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FULL COVERAGE | 19th Annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards

It was an incredible night for athletes throughout the area.

CLEVELAND — The area's top high school, college, and professional athletes took center stage on Wednesday night for the 19th Annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. 

This year's awards were  highlighted by the presentation of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award to former Cleveland Indians All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. Many other sports heroes of the past and present were on-hand for the festivities. 

Check out our coverage from throughout the night!

FULL STREAM OF WKYC's BACKSTAGE COVERAGE

9 p.m. - Moment of the Year

This year's Moment of the Year was the "Browns' Breakthrough," more specifically the Thursday Night win over the New York Jets at First Energy Stadium. The victory not only snapped a 19-game winless streak, but also signaled the arrival of Baker Mayfield.

Credit: Jason Miller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates after making a catch for a two-point conversion during the third quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on September 20, 2018.

8:50 p.m. - Lifetime Achievement Award

Indians catching great Sandy Alomar Jr. took home the Lifetime Achievement Award on this night. Alomar spent 11 seasons with the Indians, helping the team win two American League pennants while earning six All-Star nods.

Credit: Harry How
Cleveland Indians catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. swings at a pitch during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Alomar spoke with the media after receiving the award.

8:44 p.m. - Courage Award

This year's Courage Award winner is Lake Catholic's Sophia Pecjak, who overcame a serious heart condition to return to the soccer and basketball teams.

Credit: Randy White

8:20 p.m. - Professional Athlete of the Year

After a season that saw him throw for a rookie record 27 touchdowns and give Browns fans hope, quarterback Baker Mayfield has been named Greater Cleveland's Professional Athlete of the Year.

Credit: Matthew Stockman
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield rolls out of the pocket to make a throw against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on December 15, 2018.

Mayfield spoke following the honor.

8:16 p.m. - College Athletes of the Year

The Akron men's soccer team collectively won Male College Athlete of the Year after making it all the way to the national championship game. In addition, Baldwin Wallace soccer star Rachel Bender won Female College Athlete of the Year after tallying 14 goals and 16 assists.

8:01 p.m. - High School Athletes of the Year

The first awards of the night have been presented. Congratulations to Lakewood soccer player Malvin Gblah and Solon distance runner Olivia Howell, the Male and Female High School Athletes of the Year.

7 p.m. - Bernie Kosar on the state of the Browns

Browns legend Bernie Kosar spoke with WKYC prior to the awards show, and he believed the team is finally headed in the right direction.

RELATED: Bernie Kosar: With Baker Mayfield at QB, Browns fans should be thinking playoffs


List of awards presented (Nominees listed in alphabetical order, winners in bold):

2018 Male High School Athlete of the Year, presented by University Hospitals Sports Medicine 

  • Michael Boehm, St. Ignatius High School lacrosse
  • Malvin Gblah, Lakewood High School soccer
  • Noah Potter, Mentor High School football

2018 Female High School Athlete of the Year, presented by University Hospitals Sports Medicine

  • Olivia Howell, Solon High School track & field/cross-country
  • Madi Nunez, Keystone High School softball
  • Ava Rauser, Rocky River High School volleyball

**Presenters for High School awards: Cleveland Browns legendary RBs Eric Metcalf and Greg Pruitt

2018 Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year

  • Jairod James, University of Mount Union wrestling
  • Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State University football
  • The University of Akron Men's Soccer Team

2018 Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year 

  • Rachel Bender, Baldwin Wallace University soccer
  • Anna Brandt, Cleveland State University cross-country
  • Erin Gardner, Kent State University volleyball

**Presenters for Collegiate awards: Cleveland Cavaliers F Larry Nance Jr. and Cavaliers legend Larry Nance Sr.

2018 Professional Athlete of the Year, presented by Fox Sports Ohio

  • Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians pitcher
  • Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns quarterback
  • Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians third baseman
  • Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns cornerback

**Presenters for Professional Athlete of the Year: Former Cleveland Browns QBs Paul McDonald and Bernie Kosar

Courage Awards, presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Health

  • Sophia Pecjak, freshman soccer player at Lake Catholic High School (Award will be presented by Hannah Storm)

Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Cuyahoga Community College

  • Sandy Alomar Jr, Cleveland Indians legend (Award will be presented by former Indians manager Mike Hargrove and former Indians 2B Carlos Baerga)

**Alomar spoke with WKYC's Jim Donovan about being honored this year. You can see the interview by clicking here. 

2018 Best Moment in Cleveland Sports, presented by Jack Cleveland Casino

Award to be announced by WKYC sports anchor and 2016 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jim Donovan

Since 2000, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission has been responsible for bringing nearly 200 sporting events to Northeast Ohio, with an economic impact of more than $686 million.

The premiere annual event of the commission, the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards honors the city’s best in professional, collegiate and high school athletics. Also, it raises funds through a silent auction, which this year, include 2020 Super Bowl tickets, 2020 College Football Playoff Championship Game tickets and an autographed Baker Mayfield jersey from the University of Oklahoma.

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