Greater Wichita Sports Banquet
Countdown to the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet!
The 27th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet
The 2025 Greater Wichita Sports Banquet will be held on Thursday, June 26th at INTRUST Bank Arena!
Tickets will go on sale to the public in April!
What is the Wichita Sports Banquet?
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 the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award.
The three finalists for each award are nominated by area athletic directors. The list of nominees is given to a panel of the area sports media to narrow the list down to three finalists. This group will cast their final votes to select a winner in each category which is announced at the banquet in June.
2024 Award Winners
- Lynette Woodard High School Female Athlete of the Year: Elizabeth Tjaden, Clearwater High School
- Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year: Omari Elias, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School
- Junior College Female Athlete of the Year: Kiki Smith, Hutchinson Community College
- Junior College Male Athlete of the Year: Jeff Nwankwo, Cowley Community College
- College Female Athlete of the Year: Destiny Masters, Wichita State University
- College Male Athlete of the Year: Keegan Martin, Friends University
- High School Girls Coach of the Year – Steve Harshberger, Bishop Carroll High School
- High School Boys Coach of the Year – Shelby Wehrman, Cheney High School
- Gene Stephenson Coach of the Year – John Ontjes, Hutchinson Community College
- Professional Athlete of the Year – Jay Dickman, Wichita Thunder
- Robert E. “Bob” Hanson Impact Award – Tonya Atta, Wichita Sports Commission
- Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year – Walker Janek, Sam Houston State University
