CLEVELAND – 23rd Greater Cleveland Sports Awards presented by Medical Mutual and Ancora announced the best of 2022 Cleveland sports on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (RMFH). Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns Legend, led the live show with appearances from local and national sports celebrities in front of nearly 1,600 guests.
Watch the 23rd Greater Cleveland Sports Awards show courtesy of NPi Audio Visual Solutions.
Photo by Charles Murray
Highlights from tonight’s show include Ted Ginn Jr., former NFL player, Justin Hardee, New York Jets defender, Jim Tressel, former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach, and Cardale Jones, quarterback that led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship, who presented Ted Ginn Sr. with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Union Home Mortgage. Watch Ginn’s Lifetime Achievement video.
Photo by Charles Murray
I had a chance to ask Ted Ginn Sr after the show what his players this season have taught him. He said,
“They’ve given me obedience, just being able to believe first and learn later. You know it’s very hard today to teach young people because of all the things they’re being exposed to. But this group of people have proven to me that they’re listening and they understand that they have to learn to navigate through the world and learn how to give back to other people…that’s what they have given me.”
José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians third baseman, received the Professional Athlete of the Year Award from A.J. Allmendinger, NASCAR driver, and Matt Kaulig, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Honors were accepted by Ramírez via video.
Photo by Charles Murray
Joe Haden, former Cleveland Browns cornerback, and Jacob Phillips, Browns linebacker, teamed up to award the High School Athlete of the Year Awards presented by University Hospitals Drusinky Sports Medicine Institute to Tyler Lencewicz and Katie Clute.
Photo by Charles Murray
Justin Morrow, former MLS and USMNT soccer player, and Trent Vogelhuber, Cleveland Monsters Head Coach, awarded Sincere Carry and the Case Western Reserve University Women’s Soccer Team with Collegiate Athlete of the Year Awards presented by H. Jack’s Plumbing & Heating Co. “The Super Plumber!”
Photo by Charles Murray
I had a chance to ask Carry if there’s a pro player, he emulates his game after. He said,
“I watch a lot of guards my size: Fred VanVleet, Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson, guys my size who I may be in the same situation, and I try and pick on their reads and the way they play.”
Photo by Charles Murray
Additionally, Mike Fratello, current analyst and former Cleveland Cavaliers Coach, conducted a heartfelt interview on stage with Maya Austerman, Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine Courage Award recipient. Watch Austerman’s courageous story.
The culmination of the night was highlighted by two Cleveland Guardians sports broadcast staples, Matt Underwood and Al Pawlowski, presenting the 2022 Best Moment in Cleveland Sports presented by JACK Entertainment. Terry Francona, Guardians Manager, accepted the award on behalf of the club for the Cleveland Guardians 2022 American League Central Division Championship Season.
Photo by Charles Murray
Relive the Guardians’ season highlights.
Winners from each category were announced live at the event. Each award recipient is highlighted under their respective category.
Male High School Athlete of the Year presented by University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute
Dylan Fishback, Aurora High School, Wrestling
Sencire Harris, St. Vincent – St. Mary High School, Basketball
Tyler Lencewicz, Shaker Heights High School, Hockey
Female High School Athlete of the Year presented by University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute
Katie Clute, Olmsted Falls High School, Cross Country and Track & Field
Caroline Jurevicius, Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School, Volleyball
Tessa Knapp, Bay Village High School, Soccer
Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by H. Jack’s Plumbing & Heating Co. “The Super Plumber!”
Sincere Carry, Kent State University, Basketball (Solon High School)
Jacob Decatur, Baldwin Wallace University, Wrestling (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy)
Sam Wiglusz, Ohio University, Football (Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School)
Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by H. Jack’s Plumbing & Heating Co. “The Super Plumber!”
Sophie Calabrese, University of Texas, Rowing (Shaker Heights High School)
Case Western Reserve University Women’s Soccer Team
Olivia Nagy, John Carroll University, Basketball (Lakewood High School)
Professional Athlete of the Year
Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, Center
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns, Running Back
José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians, Third Baseman
Sports Awards is the premier annual sports fundraiser that supports Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and celebrates a year of athletic achievements in Northeast Ohio from high school stars to professional athletes.
Recipients of additional awards for 23rd Greater Cleveland Sports Awards are as follows:
Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine Courage Award
Maya Austerman, Avon Lake High School, Basketball
Sports Development Award
Downtown Cleveland Alliance [video]
5-Star Senior Athlete Award presented by Medical Mutual
Luise Easton, multisport athlete [video]
Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Union Home Mortgage
Ted Ginn Sr., Legendary High School Coach
Best Moment in Cleveland Sports presented by JACK Entertainment
Cleveland Guardians 2022 American League Central Division Championship Season
Photo by Charles Murray
Bill
January 26, 2023 at 6:29 am
Just AWESOME!
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