The Seattle Sports Commission (SSC) recently announced the nominees for the 76th Annual Sports Star of the Year awards and two athletes with Federal Way ties are in the running. Every January, this event honors the best athletes, coaches, media personalities, stories, sports executives and others in Washington during the previous year.
Short track speedskaters J.R. Celski and Apolo Ohno are nominees for the Male Sports Star of the Year, along with University of Washington linebacker Mason Foster, Husky forward Quincy Pondexter and WSU forward Klay Thompson.
Since its creation in 1936 by Royal Brougham, legendary Seattle Post-Intelligencer sports editor, there have been nearly 100 Sports Stars honored.
Fans can vote for their favorite nominee in the Professional, Male, Female and Sports Story of the Year categories online at seattlesports.org/sportsstar. The public is encouraged to vote through Jan. 21. Winners will be announced during the show on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Benaroya Hall.
Nominees for Professional Sports Star of the Year include Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Tim Lincecum (San Francisco Giants), Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC), Lewis Ratcliff (Washington Stealth) and Mike Williams (Seattle Seahawks).
Nominees for the Female Sports Star of the Year include Katie Follett (UW cross country), Jenna Hagglund (UW volleyball), Ariana Kukors (USA Swimming), Jessica Pixler (Seattle Pacific cross country) and Karen Thatcher (USA Hockey).
Nominees for the Sports Story of the Year include Ichiro Suzuki’s 10th consecutive season with 200+ hits and recipient of the Gold Glove Award, Washington Stealth wins the National Lacrosse League Champion’s Cup, Seattle Storm wins the WNBA Championship, Auburn Little League makes a run to the Little League World Series and Felix Hernandez wins American League Cy Young Award
In addition to the announced nominees, speakers and presenters expected to attend include legendary sportscaster Keith Jackson, former Seattle SuperSonic Gary Payton, Ohno, Gov. Christine Gregoire and USA Soccer star Hope Solo.
Tickets are available to the public for $75 each and can be purchased at benaroyahall.org or by calling (206) 215-4747.
