Journalist of the Year
Since 1995, WIN has honored the nation’s best wrestling writers and communicators who have promoted the sport with their work.
Sam Janicki, a photographer in Michigan, was named the 2024 WIN Magazine Journalist of the Year. Click on his name to view story that appeared in WIN Magazine.
| Year | Name, Organization |
| 2024 | Sam Janicki, Photographer, SJanickiPhoto.com |
| 2023 | Earl Smith, Intermat.com |
| 2022 | Jason Bryant, MatTalkOnline & Public Address |
| 2021 | Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com Photography |
| 2020 | Sam Herring & Jude Swisher, Home Mat Advantage Podcast |
| 2019 | Justin Hoch, Freelancer, The Fire Inside |
| 2018 | K.J. Pilcher, Cedar Rapids Gazette |
| 2017 | Andy Hamilton, Trackwrestling.com |
| 2016 | Christian Pyles & Willie Saylor, FloWrestling Radio Live |
| 2015 | John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com |
| 2014 | Shane Sparks, Big Ten Network & ESPN |
| 2013 | Bryce Miller, Des Moines Register |
| 2012 | Jeff Byers, Penn State Radio |
| 2011 | Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen |
| 2010 | Andrew Hipps, InterMat |
| 2009 | Jim Johnson, Big Ten Network and ESPN |
| 2008 | Kyle Klingman, On the Mat Radio |
| 2007 | Jason Bryant, InterMat |
| 2006 | Mike Chapman, WIN/Author |
| 2005 | Roger Moore, Stillwater (Okla.) NewsPress |
| 2004 | Craig Sesker, Omaha World Herald |
| 2003 | Rob Sherrill, WIN |
| 2002 | Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling |
| 2001 | Mike Nieto, Times of NW Indiana |
| 2000 | Dan Ventura, Boston Herald |
| 1999 | Jeff Byers, WRSC Radio |
| 1998 | Reid Handley, Chicago Tribune |
| 1997 | Dan McCool, Des Moines Register |
| 1996 | Matt Winkeljohn, Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
| 1995 | J.R. Ogden, Cedar Rapids Gazette |
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- WIN Magazine’s Dec. 16 NCAA Division I Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic
- Exhibition or not, wrestlers toe the line the same way
- Dispelling the myths about Lincoln’s wrestling days
