By 605 Sports staff

ABERDEEN — 605 Sports was recognized Friday by the South Dakota NewsMedia Association with seven awards for coverage in 2024.

The awards were announced during the SDNA’s annual convention. This year’s convention was held in Aberdeen.

This was the first year that 605 Sports competed in the annual competition since the SDNA welcomed media outlets beyond traditional newspaper publications.

605 Sports competed in Division 3, which featured the largest news media organizations in the state.

605 Sports took four places and three second place finishes. 

Rich Winter received first place for his high school rodeo coverage in Best Sports Series. 

Rodney Haas’ took second place for his story “As officiating shortage continues, South Dakota administrators and officials seek to find solutions” in the Best Sports Reporting category

605 Sports’ Matt Gade took first place in Best Portrait for his photo of Rapid City Stevens’ Taaliyah Porter. He also took first place in Best Sports Photo for his photo of McLaughlin girls basketball during the Lakota Nation Invitational. 

As a staff, 605 Sports was recognized with a first place in Best Special Publication for the 605 Rewind magazine. The staff was also recognized with a second place in Best Publication Website and second place in Best Use of Social Media. 

The SDNA contest was judged by members of the Louisiana Press Association earlier this year.

Gade was also recognized with four awards from his time at the Rapid City Journal prior to joining 605 Sports.

Gade took first place in Best Feature Photo, Second place in Best Spot News Photo and Second place in Best Photo Series. He also took third place in Sports Reporting and third place. 

The SDNA awards cap off several awards of recognition for staff members of 605 Sports.

Earlier this year, Editor Ryan Deal was recognized as the South Dakota Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Gade was named Runner-up Community Photojournalist by the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism competition.