One made history, and then the other followed suit. Sunday, as the Alabama Sports Writers Association distributed its final honors for the 2025-26 academic year while holding its 54th annual annual convention and awards banquet, the organization saw two unprecedented firsts, both involving journalists from Alabama Crimson Tide on SI/BamaCentral. Katie Windham, who had served as vice-president over the last two years, was handed the reins and became the first female president in the history of the organization. She's the 27th journalist to hold the position since 1974. Meanwhile, Christopher Walsh won the ASWA's highest annual writing honor, the Herby Kirby Memorial Award for story of the year. He's the first four-time winner. "I was shocked and incredibly humbled," Walsh said. "You look at the names of the other winners, many of the biggest journalism names in this state, and to be the first four-time winner ... there just aren't adequate words to describe how grateful I am."Walsh had previously won the award 2006, 2014 and 2020. It's the second time he's won the honor since founding BamaCentral in 2018. Meanwhile, former AL.com journalist Josh Beam was presented with induction into the ASWA Hall of Honor, which was established to recognize individuals connected to our state for their contributions to the ASWA and sports community. Randy Kennedy, a previous winner of the Mel Allen Award from the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and named one of the ASWA's 50 Legends, was honored with the Bill Shelton Award. Named after the late Cullman Times sports editor, it recognizes a writer's contributions to his newspaper, the industry and the community. Kennedy was also elected vice-president of the organization. AL.com led all media outlets with seven awards in the annual writing contest, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentral took home six, and the Shelby County Reporter won four. The Herby Kirby Award is given in memory of the longtime Birmingham Post Herald sports writer who died in the press box covering Notre Dame's 24-23 national championship win over Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl. Only the first-place submissions in the other categories of the writing contest are considered for the story of the year honor. 2026 ASWA Writing Awards Best Sports Story, Writing on a Deadline, Prep or Other Amateur Event First place: David Glovach, TimesDaily Second place: Max Donaldson, Gadsden TimesBest ColumnFirst place: Ben Thomas, AL.comSecond place (tie): Christopher Walsh, Alabama Crimson Tide on SI/BamaCentralBest football story, Power 5 or NFLFirst place: Creg Stephenson, AL.com Second place: Bob Labbe, Madison RecordBest football story, non-Power 5, Preps or otherFirst place: David Glovach, TimesDailySecond place: Thomas Ashworth, AL.comBest basketball story, without a deadlineFirst place: Bob Labbe, Madison RecordSecond place: Andrew Simonson, Shelby County ReporterBest Baseball Story, without a deadlineFirst place: Mark McCarter, Sports IllustratedSecond place: David Glovach, TimesDailyBest Softball Story, without a deadlineFirst place: Thomas Ashworth, AL.comSecond place: Katie Windham, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentral Best Boxing and/or Wrestling Story, without a deadlineFirst place: Andrew Simonson, Shelby County ReporterSecond place: Bob Labbe, The Madison RecordBest General Sports Story, without a deadlineFirst place: Solomon Crenshaw Jr., Over the Mountain JournalSecond place: Thomas Ashworth, AL.comBest Enterprise or Explanatory Story First place: Creg Stephenson, AL.comSecond place: Mike Rodak, Bama247Best Breaking News story First place: Mike Rodak, Bama247Second place: Ben Thomas, AL.comBest ProjectFirst place: Christopher Walsh, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentral Second place: Creg Stephenson, AL.comBest Deadline/Game Story by a studentFirst place: Theo Fernandez, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentralSecond place: Sarah Turner, The AlabamianBest Enterprise Story or Feature by a student First place: Theo Fernandez, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentralSecond place: Sarah Turner, The AlabamianBest Supplement First place: Shelby County ReporterSecond place: Shelby County ReporterHerby Kirby Award (Story of the Year): Christopher Walsh, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentralASWA Hall of Honor2007: David Housel (Auburn University), Don Naman (Talladega Speedway), Charles Thornton (University of Alabama)2009: Larry White (University of Alabama)2018: Greg Seitz (Jacksonville State)2021: Ivan Maisel 2022: Vic Knight2023: Joshua Underwood (Jacksonville State) 2024: Kent Partridge (West Alabama)2026: Josh BeanBen Thomas presents the award with induction into the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Hall of Honor to Josh Bean at the ASWA awards banquet on June 16, 2026 at Jacksonville State. | Vasha HuntBill Shelton Award2000 Jimmy Smothers2001 John Pruett2002 Al Browning2003 Ross Wood2004 Mark McCarter2005 Jon Johnson2006 Ron Ingram2007 Mark Edwards2008 Lew Gilliand2009 Tommy Deas2010 Steve Irvine2011 Mike Szvetitz2012 Kim Shugart2013 Andrew Carroll2014 Shannon Fagan2015 Greg Dewalt2016 John Zenor2017 Ben Thomas2018 Solomon Crenshaw2019 Jeff McIntyre2020 Tommy Hicks2022 Charles Hollis2023 Creg Stephenson2024 Christopher Walsh2025 David Glovach2026: Randy KennedyRandy Kennedy is presented with the ASWA Bill Shelton Award at the Alabama Sports Writers Association awards banquet on June 14, 2026 at Jacksonville State. | Vasha HuntHerby Kirby Award (Story of the Year)1974 Wayne Hester, Anniston Star1975 Paul Cox, Opelika-Auburn News1976 Mike McKenzie, Tuscaloosa News1977 Al Browning, Tuscaloosa News1978 John Pruett, Huntsville Times1979 Al Browning, Tuscaloosa News1980 Bill Lumpkin, Birmingham Post-Herald1981 Bill Lumpkin, Paul Finebaum, Rubin Grant, Birmingham Post-Herald1982 Paul Finebaum, Birmingham Post-Herald1983 Wayne Martin, Birmingham News1984 Chuck Finder, Birmingham News1985 Bob Mayes, Huntsville Times1986 John Pruett, Huntsville Times1987 Ron Ingram, Birmingham News1988 Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News1989 Wayne Martin, Birmingham News1990 Ray Melick, Richard Scott, Birmingham Post-Herald1991 Bill Lumpkin, Birmingham Post-Herald1992 Mike Marshall, Huntsville Times1993 Mike Marshall, Huntsville Times1994 Mike Marshall, Huntsville Times1995 Phillip Marshall, Huntsville Times1996 Tommy Hicks, Mobile Register1997 Richard Scott, Birmingham Post-Herald1998 Ted Miller, Mobile Register1999 Tommy Hicks, Mobile Register2000 Mike Bolton, Doug Segrest, Bob Carlton, Birmingham News2001 Jimmy Creed, Anniston News2002 Mike Bolton, Doug Segrest, Bob Carlton, Birmingham News2003 Jimmy Creed, Anniston Star2004 Phillip Marshall, Huntsville Timess2005 Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times2006 Christopher Walsh, Tuscaloosa News2007 Jon Solomon, Erin Stock, Birmingham News2008 Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News2009 Don Kausler Jr., Ray Mellick, Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News2010 Jon Solomon, Birmingham News2011 Jon Solomon, Birmingham News2012 Alex Scarborough, Tuscaloosa News2013 Ryan Wood, Opelika-Auburn News2014 Christopher Walsh, BamaOnline2015 Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald2016 Gregg Dewalt, Florence Times-Daily2017 Josh Bean, AL.com2018 Creg Stephenson, AL.com2019 Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser2020 Christopher Walsh, BamaCentral2021 Aaron Suttles, The Athletic2022 David Glovach, Florence TimesDaily2023 Creg Stephenson, AL.com2024 Michael Casagrande, AL.com2025 Ben Thomas, AL.com2026 Christopher Walsh, Alabama Crimson TIde On SI/BamaCentralASWA Presidents1974-75 George Smith, Anniston Star1975-76 Paul Cox, Opelika-Auburn News1976-78 Bill Lumpkin, Birmingham Post-Herald1978-80 John Pruett, Huntsville Times1980-82 Wayne Hester, Anniston Times1982-84 Phillip Marshall, Montgomery Advertiser1984-86 John Pruett, Huntsville Times1986-88 Al Burleson, Huntsville Times1988-92 Kirk McNair, Bama Magazine1993-94 Charles Hollis, Birmingham News1995-96 Ray Melick, Birmingham Post-Herald1997-98 Doug Segrest, Birmingham News1999-2000 Tommy Hicks, Mobile Register2001-02 Phillip Tutor, Anniston Star2003-04 Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News2005-06 Greg Seitz, Jacksonville State University2007-08 Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times2009-10 Ben Thomas, Mobile Press-Register2011-12 Gregg Dewalt, Florence Times Daily2013-14 Jon Johnson, Dothan Eagle2015-16 Tommy Hicks, Mobile 2017-18 John Zenor, Associated Press2019-20 Creg Stephenson, AL.com2021-22 Christopher Walsh, BamaCentral2023-24 Stacy Long, Florence DailyTimes2024-25 Tony Tsoukalas, Tide Illustrated2026-27 Katie Windham, Alabama Crimson Tide/BamaCentral New Alabama Sports Writers Association president Katie Windham presents the Small College Player of the Year trophy to Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body at the ASWA awards banquet on June 14, 2026 at Jacksonville State. | Vasha HuntAlabama Crimson Tide On SI/BamaCentral is the online home of the Alabama Sports Writers Association.Sign up for our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and Blue Sky for the latest news.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow