In recognition of the many outstanding athletic achievements in the state over the past year, the 2020 Oregon Sports Awards are off and running following the unveiling of the first group of winners this past week, May 18-22.

Sport Oregon and NBC Sports Northwest once again are teaming up to present the 2020 Oregon Sports Awards, with top athletes and coaches from 21 different categories highlighting the 68th year of the state’s annual sports awards.

During the first week of presentations, 10 athletes across five different disciplines were recognized, including female and male winners of the first-ever Lou Burge Special Olympics Athlete of the Year award, Prep Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Prep Swimmer of the Year, Prep Soccer Player of the Year and Prep Basketball Player of the Year.

2020 OREGON SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS (May 18-22 announcements)

Lou Burge Special Olympics Athlete of the Year (Male) – CJ Billings

Lou Burge Special Olympics Athlete of the Year (Female) – Deborah Muno

Prep Cross-Country Runner of the Year (Male) – Evan (EJ) Holland, Ashland High School

Prep Cross-Country Runner of the Year (Female) – Fiona Max, Summit High School

Prep Swimmer of the Year (Female) – Kaitlyn Dobler, Aloha High School

Prep Swimmer of the Year (Male) – Luke Bachart, Newport High School

Prep Soccer Player of the Year (Male) – Edgar Monroy, Corvallis High School

Prep Soccer Player of the Year (Female) – Callan Harrington, Jesuit High School

Prep Basketball Player of the Year (Female) – McKelle Meek, Southridge High School

Prep Basketball Player of the Year (Male) – Nathan Bittle, Crater High School

This Oregon Sports Awards announcements continue this week, with the 2020 unveiling of winners concluding Tuesday, June 2. Once again this year, NBC Sports Northwest will announce all of the awards live exclusively on NBC Sports Northwest and Rip City Radio 620AM. Award-winners will be revealed on The Brian Noe Show every weekday (9 a.m.-12 noon PT), and also will be featured on OregonSportsAwards.com, NBCSportsNorthwest.com and through social media.

The 2020 awards mark the first year for designated male and female wrestlers of the year, with those honors set to be announced Wednesday, May 27.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS (NBC Sports Northwest)

Tuesday, May 26

Prep Volleyball Player of the Year - 9:45 a.m. PT

Prep Football Player of the Year - 10:45 a.m. PT

Wednesday, May 27

Prep Wrestler of the Year (Female) - 9:45 a.m. PT

Prep Wrestler of the Year (Male) - 10:45 a.m. PT

Thursday, May 28

Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year (Female) - 9:45 a.m. PT

Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year (Male) - 10:45 a.m. PT

Friday, May 29

Ad Rutschman Small College Athlete of the Year (Male) - 9:45 a.m. PT

Ad Rutschman Small College Athlete of the Year (Female) - 10:45 a.m. PT

Monday, June 1

George Pasero Team of the Year - 9:45 a.m. PT

George Pasero Team of the Year - 10:45 a.m. PT

Tuesday, June 2

Slats Gill Sportsperson of the Year - 9:45 a.m. PT

DNA: Dedication to Oregon Sports - 10:45 a.m. PT

Finalists for the Oregon Sports Awards were nominated and selected through a statewide voting panel consisting of TV, radio and print journalists, and respected sports professionals.

Originally the Hayward Banquet of Champions, the Oregon Sports Awards began in 1948 to honor Oregon’s outstanding professional and amateur athletes, teams, coaches and administrators from many levels and a wide range of sports.

This year’s awards program includes modifications due to the cancelation of spring prep and college sports, and the suspension of professional sports in response to COVID-19. Spring prep sports awards, Johnny Carpenter Prep Athlete of the Year, and the Harry Glickman Award for the professional athlete of the year have been suspended for 2020.