Kevin Freeman of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal along with PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray (left) and Millersville SID Ethan Hulsey (right).
Freeman Named PSAC's Media Award Winner
Kevin Freeman, sportswriter and columnist for the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference George Heaslip Media Award. The award was presented to Freeman today at Kutztown University, one of the host sites for the league’s annual Football Media Luncheon.
Freeman, who has been covering Millersville University and PSAC sports for nearly three decades, is the 22nd recipient of the award. The Heaslip Award, as voted on by the league’s sports information directors, is presented annually to a media professional in recognition of meritorious service while covering the conference’s student-athletes, coaches and teams. The award is named in honor of former Cheyney University Sports Information Director George Heaslip, an admirable ambassador of his institution and the PSAC.
Freeman began working at the Intelligencer Journal in 1983 upon his graduation from William Paterson University. Immediately he started covering Millersville football and women’s basketball and to this day remains the beat writer for the Marauders highly successful women’s basketball program. His extensive coverage of Millersville football included attendance at weekly football press luncheons with head coach Gene Carpenter and game coverage during the program’s run of six PSAC East titles and three NCAA playoff appearances.
His tenure has yielded hundreds of feature stories on Millersville athletes in addition to his game recaps of several Marauder events. In addition, he has written many feature stories and columns regarding administrators, coaches, athletes and teams throughout the PSAC. Some of his recent work includes a story on a pair of Millersville women’s basketball players who interned at The Hershey Medical Center and a memorable feature following the passing of Coach Carpenter. The thoroughly researched piece detailed not only Carpenter’s abundant success but also provided perspective from former student-athletes who gained from his leadership.
Well respected by his peers throughout the area, Freeman has served as president of the Lancaster Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association for over a decade. He and his wife Theresa live in Lititz and are the parents of children Zach, Laura, Mike and Colleen.
The list of the previous Heaslip Award winners:
2009 - Chuck Seese, WVPO/WSBG Radio/Stroudsburg
2008 - Tony Coccagna, Indiana Gazette
2007 - Phil Axelrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2006 - Bob Black, Harrisburg Patriot News
2005 - Ron Bracken, Centre Daily Times
2004 - Liz Sullivan, West Chester Daily Local News
2003 - Dave Mackall, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
2002 - Goose Goslin, KDKA Radio
2001 - By Kintzer, WGAL/WLPA Radio
2000 - Jeff Schuler, (Allentown) Morning Call
1999 - Bob Hafer, Harrisburg Patriot-News
1998 - Tom Coccagna, Chambersburg Public Opinion
1997 - Bill Albright, Williamsport Sun Gazette
1996 - Jim Camp, Erie Morning News
1995 - Jack Benedict, WCCS/Radio Homer City
1994 - Tom Rose, Washington Observer-Reporter
1993 - Jim Doyle, WJMW Radio, Bloomsburg
1992 - Pete Zapadka, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
1991 - Ray “Skip” Hutter, Harrisburg Patriot-News
1990 - Ross Nevel, The Lock Haven Express
1989 - Ray Kienzl, The Pittsburgh Press