Posted December 12, 2024 in Press Releases
GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AWARD FINALISTS FOR 25th GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS AWARDS
16 athletes to be recognized including members of Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians and USA Olympic Team
CLEVELAND, OH – Dec. 12, 2024 – 25th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards presented by Medical Mutual and Ancora announces award finalists in five categories for Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s annual fundraiser. The winner from each category will be announced live during Sports Awards, which will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (RMFH). Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Sports Awards is the premier annual sports fundraiser supporting Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and celebrates a year of athletic achievements in Northeast Ohio from high school stars to professional athletes.
Finalists were selected by local sports and media outlets as well as an awards committee who chose outstanding athletes from Northeast Ohio’s following counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark and Summit.
The finalists in the following categories were based on the highest number of votes: male and female high school athlete of the year, male and female collegiate athlete of the year and professional athlete of the year.
Fans have the opportunity to cast their votes to help determine a winner in each category. Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is accepting votes beginning today. The voting cutoff is Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST.
Male High School Athlete of the Year Award, presented by University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute
- Marquise Davis, Cleveland Heights High School, Football
- Quinn Woidke, Saint Ignatius High School, Basketball
- Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights High School, Basketball
Female High School Athlete of the Year Award, presented by University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute
- Grace Kingery, North Ridgeville High School, Basketball
- Riley LaVogue, Bay Village High School, Lacrosse
- Annabelle Groomes, Saint Joseph Academy, Volleyball
Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year Award, presented by H. Jack's Plumbing & Heating Co. “The Super Plumber!"
- Mandy Leigh, University at Buffalo, Volleyball (Padua Franciscan High School)
- Lora Clarke, University of Michigan, Field Hockey (Shaker Heights High School)
- Melissa Holzopfel, Cleveland State University, Softball (Perry High School)
Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year Award, presented by H. Jack's Plumbing & Heating Co. “The Super Plumber!"
- Joey Marousek, Baldwin Wallace University, Baseball (North Royalton High School)
- Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green State University, Football (McKinley High School)
- Luke Chicone, John Carroll University, Basketball (Mentor High School)
Professional Athlete of the Year presented by KeyBank
- José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians, Third Base
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Shooting Guard
- Katie Moon, USA Track and Field Team, Pole Vault (Olmsted Falls High School)
- Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns, Cornerback
Recipients of additional awards for 25thGreater Cleveland Sports Awards are as follows:
- Courage Award, presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
- Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Cleveland-Cliffs
- Best Moment in Cleveland Sports, presented by JACK Entertainment
- Senior Athlete Award, presented by Medical Mutual
- Sports Development Award
New in 2025 is a $75 admission ticket to the “Diehard District,” presented by K&D Group and ESPN Cleveland. Each ticket will include $10 loaded value for concessions and access to the official After Party, presented by Westfield. Tables and tickets for Sports Awards are available for purchase at clevelandsportsawards.com.