Chadron State College sports information director Alex Helmbrecht and graduate assistant Allan Schmaltz are both district winners in the 2013 College Sports Information Directors of America Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest.

Helmbrecht’s story, “McGhee playing for pride, loyalty,” about former student-athlete Christian McGhee’s basketball career at Chadron State was the top Athlete Profile in District 7.

Schmaltz’s blog, “A Season Through the Eyes of Allan Schmaltz,” a weekly installment chronicling the Eagles’ 2012 football season from an insider’s perspective was named the best Blog in District 7.

Since becoming the sports information director in August 2007, Helmbrecht, a native of McCook, has claimed eight awards in the Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest, including five first place awards.

Schmaltz, a Rapid City, S.D., native, will begin his second year of graduate studies in August. He was a wide receiver for the football team from 2008-12 and was named All-Nebraska Division II honorable mention.

The 2013 writing contest had 525 total entries, nearly 200 more than last year. District 7 includes more than 140 colleges and universities in nine states.