To: OPSWA Members
From: Tim Stried
Re: Annual Writing and Photography Contest, Other Updates
December 26, 2018
Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Memo
Greetings OPSWA members. Please see below for several updates and announcements.
Annual Writing and Photography Contest
The postmark deadline is Feb. 16, 2019, to submit entries in the annual OPSWA writing and photography contest. The contest includes articles and photos about Ohio high school sports published between Jan. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2018.
Note that Division 2 has expanded to include average daily circulation sizes between 10,000 and 25,000. (Previously, Division 2 was between 15,000 and 25,000.)
The OHSAA Communications Office coordinates the contest (copies, mailing, tabulating results) and OPSWA members serve as judges.
Call for Judges
The annual OPSWA writing and photography contest is judged by your peers – and we need a lot of judges! Any OPSWA member interested in being a judge should notify Tim Stried. Every category will have at least two judges, with the final results being the average scores of the two judges.
Statewide Meeting Coming in April 2019
The 2019 OPSWA statewide meeting will be held in late April. The date, time and format will be announced in early 2019. The meeting is free to attend and lunch is provided. The tentative agenda is as follows:
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10:30 to 10:45 – Introductions and welcome remarks from OHSAA
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10:45 to 11:15 – Comments from OPSWA officers
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11:15 to 11:45 – Writing contest results and writers of the year announced
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11:45 to 12:30 – Lunch (complimentary)
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12:30 to 2:00 – Discussion Topics (All-Ohio Teams, polls, etc.)
OPSWA Website and Officers (New Officers Needed in April 2019)
The following OPSWA officers were elected at the statewide meeting in April 2017 and their terms expire in April 2019. New officers will be elected at the statewide meeting in April 2019. Any members interested in being an office should contact a current OPSWA officer, or Tim Stried at the OHSAA.
President: Jamie Baker, Findlay
First Vice President: Eric Frantz, Dayton
Second Vice President: Todd Stumpf, Medina
Secretary: John Cummings, Dayton Daily News
Treasurer: Scott Halasz, Xenia Daily Gazette
OPSWA Takes Control of All-Ohio Football and Basketball Teams
In October 2017, the Associated Press announced that it would no longer coordinate All-Ohio teams in football and basketball, but those honors continue thanks to the work of the district committees and the OPSWA officers. More discussion will take place at the April 2019 statewide meeting.
Hall of Fame
The OPSWA officers have selected the 2019 induction class for the OPSWA Hall of Fame, which will be honored on Saturday, March 23 during the boys basketball state tournament. The honorees will be announced in January.
New ID Badges Available
The OHSAA produces ID badges for OPSWA members that include the member’s photo and the media outlet logo. Any OPSWA member that wants a new ID badge should email their headshot (and media outlet logo, if desired) to Tim Stried. There is no cost for the ID badge.
Membership Roster Sets Record
As of December 2018, there are 170 registered OPSWA members, which marks the most in the history of the OPSWA. Membership in the OPSWA is free. Current members do not need to resubmit a registration form every year. New members shall submit a membership registration form, which is posted at:
https://www.ohsaa.org/Portals/0/News/OPSWA/OPSWAMemberRegistration.pdf
Tim Stried
Director of Communications
Ohio High School Athletic Association
614-267-2502, ext. 124
614-267-1677 fax
4080 Roselea Place
Columbus, OH 43214