The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission will host the 24th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on Wednesday, June 29th at the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel.
Retired MLB athlete and the 2008 National Collegiate Catcher of the Year, Buster Posey, will be our special guest for the evening. The seven-time all-star and three-time World Series champion will participate in a fireside chat with Mike Kennedy and announce the 2022 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year. The finalists for the Buster Posey Award are: Michael Carico (Davidson), Zach Morgan (Fresno State) and Kevin Parada (Georgia Tech).
The Greater Wichita Sports Banquet is an annual event that celebrates sports excellence in south-central Kansas. Awards presented include Lynette Woodard High School Female Athlete of the Year, Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year, Junior College and College Female and Male Athletes of the Year, Professional Athlete of the Year, and many others.
Nomination forms were sent to the Greater Wichita area athletic directors in April. A vote among members of the media determined the finalists. Student-athlete and professional-athlete award finalists are:
Lynette Woodard High School Female Athlete of the Year Finalists: Brittany Harshaw (Andover Central), Hope Jackson (Bishop Carroll), Brooklyn Wewe (Cheney)
Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year Finalists: Ashton Barkdull (Andover Central), Lance Hoffsommer (Sedgwick), Henry Thengvall (Kapaun Mount Carmel)
Junior College Female Athlete of the Year Finalists: Iva Halacheva (Cowley), Mya Williams (Hutch), Madi Young (Butler)
Junior College Male Athlete of the Year Finalists: Malik Benson (Hutch), Jerod Elcock (Butler), Takeshi Taco (Cowley)
College Female Athlete of the Year Finalists: Baily Albright (Sterling), Sydney McKinney (Wichita State), Kortney Schutt (Friends)
College Male Athlete of the Year Finalists: Cameron Bye (Wichita State), Jaylon Scott (Bethel), Tyler Wilson (Friends)
Professional Athlete of the Year: Jay Dickman (Wichita Thunder), Kaelon Gary (Wichita Wizards), Simeon Woods Richardson (Wichita Wind Surge)
Other awards being presented include:
High School Coach of the Year (Women’s Sports): Corey Jones, Valley Center Softball
High School Coach of the Year (Men’s Sports): Brett Means, Goddard Wrestling
Gene Stephenson Coach of the Year: Kristi Bredbenner, Wichita State Softball
Ticket information can be found at www.wichitasports.com.
