The Syracuse Press Club has named Connor Pignatello of Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard the recipient of its 2026 Newcomer of the Year Award, recognizing an early-career journalist who has demonstrated exceptional impact and professionalism.
Syracuse.com High School Sports Reporter
The annual award honors a rising journalist in central New York whose work reflects a commitment to reporting and storytelling. Pignatello’s 2025 portfolio — his first full year covering high school sports in Syracuse — stood out for its creativity and human focus.
Pignatello joined Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard in October 2024. A native of New Haven, Connecticut, and a 2023 Syracuse University graduate, Pignatello is an alumnus of The Daily Orange. He previously covered UMass athletics and high school sports for the Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton, Massachusetts, and has contributed to MassLive, The Buffalo News, and the Times Union in Albany.
In a nomination letter, Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard’s Managing Producer for High School Sports James McClendon described Pignatello as a gifted writer with a keen eye for detail and the ability to execute ambitious story ideas with nuance.
Among Pignatello’s standout work was his coverage of the closure of Bishop Grimes High School. He reported from a basketball game the night of the announcement, capturing the raw emotion and uncertainty felt by the community. McClendon also highlighted Pignatello’s “10 camps, 10 days” preseason football series, which moved beyond scores to explore themes of legacy and resilience in Central New York programs.
His reporting frequently centers on the human element of athletics. Stories have ranged from a feature on the daughter of former Syracuse University men’s basketball coach Adrian Autry to a profile of a 77-year-old Vietnam War pilot still playing recreational lacrosse.
McClendon noted that Pignatello’s work is already gaining national attention. In 2025, he earned a top-10 finish in the Associated Press Sports Editors contest for high school beat writing, competing against journalists from major national markets.
Beyond his reporting, the club recognized Pignatello for his professionalism and collegiality. McClendon recounted how Pignatello once drove 25 minutes late at night on a day off to assist a colleague after a car accident, calling him a “great teammate.”
The Syracuse Press Club will honor Pignatello at its annual Professional Recognition Awards banquet May 2.
Past winners:
• Our 2025 Newcomer of the Year was Patrick McCarthy of Central Current.
• Our 2024 Newcomer of the Year was Darian Stevenson of Syracuse.com.
• Our 2023 Newcomers of the Year were Rylee Kirk and Anne Hayes of Syracuse.com.
• Our 2022 Newcomers of the Year were Ben T. Grieco of Oswego County Media Group and Conor Wight of CNY Central.