Olivia Volkman-Johnson / Winonan

Two Winona State University friends are reaping the benefits of their hard work and dedication in providing entertaining sports commentary.

Seniors TJ Leverentz and John Wojcik won first place in Sports Broadcasting for a fall 2015 broadcast of their program “Play-By-Play” on Winona State’s radio station KQAL.

The Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association recognized their contributions to the show, and the two were awarded the Eric Sevareid award this past July.

The award, named after the notable CBS news journalist, is presented every year to exceptional journalists in a variety of markets within the Midwest.

Not only does the award give recognition to the time and effort put into “Play-By-Play,” but it also gives Leverentz and Wojcik the chance to pursue careers in radio with a notable contribution to their resume.

Leverentz and Wojcik’s claim to fame was a broadcast of a Winona State football game against Minnesota State University, Mankato last year, in which the Warriors ended the Mavericks 40-game winning streak. Winona State defeated their longtime rivals 31-27 in this historical upset.

Leverentz remembers the unprecedented win fondly as “an important time in WSU history.”

Leverentz and Wojcik, both public relations students, have been working with Winona State’s student-staffed radio station, KQAL, since their freshman year in fall 2013. Starting as broadcast majors in the same freshman orientation group, led by KQAL General Manager Doug Westerman, the two became inseparable.

Leverentz and Wojcik had the opportunity to audition for “Play-By-Play” their sophomore year and have been broadcasting ever since, primarily covering Winona State basketball and football games.

Wojcik claims their friendship helps them build an entertaining rapport for the show.

“We’ve become best friends since we met freshmen year, so we’d start going back and forth, talking about whatever,” Wojcik said.

According to the radio station, it started in 1975 as part of the speech department at Winona State and moved into the newly created mass communications department in 1980, then based out of the Performing Arts Center.

Now housed in Phelps Hall, KQAL provides hands-on opportunities for Winona State students, according to Wojcik.

“KQAL is just an awesome organization,” Wojcik said. “It provides multiple opportunities for students to get involved with their university and community through the radio. It takes no experience or background whatsoever for someone to become involved.”

Although KQAL operates out of the mass communications department, Leverentz and Wojcik claim any student, regardless of major or experience, can get involved.

“There’s [a] niche for you. You don’t have to like sports to be on the station,” Wojcik said.

“Anyone can do it. That’s probably the best part about it,” Leverentz said. “I don’t think I could’ve gone anywhere else and had this kind of experience other than Winona State.”