Kenny Reynolds

1) Hometown Spirit

This story was head and shoulders above the rest in this category. The photographer did an excellent job of following the story through from beginning to end. We learned about the history of this cheerleader, which gave us some insight to her passion for making the team. It was shot and edited brilliantly. The interviews and nat sound breaks provided the perfect pace for this piece - which, in turn, re-enforced the fact that cheerleading is indeed a sport.

2) 9-man

A very innovative way to tell this story. At first the graphics seemed a bit over the top, but as the story played on I realized that they were just another tool to help provide information to help advance the story. The highlights were shot extremely well - interwoven with the sights and sounds of a high school football championship game. The mic placement really provided incredible personal moments, especially when the quarterback became injured. This was a brilliant photo essay that really made you feel like you were at the stadium watching the game.

3) 100% Effort

Great hustle. Every shot and every edit seemed perfect for this piece. There was no point that I thought, "I wish I'd see ___" - everything was there. The photographer put time and effort into telling this young lady's story and following her through her day - beginning at home - through lacing up the skates and heading out on the ice. There were great natural moments on the ice from both the skater and her trainers. A really great piece of work.

Honorable Mention - Hit Parade

The photographer took us places we had never been with this story. It was wonderful to go into the audio booth and take a look behind the scenes at a major league ballpark. The nat sound was beautiful. Great hustle to get the shots on and off of the field.

Honorable Mention - Robbie the Runner

Excellent photography and editing on this one. It took a lot of hustle to get all of the shots the photog needed to make this piece sing. I especially loved the shot of Robbie coming over the hill as she was introduced. The nat sound and pacing was great. We had so many good entries in this category, we felt compelled to add more than one Honorable mention. This is the only category where sports photographers get a chance to shine, and we want to make sure that they have an opportunity to do so.

Richard Essex

Hometown Spirit--the best reveal I have seen so far. The shooting and editing on this piece is incredible, not to mention the investment in time to put the story together..

9 man...the production value is tremendous, the use of graphic and editing carried us from opening kick off to final score. The effort and attention to detail made this is a very close second..

100 percent effort...The only problem with this one is the lack of a true competition. Great preview story...

Kurt Austin

This category had many 1st rate stories to choose from. If I could hand out 7 places I would. The 1st place story, Hometown Spirit was phenomenal. Great editing, shot selection and sound. The commitment to this story was evident. The photojournalist and reporter worked very well together. The payoff at the end of the story was that exclamation point you always hope for.

9 Man captured 2nd place. This story was very innovative! Great technique through out. The photojournalist blended a mix of shots, sounds, music and graphics to tell a very compelling story about a 9-man high school football championship.

The third place story, 100% Effort was absolutely flawless! Incredible shots. Seamless editing. The sound blend from bites to nats flowed effortlessly from scene to scene.

The category was so stacked with great stories we chose two honorable mentions. Hit Parade was very solid. The photojournalist had every shot imaginable. A lot of the story was shot inside the small booth of the Texas Ranger's announcer---who happens to play personalised music for the different players. Robbie the Runner was very well shot and edited and followed the efforts of a 75 year old woman running in a half marathon and then training for the New York marathon. The shot selection, composition and editing were fantastic.

Katrina (Brown) McCann

#1 Hometown Spirit

This category had so many good stories, but this one really stood out in my mind. I love the fact that it gave an inside view of cheerleading, and how competitive of a sport it really is. This story was the complete package, and you could tell the photographer put a lot of effort into getting every piece of the puzzle. I loved the fact that they followed through with the story till the end, when a lot of people would have stopped when she found out she made it. It was the best reveal I have seen so far. There was such a variety of shots, and a lot of close-ups. I liked the composition of the shots, and all the nat sound. You really got to know the girl in the story. This photographer did such an exceptional job of shooting such a difficult sport.

#2 9-Man

I absolutely loved this story. I could watch it over and over again. This story was so captivating I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. I had been transported to the game, and was sitting right there in the middle of the stands. I found my self yelling at the screen when the second guy got hurt, " oh no, not another one." This story made me feel like I was routing for my hometown team. I also loved the ending. I found that I was so involved with the story that it was very emotional that they lost the game. It was by far the best sports shooting I have ever seen. I also like the production of the story and the graphics that updated what was going on in a very creative way. This photographer really thought outside the box and it definitely paid off.

#3 100% Effort

This was a solid story. The photography was creative and flawless. I really enjoyed watching the subject throughout her daily routine. You really get a sense of who she is and what she loves. I loved the sound and the close-ups. Every shot had something unique about it. The photographer's effort in this story was apparent. Shooting on the ice is very difficult, and they shot it perfectly.

HM Hit Parade

We chose two honorable mentions this time, because there were so many deserving stories in this category. To me this story stood out a little more. It was a very creative story that I personally hadn't seen someone do before. It was great to be able to see behind the scenes at a professional baseball game. The shots in the story were very well composed, and there were a variety of shots in such a small location. I really enjoyed the stand-up and the use of reflections throughout the story. There were also memorable moments, and an abundance of compelling nat sound. This story was a homerun.

HM Robbie the Runner

This story was also deserving of an honorable mention. The story was moving, and the photography was very creative. You really got a sense of who Robbie was. I liked the variety of shots, and it is apparent that the photographer hustled through the entire story. I really enjoyed watching this story.

Scott Hedeen

Sports, the games and the people that play them are something that we can all connect with. To see people strive and succeed is wonderful. To see them fail is something that is impossible not to feel for them.

The first place was a learning experience. Captured passion released in front of my eyes, I met a young woman who had lived a life hoping for a cheerleading position at her hometown college. The photographer followed her and showed her present and past... and had her and myself the viewer looking forward. Caught and portrayed by the photographer, this was a piece that succeeded on all levels.

The second place was an innovative blend of graphic editing and purity. A hybrid of modern day computer tools mixed with classic moments built a wonderful tension and pay off

The third place was shot by a photographer who was in my mind a perfectionist a person not happy unless every angle is shot or examined. A wonderful goal to strive for.

Honorable mentions go to two pieces... it was a tough category not to give out more that just the top three awards.

The music man piece is the only major league baseball piece I've seen that actually made me feel like it was a little league game. The great highlights and shot composure made me think I was actually part of it. A rare feat in the modern day professional sport coverage.

The second honorable mention was brilliant in its shot composure. Every shot was top notch and edited to show these shots off. I loved it.