Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis headlines Rochester Press-Radio Club honorees: The full list
With Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis on the guest list, the Rochester Press-Radio Club is ready to resume honoring local athletes, a tradition going back 70 years but blocked the last two by the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are still health concerns about restarting the club's annual dinner, which has brought superstar professional athletes to the city for decades. The club's solution, with an assist from the member Rochester Red Wings baseball team and presenting sponsor ESL Federal Credit Union, is to move the event outdoors.
Rochester Press-Radio Club's "Celebration of Champions" takes place June 1 at Frontier Field. Lillis, a gold-medalist in mixed team freestyle aerial skiing last Winter Olympics in Beijing, is one of 12 in a group of area high school and college athletes and coaches recognized by the club. He is a native of Pittsford.
"We just wanted to get back into recognizing members of the community," dinner organizer Pat Grover said. "We thought this is a good re-entry event.
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2022 Rochester Press-Radio Club awards
Local Athlete of the Year: Chris Lillis, Pittsford native who became an Olympic gold medalist in 2022.
Major Donald Holleder Achievement: George Steitz, a nationally recognized coach and official in Penfield.
Charlie Wagner and Christine Wagner Welch Founder: Chris Cardon, boys basketball coach at Irondequoit High, who earned his 500th win last season.
Elliot Cushing: Jake Coon, coach of the 2021 NCAA Division III men's lacrosse national champion Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers.
ESL Press-Radio Coach of the Year Todd Julien, girls basketball coach at Pittsford Mendon High, a Section V champion each of the last six seasons.
Gary Smith and George Beahon Sports Media: Jenna Cottrell, WHAM TV sports reporter.
Jean Giambrone Woman Sports Award: Shelly Collins is the Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Softball Coach of the 2010-19 Decade for her success at Victor High.
Eddie and Kevin Meath Community Service: Dan Mason, Rochester Red Wings general manager.
Morrie Silver: Chris Woodworth, director Bill Gray's Iceplex.
Jerry Flynn Female College Award: Roberts Wesleyan lacrosse player Lindsey Brinkel, a 2021 second team All-American after leading NCAA Division II with 57 assists.
Rich Funke Jr. College: SUNY Brockport ice hockey player Ryan Romeo, a 2021-22 Division II-III All-American.
Press-Radio Female High School: Candace Tytler, a senior at Irondequoit, was named the D&C AGR Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for the third time last fall.
Press-Radio Male High School: Daley Fraser, a senior at Pittsford Mendon, is the reigning high school diving state champion.
Tickets
The celebration for the Press-Radio Club award winners will take place on Frontier Field at 6:30 p.m. before the Rochester Red Wings game.
Cost: $30 for admission to a picnic 6-7:30 p.m. and the Red Wings game versus the Buffalo Bisons.
Where to buy: pressradio.org or 585-734-5317.
Purchase deadline: May 13.
Rochester Press-Radio Press Club dinner
The Rochester Press-Radio Club was formed in 1949, and its annual charity dinner for the benefit of children's charities also drew professional sports athletes and personalities known around the country, and in the case of Muhammad Ali, the world.
Past guests include Joe Montana, Colin Kaepernick and in 2019, Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes; Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer; Mickey Mantle and Cal Ripken Jr.; Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith.
Grover said the club must monitor the situation with COVID-19 before returning to a dinner celebration and this year's event is "our comeback."
"We’re excited," Grover said. "People look forward to this event."
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Chris Lillis included in Rochester Press-Radio Club 2022 winners
