The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics Communications and Sports Broadcasting Department brought home a combined eight Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) awards for the second consecutive year in an announcement on Sunday during the final day of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Weekend.

Louisiana claimed first-place honors in five categories, highlighted by Dan McDonald's Louisiana UnLimited feature on the 60-year career of UL Football statistician Ronnie Stutes.

Staffers Matt Sullivan (Division II – Men's Basketball/Baseball; and Division V – Game Notes) and Tom Perpetua (Division III – Women's Basketball/Softball) each claimed first-place awards for the Ragin' Cajuns with Athletics Photographer Ben Massey earning a first-place award in Division VIII (Photography).

McDonald and Eric Mouton earned a second-team award for best TV Live Event for their coverage of UL Women's Basketball contest against Troy while Evan Roberts (Division I - Football) and Heather Williams (Division VII – College Graphics) earned third-place honors

2023-24 LSWA SID/COMMUNICATIONS CONTEST RESULTS
DIVISION I – FOOTBALL FEATURE/RELEASE
FIRST PLACE – Dan McDonald, Louisiana
Feature on Ronnie Stutes and his 60-year career as a UL football statistician
Judges' Comments: Sometimes, a story subject – in this case a long-time statistician with a side gig as a background actor – is so fascinating that the best thing the writer can do is not get in the way and simply act as a tour guide for the reader. It's easier said than done, but the winner in this category nailed it. Beautiful, efficient writing.

3rd place – Evan Roberts, Louisiana
Feature on Video Coordinator Darren Walker and the essential support he provides to Ragin' Cajuns Football

DIVISION II – MEN'S BASKETBALL/BASEBALL FEATURE/RELEASE
FIRST PLACE – Matt Sullivan, Louisiana
Feature on Ragin' Cajun baseball and keeping the Little League tradition alive in Lafayette
Judges' Comments: Revealing story on Ragin' Cajuns Baseball and the Lafayette Little League joining forces to conduct a clinic in a town where youth baseball is a building block for future college and major league stars.

DIVISION III – WOMEN'S BASKETBALL/SOFTBALL FEATURE/RELEASE
FIRST PLACE – Tom Perpetua, Louisiana
Feature on Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball summer trip to Costa Rica
JUDGES COMMENTS: Well-detailed story on the cause and effect of how a summer trip abroad bonded a basketball team on and off the court.

DIVISION V – GAME NOTES
FIRST PLACE – Matt Sullivan, Louisiana
Ragin' Cajuns Baseball Notes vs. Southern Miss
Judges' comments: When it comes to game notes, clean and clear - being able to find things quickly, especially when doing a broadcast - is key. The front page has all the key elements that should be on a front page including a schedule, key stats and key notes. Nothing is cramped together, but evenly spread throughout - easily readable. The second page has a lot of key historic notes but isn't overkill. Pages 3 and 4 give a lot of great key notes that would be great for a broadcaster to use, before going into more detailed information the rest of the notes for someone who wants to do a dead dive.

DIVISION VII – GRAPHICS
3rd Place – Heather Williams, Louisiana Athletics Communications
Soccer Graphic for National Girls and Women in Sports Day

DIVISION VIII - PHOTOGRAPHY
FIRST PLACE – Ben Massey, Louisiana Athletics
Robert Williams go up to grab a touchdown pass at Big 10 opponent Minnesota
Judges' comments: Perfectly thrown pass = perfectly caught pass for a touchdown. Exquisite display of athleticism with an incredible vertical jump.

BEST LIVE TV EVENT
3rd Place – Dan McDonald & Eric Mouton, ESPN+/UL
Louisiana-Troy women's basketball game