The Tom Borrelli Award is presented by the National Lacrosse League to the league's "Media Person of the Year". The award was originally awarded to the Writer of the Year, but "was changed to Media Person of the Year in 2011 to allow for a wider range of media members to be considered for the award, including broadcasters."[1]

The award is named for Tom Borrelli (1957–2008), a writer for The Buffalo News who covered the Buffalo Bandits from the team's inception in 1992 to his death in 2008.[2] He was inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in 2007.

The award was created at the end of the 2005 season and, surprisingly, Borrelli was never a recipient. However, Tom Borrelli was the first sportswriter inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame.

In 2009, The Buffalo News began awarding a lacrosse scholarship and trophy named for Tom Borrelli to the top high school lacrosse player in Western New York.[3] The inaugural Tom Borrelli Memorial Award winner was Jeff Tundo of Orchard Park,[4] who played collegiately at Ohio State and Stony Brook.

Past winners

Season Winner Media Outlet Win # Other finalists
2023 Teddy Jenner[5] TSN 2 Pat Gregoire, Halifax Thunderbirds[6]
Adam Levi, Inside Lacrosse, NLLPA, and NLL.com
2022 Pat Gregoire[7] Halifax Thunderbirds 1 Jake Elliott, Vancouver Warriors[8]
Tyson Geick, Halifax Thunderbirds / Lacrosse Flash
2021 Season cancelled
2020 Craig Rybczynski[9] Rochester Knighthawks 1 Jake Elliott
Teddy Jenner
2019 Tyson Geick Lacrosse Flash 1 Bob Chavez
Barstool Jordie
2018 Stephen Stamp ILIndoor.com 2 Jake Elliott
Teddy Jenner
2017 Jake Elliott[10] TSN 1410, Vancouver 2
2016 Teddy Jenner[11] ILIndoor.com 1
2015 Steve Ewen[12] The Province 1
2014 Bob Chavez ILIndoor.com 1
2013 Stephen Stamp[13] ILIndoor.com 1
2012 Jake Elliott[1] Minnesota Swarm 1
2011 Budd Bailey[14] The Buffalo News 1
2010 Paul Tutka [15] NLLInsider.com 3
2009 Paul Tutka [16] NLLInsider.com 2
2008 Paul Tutka [17] NLLInsider.com 1
2007 Ty Pilson [18] Calgary Sun 1
2006 Sal Maiorana [19] Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 1
2005 Mike Koreen [20] Toronto Sun 1

References

  1. ^ a b "Jake Elliott wins Tom Borrelli Award, presented to NLL Media Person of the Year". NLL.com. June 6, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  2. ^ "Buffalo Sportswriter Dies After Press Box Fall". Deadspin. November 20, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  3. ^ "Borrelli Award to go to lax's best". BuffaloNews.com. April 28, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  4. ^ "Tundo earns inaugural Borrelli Award". BuffaloNews.com. July 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  5. ^ "TSN's Teddy Jenner wins second Tom Borrelli Award; Las Vegas CEO Mark Fine takes home Executive of the Year in inaugural season". NLL.com. May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2022-23 NLL AWARDS". NLL.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "TRACEY KELUSKY, STEVE DIETRICH, JAMIE DAWICK, PAT GREGOIRE, LYLE & JEREMY THOMPSON NAB HONORS AS NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE OPENS AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS". NLL.com. June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2021-22 END OF SEASON AWARDS". NLL.com. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "NLL announces 2019-20 NLL award winners". NLL.com. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "2017 NLL season award winners". NLL.com. July 2, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  11. ^ "Teddy Jenner named 2016 NLL Media Person of the Year". NLL.com. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  12. ^ "Steve Ewen wins Tom Borelli Award". NLL.com. July 6, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  13. ^ "Stamp wins Tom Borrelli Award as 2013 NLL Media Person of the Year". NLL.com. May 29, 2013. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  14. ^ "Hall, Bailey Win First Two Awards of 2011". NLL.com. 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  15. ^ "Stealth's Takata Named Executive of the Year". NLL.com. May 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  16. ^ "Dawson Wins Sportsmanship Award". NLL.com. May 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  17. ^ "Tom Garrity Named Executive of the Year". NLL.com. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  18. ^ "Dave Zygaj Named NLL Executive of the Year". NLL.com. May 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-07.
  19. ^ "Batinovich Named Executive of the Year". NLL.com. May 8, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  20. ^ "Gait Wins Sportsmanship Award". NLL.com. May 2, 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
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