Knoxville area's top high school athletes to be honored at red carpet gala on June 7

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

The very best high school athletes in the Knoxville area will be honored on June 7 at the inaugural News Sentinel Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans.

Keynoting the red carpet gala at the Tennessee Theatre will be former University of Tennessee All-American defensive back and current Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Eric Berry.

Players of the year will be announced in football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, golf, swimming, cross country, track and field, tennis, wrestling and bowling.

Six finalists in each sport already have been chosen by three-person panels that included high school sports editor Troy Provost-Heron and coaches or officials from each sport.

All finalists are invited to the celebration. Winners will be revealed that evening.

In additional to the players of the year in each sport, premier awards will include Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year and Leadership Award.

One athlete also will win the I Am Sport Award presented by Nike, which recognizes high school athletes committed to getting kids active in their community.

"We are excited to be a part of the News Sentinel Sports Awards program and events," said Anthony Kimbrough, CEO of Farm Bureau Health Plans. "We know our student-athletes work hard and so do their parents, guardians, teachers and coaches. We want to show our support of these athletes and celebrate their accomplishments, as they are the future of our local communities.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event begins at 8. Invited athletes receive two complimentary tickets, including their own. Additional tickets can be purchased at sportsawards.knoxnews.com.

Nominees for the premier awards are: Tee Higgins, Oak Ridge High School; Sammy Evans, Alcoa High School; Spencer Strider, Christian Academy of Knoxville; Rebecca Story, Christian Academy of Knoxville; Allie Dunn, Grace Christian Academy; Qua Hines, Gatlinburg-Pittman High School; Cooper Hardin, Farragut High School; Sydney Newsome, Morristown Hamblen High School; T.D. Blackmon, Maryville High School; Joe Pace, Harriman High School; Hayden Bingham, Harriman High School; Destiny Kassner, Oak Ridge High School; Ella Morton, Lenoir City High School; Skyler Merrel, Gibbs High School; Gavin Greene, Hardin Valley Academy.

Coaches nominated for awards are: Shay Shannon, Harriman High School; Eddie Courtney, Farragut High School; and Gary Rankin, Alcoa High School.

Teams nominated for special awards are: Farragut High School, football; Harriman High School, boys basketball; and Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, girls basketball.

The names of all the finalists can be found at sportsawards.knoxnews.com.