The College of Journalism and Mass Communications proudly announces the top place finishers in the Lynn and Dana Roper Sports Writing Competition.
Drake Keeler, a junior journalism major from Parker, Colorado, took first place in the competition. His entries were “Former Huskers play role in taking stand on ‘This Is Us’ softball team,” which ran in the Daily Nebraskan on July 6, 2020, and “Nebraska grapples with historical lack of Black head coaches,” which ran in the Nebraska News Service on Dec. 14, 2020. Keeler will receive a $2,000 award for his first-place finish.
Luke Mullin, a senior journalism and sports media and communication major from Omaha, Nebraska, took second place. His entries included a Dec. 19, 2020, Nebraska News Service story, “Solving Omaha’s racial divide may not be obvious, but youth athletics could be a step in the right direction for the decades-long conundrum,” and “Super-State volleyball: Krause’s analytical approach to volleyball puts the Omaha Skutt standout in a class of her own,” which ran in the Lincoln Journal Star on Dec. 5, 2020. Mullin will receive a $1,500 award.
Kylee Sodomka, a sophomore sports media and communication and broadcasting major from Grand Island, Nebraska, was awarded third place. Her entries included the June 15, 2020, Nebraska News Service story, “Through the eyes behind the plate,” and the June 22, 2020, Nebraska News Service story, “No Nebraska Danger and it’s not because of COVID-19.” Sodomka will receive a $1,000 award.
Marko Jerkovic, a sophomore sports media and communication and broadcasting major from Lincoln, Nebraska, took fourth place. His entries were the Feb. 5, 2020, Daily Nebraskan story, “Isaiah White’s long journey to national title contender,” and the Nov. 19, 2019, Daily Nebraskan story, “NU wrestler Chad Red Jr. using past success as fuel for 2019-20 season.” Jerkovic will receive a $500 award.
The Roper Sports Writing Competition judges are Elizabeth Merrill, senior writer, ESPN; Dirk Chatelain, sportswriter, Omaha World-Herald, and Chris Heady, former sports reporter, Omaha World-Herald.
Established in 2001, the Lynn and Dana Roper Sports Writing Competition is an annual sports reporting competition open to all graduate and undergraduate students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
