Times sports editor takes 3rd in Minn. AP Sports Contest for ‘The History of Pirate Football’

Here are the results of the 2011 Minnesota Associated Press Sports Association writing, editing and design contest. Awards will be presented Tuesday, June 26, at the group's annual meeting in Minneapolis.

Division I (under-20,000 circulation)

Column

1st: Ian Stauffer, Owatonna People's Press

2nd: Rand Middleton, West Central Tribune, Willmar

3rd: Brendan Burnett-Kurie, Faribault Daily News

Investigative reporting

1st: "Taken to the Mat," by Ian Stauffer, Owatonna People's Press

2nd: No winner

3rd: No winner

Spot News

1st: "The $50K Kid," by Kyle Stevens, Owatonna People's Press

2nd: "No 50K for kid who made hockey shot," by Josh Berhow, Faribault Daily News

3rd: "Morrissey named FHS boys basketball coach," by Brendan Burnett-Kurie, Faribault Daily News

Feature story

1st: "The beautiful team," by Brendan Burnett-Kurie, Faribault Daily News

2nd: "Finding a New Home," by Matt Dahlseid, Marshall Independent

3rd: "I made a mistake," by Scott Thoma, West Central Tribune, Willmar

Game story

1st: "First time's the charm," by Tom Larson, West Central Tribune, Willmar

2nd: "Champs! The perfect match at the perfect time," by Brendan Burnett-Kurie, Faribault Daily News

3rd: "Beavers bite back," by Eric Stromgren, The Pioneer, Bemidji

Enterprise

1st: "A Decade of Dominance," by Brendan Burnett-Kurie, Faribault Daily News

2nd: "Where have all the fishermen gone?" by Brendan Burnett-Kurie, Faribault Daily News

3rd: "Now we know better," by Pat Miller, The Pioneer, Bemidji

Special Section

1st: Winter Sports, The Pioneer, Bemidji

2nd: 2011-12 Winter Sports Preview, by Brendan Burnett-Kurie and Josh Berhow, Faribault Daily News

3rd: The History of Pirate Football, by Derek Martin, Crookston Daily Times

Design and editing

1st: Marshall Independent

2nd: Owatonna People's Press

3rd: Faribault Daily News

General excellence

1st: Marshall Independent

2nd: Owatonna People's Press

3rd: West Central Tribune, Willmar

___

Division II (over-20,000 circulation)

Column

1st: Rick Lubbers, Duluth News Tribune

2nd: Mick Hatten, St. Cloud Times

3rd: Guy Limbeck, Post-Bulletin, Rochester

Investigative reporting

1st: "Eligibility fuels debate," by Ryan Clark, The Forum, Fargo

2nd: "Source: UND pushed resolution early," by Jeff Kolpack, The Forum, Fargo

3rd: "Donations, loyalty lead to priority," by Eric Peterson, The Forum, Fargo

Spot News

1st: "Abukar plays in state loss," by Tom Elliott, St. Cloud Times

2nd: "Final goodbyes said to legendary UMD coach," by Jon Nowacki, Duluth News Tribune

3rd: "Baseball squad rescues motorist," by Jeff Kolpack, The Forum, Fargo

Feature story

1st: "Cancer scare put soccer in perspective," by Donny Henn, Post Bulletin, Rochester

2nd: "SCSU senior back on field after accident," by Andy Rennecke, St. Cloud Times

3rd: "In a better place," by Ben Pherson, Post-Bulletin, Rochester

Game story

1st: "Racing ahead, young and old," by Mick Hatten, St. Cloud Times

2nd: "Eagle rewarded for their perseverance," Pat Ruff, Post-Bulletin, Rochester

3rd: "The west was won," by Wayne Nelson, Grand Forks Herald

Enterprise

1st: "Caught in coaching's 'Bermuda Triangle'," by Brett Boese, Post-Bulletin, Rochester

2nd: "SCSU hockey program leaders, fans hopeful for strong future; community reacts to conference changes," by Mick Hatten, David Unze and Dave Aeikens, St. Cloud Times

3rd: "A season long series: 50th anniversary of Roger Maris 61-homerun season," by Heath Hotzler, Jeff Kolpack, Eric Peterson, Hayden Goethe and Kevin Schnepf, The Forum, Fargo

Special Section

1st: No Place Like Home, Bobbi Duchamp and Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald

2nd: Pigskin Preview 2011, Post-Bulletin, Rochester

3rd: Prep Football 2011: Changing Formation, St. Cloud Times

Design and editing

1st: The Forum, Fargo

2nd: St. Cloud Times

3rd: The Free Press, Mankato

General excellence

1st: Grand Forks Herald

2nd: The Forum, Fargo

3rd: St. Cloud Times