The Colorado Springs Gazette earned numerous national accolades from The Associated Press Sports Editors for work in 2023.
The sports section was among the top 10 in its category for print portfolio (which considers daily and Sunday editions) as well as in the digital category.
The Gazette competes in the third-largest category, which also features publications such as the Daily Memphian, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star, The State (Columbia, S.C.), Wichita Eagle and Wisconsin State Journal.
“It’s always exciting to see our work earn praise from, and in comparison to, our peers on a national level,” said sports editor Brent Briggeman. “We’ve added three sports reporters over the past two years. To have a showing like this once again in the APSE awards speaks to the seamless nature of that transition, which I credit to our staff’s hard work and dedication to covering sports in our community.”
Reporter Carson Field was honored in the short features category for his profile of Colorado College goalkeeper Kaidan Mbereko. It was Field’s first APSE award.
Luke Zahlmann’s examination of local preparedness at the high school level following the frightening on-field medical emergency of Buffalo Bills defender Damar Hamlin earned an award in the projects category. Zahlmann, who has since moved from the Colorado Springs Gazette to the Denver Gazette as the Colorado Rockies beat writer, was recognized for feature writing in 2022.
Photo editor Christian Murdock placed in the feature photo category for an image of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders warming up before facing Nebraska.
