Star-Telegram’s Mac Engel named one of the nation’s top sports columnists

Mac Engel has been named one of the top sports columnists in the country by the nation’s most prestigious sports journalism organizations.

The Associated Press Sports Editors recently honored Engel as one of the Top 10 columnists during their recent national judging, held in St. Petersburg, Fla., in late February.

Engel’s honor one of two national APSE awards bestowed on the Star-Telegram for their work in 2022. The organization also gave a Top 10 award in the Event category for the Star-Telegram’s coverage of the Fiesta Bowl.

“Mac is a very gifted and talented columnist,” Star-Telegram sports editor Dave Ammenheuser said. “Certainly there are times that our readers vehemently disagree with his commentary; and there are other times when they applaud him for his point of view. He knows how to touch the daily pulse of our readership.”

APSE is comprised of media outlets from across the country, including ESPN, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and USA TODAY. This year they gave out Top 10 honors in 13 contests.

The media companies are then divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) based on their circulation size and their online audience. The Star-Telegram competes in Group B, the second-largest circulation group.

This is the first time since 2012 that the Star-Telegram writers and staff have placed in the contest.

Joining Engel in the Top 10 were Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman, Luke DeCock of The (Raleigh) News & Observer, Gregg Doyle of the Indianapolis Star, MIke Finger of the San Antonio Express-News, Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer, Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post, Benjamin Hockman of the St. Louis Dispatch, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star and Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun.

Engel’s portfolio of columns included commentary on Britany Griner’s return to the United States, on former TCU coach Gary Patterson’s impact on the 2023 Horned Frogs, on Deion Sanders’ success at Jackson State, and on BYU’s entrance into the Big 12.

The Star-Telegram’s staff’s plethora of coverage of the Fiesta Bowl earned it a Top 10 mention in the Event category. The entry included a pregame video and a photo gallery by Amanda McCoy, game analysis by Steven Johnson, commentary by Engel and the staff’s running online blog of the game.

APSE will name the overall winner in each category in the coming months. Winners will be recognized at the organization’s annual summer conference in Las Vegas in July.