The Wichita Sports Commission will host the 25th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet, presented by Hellas, on Thursday June 29th at the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel. At the event, local amateur and professional athletes will be recognized for their accomplishments. Greater Wichita Area Athletic Directors were sent nomination forms in April, and members of the local media voted to determine the finalists.
The student-athlete and professional-athlete award finalists are:
Lynette Woodard High School Female Athlete of the Year:
- Addyson Brown, Derby High School
- McKenzie Fairchild, Andale High School
- Landon Forbes, Bishop Carrol High School
Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year:
- Tate Blasi, Bishop Carroll High School
- Avery Johnson, Maize High School
- Riley Marx, Andale High School
Junior College Female Athlete of the Year:
- Arantxa Cortez, Cowley County Community College
- Madison Grimes, Hutchinson Community College
- Brooklyn Hunter, Butler Community College
Junior College Male Athlete of the Year:
- David Duncan, Hesston College
- Bruno Nhavene, Cowley County Community College
- Jake Wolff, Butler Community College
College Female Athlete of the Year:
- Britney Ho, Newman University
- Sydney McKinney, Wichita State University
- Taya Wilson, Sterling College
College Male Athlete of the Year:
- Stevie Strong, Newman University
- Payton Tolle, Wichita State University
- Jonathan White, McPherson College
Professional Athlete of the Year:
- Spencer Steer, Wind Surge
- Brayden Watts, Wichita Thunder
Additional awards being presented at the sports banquet will include:
High School Male Coach of the Year:
- Dylan Schmidt, Andale High School
High School Female Coach of the Year:
- Dave Hawley, Wichita Collegiate High School
Gene Stephenson Coach of the Year:
- Drew Dallas, Hutchinson Community College
Robert E. “Bob” Hanson Impact Award:
- Roy Turner, Wichita Open
This year’s featured speaker, Kansas State University Men’s Basketball Coach Jerome Tang, will be in attendance alongside San Francisco Giants legend and 2008 National Collegiate Catcher of the Year, Buster Posey. The 2012 National League MVP and three-time World Series Champion will announce the 2023 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award.
Ticket information can be found at www.wichitasports.com.
About the Wichita Sports Commission
The Wichita Sports Commission is a facilitator, driving the collaborative efforts of the region in attracting and hosting a wide variety of local, regional, and national sporting events at the youth, amateur, and professional level. Since 1997, the Wichita Sports Commission has facilitated nearly 700 events in the Wichita area with a combined economic impact of over $600 million. The Sports Commission also owns and operates six community annual events, including the: Prairie Fire Race Series, NBC Baseball Foundation and World Series, Greater Wichita Sports Banquet featuring the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, Wichita Corporate Challenge and the annual Wichita Turkey Trot. The Sports Commission provides the experience and expertise in sports marketing and event management that has established our region as a sports destination.
