Nominees for MTRWestern Sports Star of the Year Awards announced

John Clayton of 710 ESPN Seattle will be among the honorees at the 83rd annual MTRWestern Sports Star of the Year Awards, presented by the Seattle Sports Commission on Feb. 8 at the Sheraton Hotel in Seattle.

The awards will also honor Washington’s top female and male sports stars for 2017, as well as the top sports story of the year.

The nominees for the Female Sports Star of the Year are UW softball player Ali Aguilar, Seattle Reign FC’s Jessica Fishlock, WSU volleyball player Taylor Mims, UW cross country runner Amy-Eloise Neal, UW basketball’s Chantel Osahor, and Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart.

Up for Male Sports Star of the Year are Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz, WSU football’s Luke Falk, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei, and UW football’s Dante Pettis.

The contenders for Sports Story of the Year are Gonzaga men’s basketball’s first-ever trip to the Final Four, UW players being the first pick in both the NBA and WNBA drafts, the Oak View Group getting the go-ahead to remodel KeyArena, the UW and Western Washington University rowing teams both winning titles, the Sounders’ return trip to the MLS Cup final, and big performances by Storm players in the WNBA All-Star Game in Seattle.

Clayton will receive the Keith Jackson Award, which is awarded each year to a media member for excellence in communicating sports stories in Washington state. A Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Clayton has had a long career in sports journalism that began in his high school years in Pittsburgh and has seen him rise to become one of the more notable NFL insiders for ESPN and a full-time host of his own show six days a week on 710 ESPN Seattle.

Former state attorney general and U.S. Senator Slade Gorton will receive the Paul Allen Award (for significant or compelling philanthropic contribution) for his role in bringing the Mariners to Seattle after he sued the American League following the Seattle Pilots’ exit from town after just one MLB season.

Bretton Chitwood, a Lynden teen who plays hockey despite having his right foot amputated due to bone cancer, and Colton Schmidt, a soccer player from Othello who will represent Washington in the Special Olympics in Seattle in July, will receiver Wayne Gittenger Inspirational Youth Awards.

Doris Brown Heritage, a two-time Olympian and “the First Lady of American distance running,” will be given the Royal Brougham Award for lifetime of achievement in sports.

For more information on the awards, including how to buy tickets, visit at sportsstaroftheyear.org.