The 16th Annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards presented by Medical Mutual and FirstMerit honored the best of Cleveland sports Thursday night at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard – a graduate of Cleveland St. Joseph’s High School – hosted a sell-out crowd of over 1,200.
The event is the primary annual fundraiser for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. The Sports Commission, a 501c(3) non-profit, aims to improve the economy, image and quality of life in Greater Cleveland by attracting, managing and creating major sporting events.
16th Annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards Finalists – WINNERS IN BOLD
High School Athlete of the Year presented by University Hospitals Sports Medicine
Esa Ahmad, Basketball, Shaker Heights High School
Alecia Farina, Gymnastics, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School
Hallie Thome, Basketball, Chagrin Falls High School
Amateur Athlete of the Year
Tianna Bartoletta, USA Track and Field, Elyria
Emily Infeld, USA Track and Field, University Heights
Cleveland Baseball Federation Softball Team – 2015 RBI World Series Champion
Collegiate Athlete of the Year
Connor Cook, Football, Michigan State University, Hinckley
University of Mount Union Football Team
Nathan Tomasello, Wrestling, Ohio State University, Parma
Aaron White, Basketball, University of Iowa, Strongsville
Professional Athlete of the Year presented by FOX Sports Ohio
Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland sports broadcaster Jim Donovan was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.