Today, KGUN9 sports decided to hold their 1st annual Tucson ESPY awards, in honor of the ESPY's airing tonight on ABC.
Here are the winners of this year's awards:
Sportsman of the Year: Craig Cunningham
The Roadrunners captain suffered cardiac arrest on the ice before a home game last season. Paramedics and a team at Banner UMC helped save his life. Despite losing part of his leg, Cunningham is able to skate again and is now a scout for the Roadrunners.
Craig Cunningham has been named Tucson's 'Sportsman of the Year'! #CunnyDid https://t.co/OFMaoSGCPB
— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) July 13, 2017
Female Athlete of the Year: Sage Watson, Arizona track and field
Watson won the 400-meter hurdles National Championship in her senior season. It was the fastesttime by any collegiate athlete this year. Watson called it the race of her life. She is eyeing the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Male Athlete of the Year: Abdi Abdirahman.
The 40 year old longtime Tusconan finished 3rd in the New York City Marathon. He then backed it up with an impressive 6th place finish in the Boston Marathon. A 4-time Olympian, Abdirahman continues to run at the top of his game, and he also coaches at Arizona.
Play of the Year: Rawle Alkins, slam dunk against ASU.
The freshman impressed in his first year with the Wildcats, showing off his athleticism with his dunk against their in-state rivals. Arizona won in a blowout over the Sun Devils.
Final Poll: Head to the KGUN9 twitter page to cast your vote as the top U of A athletic program of the year:
1.) softball
2.) basketball
3.) indoor volleyball
4.) track and field
See you next year, Arizona Athletics fans!
