Philadelphia | |
Mike Sielski, The Inquirer, Philadelphia Rob Rossi, The Athletic, Pittsburgh | |
| RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER | |
| Ian Steele, WLNE-TV, Providence | |
| Morey Hershgordon, WPRI-TV, Providence | |
| Rosie Langello, WPRI-TV, Providence | |
| RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER | |
| Brendan McGair, Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call, Pawtucket/Woonsocket | |
Kevin McNamara, KevinMcSports.com, Providence Mark Daniels, Providence Journal, Providence Will Geohegan, The Independent, Wakefield | |
| SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Julia Morris, WYFF, Greenville | |
| Pete Yanity, WSPA-TV, Spartanburg | |
| Rick Henry, WIS-TV, Columbia | |
| Scott Eisberg, WCIV-TV, Charleston | |
| SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER | |
| Gene Sapakoff, Post and Courier, Charleston | |
| Jeff Hartsell, Post and Courier, Charleston | |
| Lou Bezjak, The State, Columbia | |
| Todd Shanesy, Herald Journal, Spartanburg | |
| SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER | |
| Dellas Cole, KBRK Radio, Brookings | |
| Jay Elsen, Midco Sports, Sioux Falls | |
| John Thayer, Coyote Sports Network, Vermillion | |
| Tyler Merriam, SDSU Radio Network, Brookings | |
| SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER | |
| James Cimburek, Yankton Press and Dakotan, Yankton | |
Jenna Ortiz, Aberdeen News, Aberdeen Matt Zimmer, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls | |
Richard Anderson, Rapid City Journal, Rapid City Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion, Watertown Ryan Deal, SportsTicket.tv, Mi | |