Joel Priest is the recipient of the 2018 Media Representative of the Year award from the Colorado Athletic Directors Association. Priest received the honor at the CADA convention and trade show's honor awards luncheon on April 30 in Breckenridge.
He was nominated for the award by Derrick Martin, athletic director at Bayfield High School, on behalf of other athletic directors in the Inter Mountain League.
Priest is a longtime freelance sports reporter and photographer for the Pine River Times and the Southern Ute Drum. He also announces games and is an avid softball player.
"I'm at every game, and so is he, covering everything," Martin said. In November, community members gave him an almost-new car after his beloved Subaru fell apart after driving to too many games.
"The outpouring of support was incredible," Martin said, noting that Priest has remained in the same community for years to cover high school sports. "That's pretty rare these days. We appreciate him and all of his work."
Priest received the award from Dave Hogan of Harrison High School in Colorado Springs, the president of the association.
