NATCHITOCHES—Highlighted by Jason Pugh earning the Mac Russo/Jack Brittain Award and Ronnette Pellegrin taking home the Marty Mulé Hero Award, the Northwestern State sports information staff collected eight total awards on Sunday afternoon at the annual Louisiana Sports Writers Association's contest, concluding the LSWA's annual conference.

The awards started during Saturday night's Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction when Pellegrin was surprised with the Marty Mulé Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Hero Award, which recognizes her remarkable impact on the LSHOF.

Pellegrin, who works for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation and has been the NSU sports information administrative assistant since 2005, was honored with her hard work and dedication to help put on show that is the LHSOF induction weekend.

Sunday, Pugh began the LSWA contest awards by being awarded with the prestigious Mac Russo/Jack Brittain Award, which is awarded to an individual who "contributes to the progress and ideals of the LSWA."

Originally named the Russo Award, the LSWA renamed the honor the Mac Russo-Jack Brittain Award following Brittain's death in July 2023.
He joins his predecessor, legendary former NSU sports information director Doug Ireland, as a winner of the award.

It was one of four awards given to Pugh to go along with two won by Brad Welborn and former legendary NSU sports information director Doug Ireland, who was named Sports Writer of the Year.

Pugh, who followed Ireland as the head of the sports information department at NSU, took home the top spot in Division II for his story on NSU baseball's twin brothers Brooks and Bryce Leonard drawing inspiration from their mother's breast cancer fight.

He finished second both for his football recap of the heartbreaking loss to Prairie View A&M in the home opener, as well as his baseball game notes for the regular season finale series against in-state rival McNeese, in Division I and V, respectively.

Welborn, the assistant sports information director, showed his talent in both writing and graphics with a pair of awards.

In writing, he placed second in Division IV for his Fork Cancer story on volleyball's Ashlyn Svoboda, who honored her grandfather's memory wearing an orange jersey as the libero to commemorate her late grandfather's battle with leukemia.

In graphics, he took home a third-place finish in Division VII with one of his many tremendous graphics.

Even though his time as the head sports information director at NSU, Ireland's love for writing has never been stronger—and his talent at it has never been better, either, as he was awarded with a number of awards, one that helped him earn LSWA Sports Writer of the Year, a well-deserved honor for the NSU legend.
 
Marty Mulé Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Hero Award – Ronnette Pellegrin
Mac Russo/Jack Brittain Award – Jason Pugh
LSWA Sports Writer of the Year – Doug Ireland
 
 
Division I
Demons fall short in heartbreaking loss to Prairie View A&M - Jason Pugh – 2nd place
 
Division II
#ForkCancer: Leonards draw inspiration from mother's breast cancer fight - Jason Pugh – 1st place
 
Division IV
Svoboda honors grandfather's battle in Fork Cancer match - Brad Welborn - 2nd place
 
Division V
NSU baseball game notes vs. McNeese - Jason Pugh – 2nd place
 
Division VII
Graphic, either of Aly Delafield's hitting streak or during one of Mya Blake's many hot streaks – Brad Welborn – 3rd place