NATCHITOCHES — Times-Picayune sportswriter Rod Walker was the big winner Sunday at the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's awards brunch.
Held in conjunction with the LSWA's convention and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame's induction festivities, which were held Thursday through Saturday, the awards honored the work of the state's top writers and photographers for 2023.
The Advocate, Times-Picayune, Acadiana Advocate and Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate writers and photographers combined to take home 26 awards — including 11 first-place plaques — in the contest judged by top editors and writers from across the country.
Walker earned two major awards. He was judged Class I Columnist of the Year for publications with a circulation of 10,000 and up and also earned the Sportswriter of the Year award.
Sportswriter of the Year goes to the person who accumulates the most points in regular categories with points awarded on a 3-2-1 basis for first- through third-place awards.
It's the fourth time that Walker, who had three firsts and a second, has won the award. He shared it in 2015 and 2018 and won it outright in 2017. This is the first time he has been recognized as Columnist of the Year.
The Advocate won a major award for Best section, which is a combined category for all papers in the state.
Walker's wins in the regular contest were in Pro event, Pro column and College column.
Other first-place awards for The Advocate went to Wilson Alexander (Breaking news), Leah Vann (College feature), Hilary Scheinuk (Prep-amateur photography) and Michael Johnson (Pro-college photography).
The Times-Picayune's other first went to Christopher Dabe (Prep event), while Dan McDonald (Amateur sports) claimed a first for the Acadiana Advocate.