THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT ATHLETIC BOARD ANNOUNCES AND CONGRATULATES
THE 2025 MEDIA SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Mr. Neil "Hutch" Konerman & Mr. Bill Tipple
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Neil "Hutch" Konerman
WDTN-TV Channel 2 News |
Bill Tipple
WPKO-FM |
In 1991, the Ohio High School Athletic Association initiated a program entitled the Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Program. One aspect of the program was to honor those special individuals who bring great recognition to our high schools, coaches, and especially, our athletes through media's different forms. Each of Ohio's six athletic districts was asked to put a process in place to gather nominations of individuals who fit this special category. Our 2025 Media Award Recipients are Mr. Neil "Hutch" Konerman and Mr. Bill Tipple.
Neil "Hutch" Konerman
Mr. Konerman has been covering high school sports in the Dayton area for over two decades. Throughout his tenure as a weekend Sports Anchor and Reporter at WDTN-TV Channel 2 News, he has been a strong advocate for recognizing student-athletes and celebrating their achievements. He deserves commendation for his outstanding contributions and accomplishments.
Mr. Bill Tipple
Bill Tipple began his illustrious career at WPKO in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in March 1993, as an on-air news reporter and local sports reporter. Over 28 years, he became an integral part of the station, providing a steady and dependable voice for the community. His dedication to covering local news and sports cemented his reputation as a cornerstone of WPKO and Logan County journalism.
For nearly three decades, Bill has covered Logan County sports with unwavering passion, serving as the voice for high school games, community events, and athletic and school highlights. His deep knowledge of the teams, players, and rivalries brought life to his broadcasts, making them a must-listen for sports enthusiasts. His coverage was not limited to major events—Bill ensured that every game, whether it was Friday night football or a 5th grade program, received the recognition it deserved.
In many ways, Bill Tipple exemplifies the backbone of local journalism. His commitment to the community mirrors the role that local newspapers and radio stations have traditionally played—preserving the stories, triumphs, and struggles of the people they serve. Beyond sports, Bill’s work as a news reporter ensured that listeners were informed about critical local developments, from city council meetings to school board decisions.
Bill’s career at WPKO reflects the power of local radio to connect a community. His approachable demeanor, relentless work ethic, and knowledge of Logan County sports and community have made him a beloved figure among listeners and a mentor to young reporters. Whether he was in the press box or behind the mic, Bill’s dedication to his craft shone through, ensuring that the voices of Logan County were heard far and wide.
Bill stayed at our local radio station although he could have left to pursue bigger markets with a bigger paycheck. He is the epitome of knowing that his job was more than a paycheck. Through the sudden loss of his wife Holly (Jackson Center Teacher), Bill continued to do his job at the highest level. Shortly after this devastating loss, Bill was offered a media position with Bellefontaine City Schools which he has been doing since June of 2021. This award seems to be designed for someone like Bill. He is currently passing on his knowledge to high school students as he works with them in our WBCS student broadcasting program.
To this day, Bill Tipple remains a symbol of local journalism done right—deeply rooted in community values, consistently reliable, and always delivering with passion. His work continues to inspire, proving that local stories and sports are the lifeblood of small-town America.
Since the inception of this award, the following individuals have been honored as Media Service Recipients by the members of the Southwest District Athletic Board:
1997-98: Ted Landis, Brookville Star; Warren Johnson, WPFB Radio, Middletown
1998-99: Dave Long, Dayton Daily News; Duane Bachman, WPTW Radio, Piqua
1999-2000: Don McDermott, Greenville Daily; Dave Schutte, Cincinnati Enquirer
2000-2001: Mike Hartsock, WHIO TV, Dayton; Mark Huber, Wilmington News
2001-2002: Kert Radel, WMOH Radio, Hamilton; Bill Liermann, WSWO Radio, Wilmington
2002-2003: Jack Gordan, WPFB Radio, Middletown; Joe Neves, WPTW, Piqua
2003-2004: Tom Gambel, DSA Sports, Cincinnati; John Popovich, WCPO Radio, Cincinnati
2004-2005: Omar Williams, WHIO-TV, Retired; Ron Jackson, Dayton Daily News; Guy Fogle, WHIO TV
2005-2006: Roger Barger, WKFI WSWO Sabina; Tom Groeschen, Cincinnati Enquirer
2006-2007: Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News; Ken Barhorst, Sidney Daily News
2007-2008: Sonny Fulks, WPTW, 1590WPTW.com; Jerry Nardiello, Middletown Journal
2008-2009: Enos Pennington, www.newrichmond.localsportsradio.com ; Richard Crawford, The Clermont Suns Newspaper
2009-2010: Chick Ludwig; Jack Pohl, WDTN-Channel 2 Sports Director.
2010-2011: Mike Dyer, Cincinnati Enquirer; Ron Nunnari, Englewood Independent
2011-2012: Scott Ward, WTGR, Greenville; Jack Kramer, ScoresBroadcast.com
2012-2013: Dirk Allen; George Vogel
2013-2014: Mark Slaughter, WCPO-Channel 9; Rob Kiser, Piqua Daily Call.
2014-2015: Matt Hammond, Bellefontaine Examiner; Eric Frantz, J.J. Huddle
2015-2016: Marc Pendleton, Dayton Daily News; Rick Cassano, Cox Media Group
2016-2017: Debbie Juniewicz, Cox Publications (Dayton Daily News, Springfield/Middletown news); David Fong, Troy Daily News, Piqua Daily Call, Sidney Daily Call
2017-2018: Elise Jesse, WLWT, Cincinnati; Wade Linville, Brown County Press, Ripley Bee, News Democrat.
2018-2019: Dale Barger, Greenville Daily Advocate; John Bombatch, Xenia Gazette.
2019-2020: David Miller, Loveland Magazine (Editor & Publisher); Garth Shanklin, Clermont Sun (Sports Editor).
2020-2021: No recipients due to pandemic.
2021-2022: Bill Idle, Brookville Star; Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer
2022-2023 Joe Danneman, Fox 19; Anthony "Tony" Tribble, Freelance Photographer
2023-2024 Melanie Laughman, Cincinnati Enquirer; John Cummings, Miami Valley Newspapers
2024-2025 Neil "Hutch" Konerman, WDTN-TV, Channel 2 News, Bill Tepple