Sentinel wins four awards at APSE national contest

Early morning sunshine backlights the swell at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz on Oct. 19, as a surfer flies out of a large wave after an extended ride. SHMUEL THALER — SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL, FILE

Soquel High football coach Dwight Lowery is taking in the moment of winning the CIF Division 4-AA State Championship against Jarupa Hills in Pasadena on Dec. 8. RAUL EBIO — SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL, FILE

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The Santa Cruz Sentinel produced four winning submissions, two for writing and two for photography, at the Associated Press Sports Editors’ annual national contest.

Sentinel Sports Editor Jim Seimas was honored in two writing divisions, Shmuel Thaler was honored in action photography, and freelancer Raul Ebio was honored in feature photography.

“I’m super stoked for the Sentinel to receive national recognition,” Seimas said. “Our staffers, part-timers, and freelancers work their tails off to deliver our subscribers the best, most engaging content possible. I’m elated our photographers were rewarded for their dedication and talent.”

Remote judging took place the past two weeks to evaluate the best in sports coverage nationwide, both online and in print, from 2023. In-person judging took place at the APSE 2024 Winter Conference, held at Doubletree Suites in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Sunday through Thursday

The APSE announced top-10 winners throughout its winter conference.

In the coming weeks, the APSE will reveal its final rankings, from first to 10th place, in each category. The winners will be honored at the conclusion of the APSE Summer Convention, which runs June 20-22 at Marriott South Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

One of Seimas’ winning stories was in the breaking news category. It was an emotionally written piece on the passing of legendary Santa Cruz High coach and educator Bill Dodge, and the legacy he left behind.

His other winner came in the short feature category, and focused on Soquel’s fashion-conscious football coach Dwight Lowery, a former NFLer, wearing a letterman jacket during the Knights’ historic run to the CIF State Championship.

Seimas has 27 APSE wins since joining the Sentinel in October of 1998.

Thaler’s winning submission was a brilliant, back-lit image featuring the silhouette of a surfer bailing out or a massive, crashing wave at Steamer Lane during a big swell.

Ebio’s winning entry featured Lowery reacting incredulously after the Knights won the state football title in Pasadena on Dec. 8.

It is Thaler’s third APSE win since photography was added to the contest in 2018 and Ebio’s first.

Freelance photographer Brandon Vallance was the Sentinel’s lone award winner last year, when he placed sixth in feature photo and seventh in action photo.

The Sentinel competed in Division D, designated for publications with a circulation of 15,000 or under.