First Place, Sports Feature - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Johnny Gaudreau Memorial”Hylas Steman of Grove City gets a consoling hug from Shiloh Rivera, 7, alongside Amanda Rivera, also of Grove City, as mourners gather outside Nationwide Arena at a makeshift memorial for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles home from their sister's wedding rehearsal dinner near their hometown of Oldmans Township, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia the night before.
Second Place, Sports Feature - Rebecca Benson / The Blade, “Finish Line”Boys lie on the ground after finishing their race during the Northern Lakes League cross country championships at Walsh Park in Fremont on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
Third Place, Sports Feature - Jeremy Wadsworth / The Blade, “Battle”Bowling Green State University line backer Avi McGary celebrates winning the Battle of I-75 against the University of Toledo Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Glass Bowl in Toledo. BGSU defeated UT, 41-26.
Award of Excellence, Sports Action - Akash Pamarthy / Ohio University, “Brutal”Chris Okyen and Zack Malone grunt and groan with their fists unlocked in a practice match during team Brutal’s arm wrestling practice session at Stan Walkuw’s garage in Mechanicsville, Va., Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Jeff Lange / Akron Beacon Journal, “Game Winner”West Branch’s Boston Mulinix celebrates after scoring the game-winning run during the seventh inning of the OHSAA Division II state championship baseball game against Hamilton Badin at Canal Park, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Akron, Ohio.
Award of Excellence, Sports Feature - Sam Greene / The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Rookie Splash”Cincinnati Reds right fielder Rece Hinds (77) receives an ice bath from Lucas Sims and Buck Farmer after his MLB Debut in the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, July 8, 2024. Hinds had two extra base hits, including a 449-foot home run in his Big League Debut, contributing to a 6-0 win for the Reds.
