CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Sports Awards turns 20 tonight and WKYC.com will be on hand to bring fans not able to attend the event a backstage look with interviews with the region’s best athletes and newsmakers.
The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will hand out awards in several categories: Professional Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Collegiate Athletes of the Year, Male and Female High School Athletes of the Year, the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Courage Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
From 7-9:30 p.m./ET, WKYC.com’s Dave “Dino” DeNatale and Ben Axelrod joined WKYC Sports anchor Nick Camino backstage to interview the winners, award presenters and other key participants in the event.
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
AP
Here is a look at this year’s award winners:
Professional Athlete of the Year
Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic celebrates while being interviewed by Joe Rogan after defeating Alistair Overeem during a heavyweight title bout at UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, September 10, 2016.
David Dermer
Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year
Naz Hillmon (University of Michigan basketball standout/Gilmour Academy alum)
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Robert Covington (33) reaches for the ball controlled by Cleveland Cavaliers’ Collin Sexton (2) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Minneapolis.
Hannah Foslien/AP
Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year
Jordin James (University of Mount Union wrestling champion/Bedford High School graduate)
Female High School Athlete of the Year
Kirsten Eppele (Strongsville High School softball standout)
Cleveland Indians’ Roberto Perez watches his three-run home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
AP
Male High School Athlete of the Year
Kyle Cusimano (Bay Village soccer star)
In addition to the Athlete of the Year honors, the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards will recognize Skylar Scarnecchia, an eighth grader from Champion Township, Ohio, who overcame synovial sarcoma and a right lower leg amputation to become a three-sport athlete (soccer, track and volleyball).
Scarnecchia is 38 months in remission from the rare form of soft-tissue cancer.
Also, the Dolan family (Cleveland Indians owners) will be recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award and one event will be selected as the “Moment of the Year” at the end of the night.