TheTom Borrelli Award is presented by theNational Lacrosse League to the league's "Media Person of the Year". The award was originally awarded to theWriter 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, includingbroadcasters ."[ 1]
The award is named for Tom Borrelli (1957–2008), a writer forThe Buffalo News who covered theBuffalo Bandits from the team's inception in 1992 to his death in 2008.[ 2] He was inducted into theNational Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in 2007.
The award was created at the end of the2005 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.
Season Winner Media Outlet Win # Other finalists 2024 Adam Levi[ 5] Inside Lacrosse, NLLPA, and NLL.com, "Lacrosse Matrix" podcast 1 Teddy Jenner, TSN, "Off the CrosseBar" podcast[ 6] Graeme Perrow, NLL Chatter 2023 Teddy Jenner[ 7] TSN 2 Pat Gregoire, Halifax Thunderbirds[ 8] Adam Levi, Inside Lacrosse, NLLPA, and NLL.com 2022 Pat Gregoire[ 9] Halifax Thunderbirds 1 Jake Elliott, Vancouver Warriors[ 10] Tyson Geick, Halifax Thunderbirds / Lacrosse Flash 2021 Season cancelled 2020 Craig Rybczynski[ 11] 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[ 12] TSN 1410, Vancouver 2 2016 Teddy Jenner[ 13] ILIndoor.com 1 2015 Steve Ewen[ 14] The Province 1 2014 Bob Chavez ILIndoor.com 1 2013 Stephen Stamp[ 15] ILIndoor.com 1 2012 Jake Elliott[ 1] Minnesota Swarm 1 2011 Budd Bailey[ 16] The Buffalo News 1 2010 Paul Tutka[ 17] NLLInsider.com 3 2009 Paul Tutka[ 18] NLLInsider.com 2 2008 Paul Tutka[ 19] NLLInsider.com 1 2007 Ty Pilson[ 20] Calgary Sun 1 2006 Sal Maiorana[ 21] Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 1 2005 Mike Koreen[ 22] Toronto Sun 1
^a b "Jake Elliott wins Tom Borrelli Award, presented to NLL Media Person of the Year" .NLL.com . June 6, 2012. RetrievedOctober 16, 2012 .^ "Buffalo Sportswriter Dies After Press Box Fall" .Deadspin . November 20, 2008. RetrievedAugust 30, 2019 .^ "Borrelli Award to go to lax's best" .BuffaloNews.com . April 28, 2009. Retrieved2009-07-21 .^ "Tundo earns inaugural Borrelli Award" .BuffaloNews.com . July 18, 2009. Retrieved2009-07-21 .^ "HALIFAX'S JOHN CATALANO SELECTED NLL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AS NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCED FIRST 2023-2024 AWARDS" .NLL.com . May 13, 2024. RetrievedMay 13, 2024 .^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2023-24 NLL AWARDS" .NLL.com . May 8, 2024. RetrievedMay 9, 2024 .^ "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. RetrievedMay 23, 2023 .^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2022-23 NLL AWARDS" .NLL.com . May 16, 2023. RetrievedMay 23, 2023 .^ "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. RetrievedJune 28, 2022 .^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2021-22 END OF SEASON AWARDS" .NLL.com . June 22, 2022. RetrievedJune 28, 2022 .^ "NLL announces 2019-20 NLL award winners" .NLL.com . June 30, 2020. RetrievedJuly 5, 2020 .^ "2017 NLL season award winners" .NLL.com . July 2, 2017. RetrievedJuly 4, 2017 .^ "Teddy Jenner named 2016 NLL Media Person of the Year" .NLL.com . July 11, 2016. RetrievedJuly 18, 2016 .^ "Steve Ewen wins Tom Borelli Award" .NLL.com . July 6, 2015. RetrievedJanuary 9, 2016 .^ "Stamp wins Tom Borrelli Award as 2013 NLL Media Person of the Year" .NLL.com . May 29, 2013. Archived fromthe original on February 2, 2014. RetrievedMay 29, 2013 .^ "Hall, Bailey Win First Two Awards of 2011" .NLL.com . 2011-05-03. Retrieved2011-05-03 .^ "Stealth's Takata Named Executive of the Year" .NLL.com . May 10, 2010. Retrieved2010-05-11 .^ "Dawson Wins Sportsmanship Award" .NLL.com . May 5, 2009. Retrieved2009-05-06 .^ "Tom Garrity Named Executive of the Year" .NLL.com . May 6, 2008. Archived fromthe original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved2008-05-06 .^ "Dave Zygaj Named NLL Executive of the Year" .NLL.com . May 7, 2007. Retrieved2007-05-07 .^ "Batinovich Named Executive of the Year" .NLL.com . May 8, 2006. Retrieved2008-05-06 .^ "Gait Wins Sportsmanship Award" .NLL.com . May 2, 2005. Retrieved2008-05-06 .