Tipton's Sesker, Waterloo's Nelson receive special honor

PHILADELPHIA - The National Wrestling Media Association announced its Annual Wrestling Journalists Awards on Friday.

Tipton native Craig Sesker, Communications Manager for USA Wrestling, was honored for his recently released book "Bobby Douglas, Life and Legacy of an American Wrestling Legend." The book details the life and wrestling career of former Iowa State University wrestling coach and Olympian, who was a trailblazer for African-Americans in the sport of wrestling. Sesker, a Wartburg graduate who has formerly worked at Omaha World-Herald and Burlington HawkEye, worked directly with Douglas on the project. The book can be ordered online at BobbyDouglasBook.com.

Jim Nelson, sportswriter for the Waterloo Courier, received the Print Journalist of the Year award. Nelson, a graduate of Waterloo West who attended Kirkwood Community College before earning an undergraduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa, has worked for the Spencer Daily Reporter, Hampton Chronicle and Times and Fort Dodge Messenger. In 1997, Nelson returned to the Courier, where he worked as a part-timer in high school. Nelson has covered NCAA Championships for all three divisions and has covered 17 straight Iowa High School Athletic Association state tournaments.