FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — KNWA/FOX24 and Pig Trail Nation’s own Alyssa Orange has been named an Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year. Orange tied for the award with Kyle Deckelbaum of KATV.
Winners were announced on Monday, Jan. 9 by the National Sports Media Association. According to a release, among the 116 who won 2021 state sportscaster or sportswriter of the year honors, 70 are first-time winners in their respective states, including Orange.
The NSMA will honor its award winners and Hall of Fame inductees during the organization’s 63rd awards weekend and national convention, scheduled for June 24-26 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Orange has worked in sports television since 2010. Growing up with a father who worked at a news station in Richmond, Va., she has been around the business for as long as she can remember.
She began her career covering her Alma Mater, Florida State, in Tallahassee, Fla. at WCTV then headed to Abilene, Texas, to work for KTAB/KRBC to get the opportunity to cover high school football at its best.
Over the last seven years at KNWA/FOX24, Orange has been covering all things Razorback, covering the football team in the Liberty Bowl against Kansas State, the baseball team’s 2015, 2018 & 2019 run to the College World Series, the basketball team’s back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Darren McFadden’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as well as back to back Super Bowls in Houston and Minneapolis.
In 2020, Orange was named the Main Anchor & Co-Sports Director for Pig Trail Nation.
A full list of national and state winners can be found below:
2023 NSMA Hall of Fame Inductees and 2022 NSMA Award Winners
*Deceased
(# of times won in parentheses)
1 – won Sportswriter of the Year one time in New Hampshire
HALL OF FAME SPORTSCASTERS
Lee Corso, ESPN
*Dan Kelly, NHL on CBS, St. Louis Blues
HALL OF FAME SPORTSWRITERS
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
*Roger Angell, The New Yorker, Author
NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Ian Eagle, CBS/Westwood One (1)
NATIONAL SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic (1)
Pete Thamel, ESPN.com (1)
ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Parris, Jacksonville State Network, Jacksonville (1)
ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Nubyjas Wilborn, AL.com, Auburn (1)
ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jody Jackson, Bally Sports, Phoenix (1)
ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Doug Haller, The Athletic, Phoenix (5)
Craig Morgan, PHNX, Phoenix (1)
ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Kyle Deckelbaum, KATV, Little Rock (1)
Alyssa Orange, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville (1)
ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Scottie Bordelon, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville (1)
CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Tim Roye, Warriors/95.7 The Game, San Francisco (1)
CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles (2)
COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Romi Bean, KCNC-TV, Denver (1)
Conor McGahey, Avalanche/Altitude Radio, Denver (1)
COLORADO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mark Kiszla, Denver Post (3)
CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Matt Finkel, WVIT-TV, Hartford (1)
CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Jacobs, Hearst Connecticut Media, Hartford (11)
DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Scott Klatzkin, iHeart Media, Wilmington (6)
DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brad Myers, The News Journal, Wilmington (2)
DC SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Grant Paulsen, 106.7 The Fan, Washington (2)
DC SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Barry Svrluga, Washington Post (5)
FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Gene Deckerhoff, FSU/TB Bucs Networks, Tallahassee/Tampa (16)
FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, Miami (2)
GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Ingram, Atlanta Braves Radio Network (1)
GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta (1)
David O’Brien, The Athletic, Atlanta (2)
HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Rob DeMello, KHON-TV, Honolulu (4)
HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jason Kaneshiro, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Honolulu (1)
IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Behler, Boise State Radio Network/Learfield, Boise (6)
IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Kaye, Idaho Press, Nampa (1)
ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Jeff Joniak, Bears Radio Network, Chicago
Leila Rahimi, WMAQ-TV, Chicago (1)
ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times (1)
Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, Chicago
INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Chris Denari, Pacers/Bally Sports, Indianapolis (1)
INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bob Kravitz, The Athletic, Indianapolis (3)
IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Sears, WHO-TV, Des Moines (1)
IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, Iowa City (1)
KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Thompson, K-State Sports Network/Learfield, Manhattan (7)
KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital-Journal, Topeka (1)
KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
*Mike Pratt, UK Radio Network, Lexington (1)
KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington (2)
LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Brooke Kirchhofer, WWL-TV, New Orleans (1)
LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Robin Fambrough, The Advocate, Baton Rouge (1)
MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Peck, WVII-TV, Bangor (1)
MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
1Steve Craig, Portland Press Herald, Portland (1)
MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Morgan Adsit, WBFF-TV, Baltimore (1)
MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Dan Connolly, The Athletic, Baltimore (2)
Rich Dubroff, BaltimreBaseball.com (1)
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Joe Castiglione, Red Sox Radio Network, Boston (1)
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Karen Guregian, Boston Herald, Boston (1)
MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dan Dickerson, Tigers Radio Network, Detroit (4)
MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, Detroit (1)
MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Cory Provus, Twins Radio Network, Minneapolis (3)
MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Andy Greder, Pioneer Press, St. Paul (1)
Patrick Reusse, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis (2)
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
David Kellum, Ole Miss Radio Network/Learfield, Oxford (9)
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Today, Jackson (14)
MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dan McLaughlin, Cardinals/Bally Sports Midwest, St. Louis (1)
MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Katie Woo, The Athletic. St. Louis (1)
MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Rocky Erickson, Rocky Erickson Sports, Billings (10)
MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Victor Flores, 406mtsports.com, Bozeman (1)
NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Doug Duda, ESPN Tri-Cities Radio, Kearney (1)
NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Evan Bland, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (1)
Stu Pospisil, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (1)
NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Bolinger, KVVU-TV, Las Vegas (3)
NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Adam Hill, Las Vegas-Review Journal, Las Vegas (1)
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Murphy, UNH Radio Network/Learfield, Durham (9)
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Rosenberg, Valley News, Lebanon (1)
NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Eric LeGrand, Rutgers Radio Network/Learfield, Piscataway (1)
NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brendan Kuty, NJ Advance Media, Woodbridge (1)
NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lee Faria, KOB-TV, Albuquerque (1)
NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jason Groves Las Cruces Sun News, Las Cruces (1)
NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Gary Cohen, Mets/SNY, New York (2)
NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Mike Vaccaro, New York Post, New York (4)
Jenny Vrentas, New York Times, New York (1)
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Stan Cotten, Wake Forest Sports Network/Learfield, Winston-Salem (6)
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Carter, News & Observer, Raleigh (2)
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Luke Gamble, KXMB-TV, Bismarck (1)
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Miller, Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks (2)
OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Chris Welsh, Reds Radio & Bally Sports, Cincinnati (1)
OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, Cincinnati (2)
OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Hunziker, Oklahoma State Radio Network/Learfield, Stillwater (2)
OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City (1)
OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Brooke Olzendam, TrailBlazers/ROOT Sports NW, Portland (1)
OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Anne Peterson, Associated Press, Portland (1)
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Scott Franzke, Phillies/WIP Radio, Philadelphia (3)
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia (1)
Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, State College (1)
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Nick Coit, WLNE-TV, Providence (4)
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bill Koch, Providence Journal, Providence (4)
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Scott Eisberg, WCIV-TV, Charleston (3)
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Jon Blau, Post and Courier, Charleston (1)
Grace Raynor, The Athletic, Clemson (4)
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Steve Ammerman, Riverfront Broadcasting, Spearfish (1)
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Deal, 605 Sports, Mitchell (4)
TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Willy Daunic, Predators/Bally Sports, Nashville (1)
Pete Weber, Predators Radio Network, Nashville (9)
TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Organ, The Tennessean, Nashville (1)
TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Chuck Cooperstein, Mavericks Radio Network, Dallas (1)
Robert Ford, Astros Radio Network, Houston (1)
TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, Dallas (6)
UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bill Riley, ESPN700, Salt Lake City (3)
UTAH SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Todd, Deseret News, Salt Lake City (1)
VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jack Fitzsimmons, WCAX-TV, Burlington (1)
VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Alex Abrami, Burlington Free Press (4)
James Biggam, Times Argus, Barre/Montpelier (1)
VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bill Roth, Virginia Tech Sports Network, Blacksburg (12)
VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Andy Bitter, The Athletic (1)
Michael Phillips, Richmond Times-Dispatch (1)
WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Chris Egan, KING-TV, Seattle (1)
WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Gregg Bell, Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma (2)
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Swann, WRVC-AM 93/ESPN 94.1, Huntington (1)
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Creasy, HD Media, Huntington (1)
WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Sophia Minnaert, Brewers/Bally Sports, Milwaukee (1)
WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Eric Nehm, The Athletic, Milwaukee (1)
WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kent Smith, KYCN Radio, Wheatland (1)
WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jack Nowlin, Casper Star Tribune, Casper (4)
