Jason will be intervening all the Award winners and will have it up on UclickTv to see on Friday June 14
Patrick Mahomes among 2019 Award Recipients at the Kansas City Sports Awards Banquet Presented by Populous
KANSAS CITY, MO (June 11, 2019) – The Kansas City Sports Commission will celebrate several honorees for their commitment and achievements in sports on Thursday, June 13 during the 46th edition of the Kansas City Sports Awards Banquet Presented byPopulous.
The 2019 Awards Banquet will take place at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown-Muehlebach Tower. A reception will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the program starting at 7 p.m.
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Southwest Airlines Executive of the Year
Chris Browne Vice President/General Manager, Kansas City T-Bones 2018 American Association Champions📷Chris Browne has been a T-Bones staffer from day one of the organization’s existence, joining the front office in September 2002. Browne started his career in style, serving as a bat boy/clubhouse attendant for the 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals. After completing his degree focusing on Sport Management at the University of Missouri, Chris served as Director of Stadium Operations for the Class AA Jacksonville Suns and as Assistant General Manager of the Kansas City Comets.
Browne’s 2018 season was his 28th as an executive in professional sports. It was his 11th as General Manager after taking over following the T-Bones 2008 Northern League championship season. And it was in this season that the T-Bones won their first-ever American Association Championship by defeating the St. Paul Saints.
Under Browne's watch, the T-Bones were named Organization of the Year in 2010 and 2014. Browne also has been recognized by the KCK CVB with the 2011 Excellence in Hospitality Award and the Tourism Advocate of the Year in 2015. Browne is a lifetime member of the Kansas City Baseball Historical Society as Royals Alumni. A devoted fan of the Missouri Tigers and Kansas City Chiefs, Chris lives in Lenexa with his wife Becky, son Brett, daughter Reese (Pee Wee), and black lab, Sam Quisenberry.📷Children’s Mercy Community Champion
Paige Parker
Assistant Softball Coach, William Jewell College Women's Coaching AdvocatePaige Parker embodies the heart of a champion both on – and off – the softball field. A native of Independence, MO, Parker was the Gatorade Missouri High School Player of the Year in 2010-11 and 2012-13 and boasted an ERA of 0.25 her senior year. A two-time national champion at the University of Oklahoma, Parker earned numerous honors during her illustrious career for the Sooners, including four All-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and first team All-Big 12 selections. Within conference play she was also a two-time All-Tournament selection, earning MVP honors in 2017, was the 2015 Freshman of the Year and 2016 Female Athlete of the Year, and three-time first team All-Academic. As a senior, she was named the Big 12 Female Sportswoman of the Year and a Conference Medal Award Winner. In total, she earned 19 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors over her four-year career.
Parker led the Sooners to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division I Women's College World Series, earning All-Tournament team selections in each, and winning back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. In addition, she was named the Women's College World Series Most Valuable Players as a sophomore.
Following her collegiate career, Parker was drafted and signed a contract for the USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch league where she was a member of the 2018 Cowles Cup Championship team. She has recently joined the softball coaching staff of William Jewel College. Part of what drove her to return to KC was a desire to be closer to family – and to give back to the community that helped shape her. Since returning, Paige has hosted several clinics including one at the Urban Youth Academy. She looks forward to continuing to expand her community engagement. Burns & McDonnell Coach of the Year
Ben McCollum
Head Coach, Northwest Missouri State Men's Basketball
2019 NCAA DII Undefeated National Champions📷Ben McCollum’s career with Northwest Missouri State University has come full circle. As a player, McCollum helped lead the Bearcats to a 51-12 record and their first Elite Eight appearance in Northwest history. Prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, McCollum was named the 20th head coach in Northwest men’s basketball history. McCollum has guided the Bearcats to six straight MIAA regular season titles and four consecutive MIAA tournament crowns. In 10 seasons at Northwest, McCollum has an overall record of 241-75.
McCollum's Bearcats accomplished something in 2014-15 that no Northwest team had achieved since 1986-87. An outright MIAA regular season title after going 15-4 in conference action and 25-7 overall, marking a fourth-straight 20+win season. To cap it off, Northwest entered the NCAA Regional Championship tournament as a No. 4 seed and knocked off the host and No. 1 seed Augustana (66-65) to make a second-consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16. McCollum's Bearcats broke through in 2016-17, winning the program's first NCAA national championship against Fairmont State. Northwest capped a 35-1 season, winning MIAA regular season and tournament titles. Then, during the 2018-19 season, McCollum led the Bearcats to a perfect 38-0 record and the NCAA Division II national championship. Northwest became only the fifth program to complete an undefeated season and capture the NCAA Division II national title. McCollum was named the NABC Division II national coach of the year.
A native of Storm Lake, Iowa, McCollum earned his bachelor’s degree in finance before earning a master’s degree in athletic administration, both from Northwest. He and his wife, Michelle, are the parents of two sons, Peyton and Tate, and a daughter, Grace Ann. 📷Spire Sportswomen of the Year
Jenna Gray and Audriana Fitzmorris
Stanford University Women's Volleyball
Two-time NCAA DI National ChampionsJenna Gray and Audriana Fitzmorris have cemented their reputation as a pair of volleyball powerhouses. Both grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City and attended St. James Academy in Lenexa where they were three-time Kansas state champions (2012, 2013, 2015), and runners-up in 2014. Both are part of very athletic (and competitive!) families. Both played on the same club teams – and both made the decision to attend Stanford University where they’ve led the Cardinals to two NCAA DI National Championships (2016 & 2018).
Gray is a two-time Pac-12 Setter of the Year (2017, 2018) and a two-time member of the AVCA All-American first team (2017, 2018). She is one of the best setters in the nation, but it's her leadership skills that really set her apart. “Both in action and in words, she says and does what the team needs to push us toward winning," says Stanford Head Coach Kevin Hambly. "There's times when she'll get them laughing, and there's times when she'll get on them.”
Fitzmorris, an opposite hitter, is a two-time member of the AVCA All-American second team (2017, 2018) and received an AVCA All-American honorable mention in 2016. As the tallest member of the tallest volleyball team in the country, Audriana makes her presence known both on – and off – the court.
Coach Hambly remarks, “There’s nothing about her that is not positive. She is always striving to be the best athlete, the best human being, the best student. She’s really curious about life — she is exploring this world, consuming as much of this world as she can.”Kansas City Marriott Downtown Sportsman of the Year
Patrick Mahomes
Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
2018 NFL MVP📷In his second season with the Kansas City Chiefs (and first as the starting quarterback), Patrick Mahomes broke record after record and was named the NFL MVP – the first ever MVP winner for the Chiefs.
Mahomes played college football and baseball at Texas Tech University. Following his sophomore year, he quit baseball to focus solely on football. Mahomes' junior year, he led all NCAA Division I players in multiple categories including passing yards (5,052 yards) and passing touchdowns (53 touchdowns). He then entered the 2017 NFL Draft where he was the 10th overall selection by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes spent his rookie season as the backup to Alex Smith. After the Chiefs traded Smith to the Washington Redskins the following season, Mahomes was named the starter. That season, Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He became the only quarterback in history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season in both college and the NFL. He also joined Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history to throw at least 50 touchdown passes in a single season.
For his performance in his first season as starter, he was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl and also named First Team All-Pro. Mahomes also won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
Mahomes recently launched 15 and the Mahomies Foundation which is dedicated to improving the lives of children. The Foundation will support initiatives that focus on health, wellness, communities in need of resources and other charitable causes.
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