Super Bowl, NBA champs and Olympic gold medalists honor the best athletes in DFW
Patrick Mahomes, Stephen Curry, Drew Brees and Michael Phelps were among the global superstars to help honor high school athletes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex during the USA Today HS Sports Awards Thursday night.
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the awards ceremony was moved to YouTube to practice social distancing and prevent large gatherings.
Among athletes honored included Byron Nelson volleyball star Paige Flickinger, who was named volleyball player of the year by beach volleyball legend and Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.
Southlake Carroll’s Annabelle Smith and Frisco Liberty’s Jenna Wenaas were other finalists.
“It was a great honor. I was really excited to be able to go to the ceremony, but with COVID-19, USA Today still found a way to make the event special,” said Flickinger, who helped the Bobcats to the UIL Class 6A state title in November. “Misty May-Treanor was such an amazing athlete and I have looked up to her in my career so to see her announce my name was surreal.”
Flickinger posted school-records 797 kills and 813 digs, along with 60 blocks, 36 aces and 32 double-doubles.
She will continue her indoor and beach career at LSU.
Other awards this year for Flickinger included Star-Telegram player of the year, District 5-6A MVP (second straight), Class 6A all-state, 6A state all-tourney and Gatorade Texas player of the year (second straight).
Hoda Kotb of the TODAY show opened the ceremony while ESPN anchors Jesse Palmer and Sage Steele were co-hosts.
“We celebrate the athletes, family, friends and sports fans,” Kotb said. “This year is not what any of us expected, but that’s not going to stop us from celebrating the accomplishments of the best high school athletes in our communities.”
USA Today honored more than 60 cities on Thursday, including Amarillo, Austin, Lubbock, Sherman and Waxahachie.
“I offer a heartfelt congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees,” Kotb said.
New England Patriots coach and 6-time Super Bowl champ Bill Belichick announced Stewart Brown (Highland Park girls soccer) and Jerry Best (Allen boys wrestling) as coaches of the year.
Belichick also announced Highland Park girls soccer and Allen boys wrestling as teams of the year.
Flower Mound girls soccer, Duncanville girls basketball, Duncanville boys basketball and Southlake Carroll boys soccer were other team finalists.
“I thought it was well deserved recognition for our program,” said Carroll coach Aaron Cottrell, who was a finalist for male coach of the year. “Our program is based on the team over individuals so we don’t get caught up in individual awards. My nomination was just a reflection of how great our players are. Nothing else.”
Duncanville’s Deja Kelly (North Carolina) was named girls basketball player of the year by Golden State Warriors point guard and 3-time NBA champ Stephen Curry.
Other finalists were Irving MacArthur’s Hannah Gusters and Mansfield Timberview’s Destiny Burton.
Kelly averaged 23.5 points, helping the Pantherettes to the 6A state title in March.
She was also named Female Athlete of the Year by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes.
“It was amazing being awarded those awards by such big people in the sports world,” Kelly said.
Curry also announced Lancaster’s Mike Miles as boys basketball player of the year. Duncanville’s Micah Peavy and Denton Guyer’s JaKobe Coles were finalists.
Miles, who will play at TCU, averaged 21.4 points as the Tigers went 36-1 with a state tournament berth.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 6-time Olympic gold medalist, announced the cross country players of the year, Aubrey O’Connell of Prosper and Graydon Morris of Aledo.
Morris, who is headed to Texas, is a 3-time XC state champion with four state appearances. He’s also a 5-time state medalist in track with three titles.
“It’s an unbelievable honor that I am beyond grateful for,” Morris said. “There are so many other great runners out there that are equally deserving of this award so for me to be selected is truly special. I want to say thank you because I couldn’t have done it alone.”
New Orleans quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees named Duncanville’s Chris Thompson Jr. football defensive player of the year and Rockwall’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba offensive player of the year.
GIRLS SOCCER: Presley Echols, Highland Park
BOYS SOCCER: Roman Torres, Uplift Williams Prep
GIRLS WRESTLING: Destiny Miles, Dallas Kimball
BOYS WRESTLING: Braxton Brown, Allen (Athlete of the Year)
COMEBACK POTY: Rylan Bonds, Prosper
I AM SPORT AWARD: Justin Okougbodu, West Mesquite
GIRLS SPECIAL OLYMPIC AOTY: Madison Au, Lewisville
BOYS SPECIAL OLYMPIC AOTY: Juan Ramirez, Notre Dame School of Dallas
COURAGE AWARD: Zach Sotny, Allen
This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 10:15 AM.
