Earl Thomas, Seahawks big winners at MTR Western Sports Awards

Earl Thomas and his Seahawks came away with two of the big honors at the 81st annual MTR Western Sports Star of the Year Awards at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.

Thomas, the Seahawks free safety who was named both an All-Pro and Pro-Bowler for the fourth time last season, took home the Male Sports Star of the Year trophy. He beat out five other nominees: Clint Dempsey (Sounders FC); Connor Halliday (WSU football); Obafemi Martins (Sounders FC); Kyle Seager (Mariners); and Shaq Thompson (UW football).

The Seahawks themselves were selected for Sports Story of the Year after winning the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. The other nominees were: the UW men’s crew team’s fourth National Title; the Mariners’ resurgence; the Sounders’ MLS Support Shield win; the Seattle Reign’s trip to the NWSL Championship Game; and Husky football’s All-American trio of Thompson, Danny Shelton and Hau’oli Kikaha.

The other award presented was Female Sports Star of the Year, which was won by Seattle University soccer star Stephanie Verdoia. The senior forward took WAC Offensive Player of the Year honors after she scored 22 goals and 13 assists to help the Redhawks reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Also up for the award were: SooBin Kim (UW golf); Kim Little (Reign FC); Kelsey Plum (UW basketball); Tia Presley (WSU basketball); and Lianna Sybeldon (UW volleyball).