Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Announces Winners at 23rd Cleveland Sports Awards Show

Photo by Charles Murray

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!”

 

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.”

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.

 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