NJ.com captures historic four first-place awards in national APSE contest

NJ.com capped off a banner year of sports coverage by earning a historic four first-place awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors — widely regarded as the highest honors in sports journalism.

The wins mark the first time NJ.com/The Star-Ledger has captured four individual first-place honors in a single year — an even more remarkable achievement given the organization competes in the largest circulation category alongside industry heavyweights such as The New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and other national media giants.

NJ.com’s momentous haul was paced by “Prey to Play,” which finished No. 1 in the prestigious Investigative category. The searing investigation by Matthew Stanmyre and Keith Sargeant uncovered widespread and largely unchecked sexual abuse in youth sports and revealed how purported checks and balances are failing children and allowing predators to fester.

“Prey to Play” also was awarded the Gold Medal for Distinguished Journalism from the New Jersey Association for Justice and the First Amendment award by the New Jersey Press Association, while finishing as a finalist/runner-up in the Sports Investigations category in the esteemed national IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) Awards.

This year’s APSE victory marks Stanmyre’s fifth first-place finish and Sargeant’s first.

Meanwhile, Brian Fonseca and Steve Politi were awarded first place in the Breaking News category for uncovering how then-Rutgers gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley “lost control” of her program — all while she was involved in an undisclosed “improper” relationship with former athletic director Pat Hobbs, who ultimately resigned. spurred widespread criticism of the Rutgers athletic department and prompted former Gov. Phil Murphy to call for an independent investigation.