Voting for The Item's inaugural high school sports awards show, The Bobbys, starts today

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The Sumter Item's new high school sports awards show, The Bobbys, is officially underway.

The program, inspired by ESPN's The Espy Awards, will be a red-carpet gala celebrating the best in Sumter-area sports. Readers can now vote for their favorite high school athletes for the next week and a half. Voting runs May 18-29. The Bobbys will be held at The Sumter Opera House on June 15.

While there are stars currently in professional sports for which Sumter is proud they call home, when it came to naming the awards program and gala, it was a no-brainer. The Bobbys is named for Sumter sports legend Bobby Richardson, the former World Series MVP for the New York Yankees.

"I look at it as you using me to honor them, and I appreciate the honor of being asked to let my name do that," Richardson said. "This community has been so great to me."

There are 14 categories for the public to vote on spanning athletes in individual sports. The area's top football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, cross country and track athletes will vie for a top award. There are also categories for Best Team, Best Coach, Best Female Athlete and Best Male Athlete.

There will also be an Award for Courage, presented by Thompson Construction Group, which will be selected by The Item staff.

Scholarships will be given throughout the night in categories presented by a local business partner.

Other current award sponsors include Simpson Hardware and Sporting Goods for Best Football Player, Wright Way Plumbing for Best Baseball Player and Nu-Idea School Supply for Best Girls Basketball Player.

Winners will be invited to attend the gala, and the public can buy tickets to attend. Tickets are $10 for adults for $5 for students.

The Bobbys will also highlight the 2023 winner of the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year. Voting for that award ended Wednesday, and the winner will be announced during the event with the top four finalists invited to attend.

For more information about sponsoring an award or the event, contact your sales representative or email advertising@theitem.com.

NOMINEES FOR THE BOBBYS INAUGURAL CATEGORIES

FOOTBALL

Zyeir Gamble - Sumter High

Javion Martin - Crestwood High

Jesse Bowers - Lee Academy

Tyler June - Laurence Manning Academy

BOYS BASKETBALL

Randy Gibson - Scott's Branch

Justin Daniels - Manning High

Corean Nelson - Crestwood High

Myles Squirewell - Lakewood High

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Rickell Brown - Sumter High

Tashiana Farmer - Crestwood High

Savanna Price - Lee Academy

Rosandra Bennett - Scott's Branch

BASEBALL

Ja'Shawn Montgomery - East Clarendon

Clark Kinney - Wilson Hall

Cole Thompson - Lee Academy

Carson Todd - Sumter High

SOFTBALL

Amberly Way - Wilson Hall

Calli Yount - Clarendon Hall

Lyza Prickelmyer - Laurence Manning Academy

Eden Huth - East Clarendon

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Michael Ledet - Lakewood High

Sumter Cooper - Wilson Hall

Jake Marshall - Thomas Sumter Academy

Dominick West - Crestwood High

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Nicole Wells - Sumter High

Hannah Burnside - Thomas Sumter Academy

Lori Flemming - Wilson Hall

Ashante Shaw - Lakewood High

CROSS COUNTRY BOYS

Connor Smith - Wilson Hall

Joseph Butters - Sumter High

William Wright - Thomas Sumter Academy

Brody Secosky - Laurence Manning Academy

CROSS COOUNTRY GIRLS

Bailey McInerney - Wilson Hall

Kira Owens - East Clarendon

Emily Vipperman - Sumter High

Abbie Fisher - Thomas Sumter Academy

VOLLEYBALL

Aubrey Payne - Wilson Hall

Ariana Somcheen - Laurence Manning Academy

Olivia O'Clair - Crestwood High

Hayden White - East Clarendon

BEST TEAM

Scott's Branch boys basketball

Crestwood High boys basketball

Lee Academy football

Wilson Hall volleyball

Sumter girls basketball

East Clarendon baseball

BEST COACH

Kevin Miller - Scott's Branch

Aric Samuel - Crestwood High

Rip Ripley - Wilson Hall

Jeff Schaffer - Sumter High

David Rankin - Lee Academy

Anthony Jackson - Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy

BEST MALE ATHLETE

Zyeir Gamble - Sumter High

Randy Gibson - Scott's Branch

Connor Smith - Wilson Hall

Justin Daniels - Manning High

Jesse Bowers - Lee Academy

Conner Palumbo - Crestwood High

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Sarah Sonntag - Wilson Hall

Savanna Price - Lee Academy

Eden Huth - East Clarendon

Nicole Wells - Sumter High

Giselle Ramirez - Crestwood High

Ashante Shaw - Lakewood High