See the 92 people, 3 horses who received votes for 2023 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year

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Final voting

One hundred thirty current and former media members from across Kentucky helped select the 2023 Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year. Voters submitted up to 10 names. Points were awarded in the following manner: 12 for a first-place vote; 10 for second; eight for third; seven for fourth; six for fifth; five for sixth; four for seventh; three for eighth; two for ninth; one for 10th. First-place votes are in parentheses:

1. Travis Perry, basketball (39)

850

2. Reed Sheppard, basketball (12)

584

3. Juli Fulks, basketball (18)

520

4. Lamar Jackson, football (11)

506

5. Ray Davis, football (8)

471

6. Jeff Brohm, football (11)

461

7. Brandon Phaadt, baseball (2)

283

8. Jamal Murray, basketball (4)

216

9. Montana Fouts, softball (3)

207

10. Daniel Thomas, football (1)

178

11. Brad Cox, horse racing (2)

166

12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, basketball

152

13. ZaKiyah Johnson, basketball (2)

137

14. Justin Haddix, football (2)

131

15. Oscar Tshiebwe, basketball

116

16. Donna Moir, basketball (2)

115

17. Josh Allen, football

109

18. Nick Mingione, baseball

108

19. Cody’s Wish, horse racing (1)

105

20. Brooke Gray, softball

100

21. Abdelrahman El-Araby, swimming (4)

93

22. Madison Kellione, basketball

86

23. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, track & field

66

24. Yared Nuguse, track & field (2)

65

25. Rhyne Howard, basketball

64

Others receiving first-place votes in order of total points received: Anna DeBeer, volleyball (1), 60; Mage, horse racing (1), 34; Jeremy Shope, baseball (1), 28; De’Aaron Fox, basketball (1), 16; Ashton Gillotte, football (1), 16; Will Levis, football (1), 12.

Others named on at least two ballots: Barion Brown, football, 55; Savannah DeMelo, soccer, 55; Deone Walker, football, 54; Carlie Thurmond, basketball, soccer, 53; Charlotte Crush, swimming, 50; Will Smith, baseball, 45; Aaron “Kiael” Waldon, boxing, 45; Ciara O’Shea, track & field, 44; Ben Rhodes, auto racing, 43; Craig Skinner, volleyball, 41; Haven Ford, basketball, 40;

Jeff Walz, basketball, 38; Preston Spradlin, basketball, 36; Masai Russell, track & field, 35; Trinity Beth, golf, 32; Jayden Boelter, soccer, 32; Kayla Kowalik, softball, 31; Dani Busboom Kelly, volleyball, 30; William Unseld, basketball, 30;

Jon Sumrall, football, 26; Lee Kiefer, fencing, 24; Levi Sandidge, swimming, 23; Erin Coffel, softball, 22; Grace Berger, basketball, 21; Cutter Boley, football, 20; Emma Grome, volleyball, 20; A.W. Hamilton, basketball, 19; Tyler Gaffalione, horse racing, 18; Caden Veltkamp, football, 18; Marques Warrick, basketball, 18; Cole Hodge, football, 17;

Jawhar Jordan, football, 16; Alexis Holmes, track & field, 14; Alan Jones, softball, 14; Jay Cobb, football, 12; Malachi Corley, football, 12; Brooklyn DeLeye, volleyball, 12; Kensley Feltner, basketball, 12; Hailey Van Lith, basketball, 12; J.P. Vaught, track & field, 12; Josh Wynder, soccer, 12; Donovan Mitchell, basketball, 11; Sage Dawson, football, 11; Beau Brown, track & field, 10;

Cedric Kauffman, tennis, 9; Raena Worley, gymnastics, 8; Paige Briggs, volleyball, 7; Chad Griffin, football, 7; Joe Morris, football, 7; Austin Reed, football, 6; White Abarrio, horse racing, 6; Gavin Wimsatt, football, 6; Darrin Horn, basketball, 5; Travis Hudson, volleyball, 5; Seth Livingston, wrestling, 5; Hunter Cantwell, football, 4; Sofia Ceccarello, rifle, 4; Liam Draxl, tennis, 4; Bill Shively, soccer, 4; Savannah Wheeler, basketball, 4; Katlynn Wilks, basketball, 4; Teigh Yeast, track & field, 4; Katelyn Young, basketball, 4; Darius Neal, football, 3.

After coaching the undefeated Transylvania women’s basketball team to the NCAA Division III national championship in 2023, Juli Fulks received a high level of support in voting for the 2023 Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award. Silas Walker/swalker@herald-leader.com
After coaching the undefeated Transylvania women’s basketball team to the NCAA Division III national championship in 2023, Juli Fulks received a high level of support in voting for the 2023 Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award. Silas Walker/swalker@herald-leader.com

Ballot leaders

Candidates included on the most ballots:

1. Travis Perry

99

2. Reed Sheppard

76

3. Ray Davis

73

4. Lamar Jackson

67

5. Juli Fulks

65

6. Jeff Brohm

61

7. Brandon Phaadt

46

8. Montana Fouts

37

9. Jamal Murray

33

9. Daniel Thomas

33

11. Brad Cox

30

12.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

28

Voting by region

How the leaders fared in each region of the state (Eastern Kentucky is the 606 and 859 area codes outside of Lexington; Western Kentucky is the 502 and 270 area codes outside of Louisville)

Candidate

Lex

Lou

EKy

WKy

Total

Travis Perry

367

102

208

173

850

Reed Sheppard

208

95

152

129

584

Juli Fulks

320

23

101

76

520

Lamar Jackson

208

144

89

65

506

Past winners

All-time results in Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award voting:

Year

Winner

Runner-up

Margin

2023

Travis Perry

Reed Sheppard

266

2022

Oscar Tshiebwe

Abby Steiner

255

2021

Wan’Dale Robinson

Sydney McLaughlin

74

2020

John Schlarman

Rhyne Howard

435

2019

Lynn Bowden

Lamar Jackson

294

2018

Josh Allen

Benny Snell

137

2017

Justin Thomas

Lamar Jackson

225

2016

Lamar Jackson

Tyler Ulis

1,041

2015

American Pharoah

John Calipari

897

2014

AJ Reed

Aaron Harrison

647

2013

Rick Pitino

Tom Jurich

135

2012

Anthony Davis

John Calipari

346

2011

Kenneth Faried

John Calipari

9

2010

John Wall

Randall Cobb

93

2009

John Calipari

Angel McCoughtry

39

2008

Kenny Perry

J.B. Holmes

171

2007

Tyson Gay

Andre Woodson

119

2006

Brandon Webb

Bobby Petrino

169

2005

Shaun Alexander

J.B. Holmes

249

2004

Stefan LeFors

Tayshaun Prince

43

2003

Kenny Perry

Tubby Smith

33

2002

Valley Sports

Derek Abney

42

2001

Eddie Eviston

Tom Jurich

73

2000

John L. Smith

Bill Cronin

243

1999

James Whalen Jr.

Chris Redman

27

1998

Tubby Smith

Tim Couch

5

1997

Tim Couch

Hal Mumme

174

1996

Rick Pitino

W.T. Young

606

1995

Tim Couch

Moe Williams

270

1994

Jenny Hansen

Pat Day

81

1993

Jamal Mashburn

Rick Pitino

357

1992

The Unforgettables

Rick Pitino

77

1991

Cawood Ledford

Kevin Donley

325

1990

Rick Pitino

Howard Schnellenberger

87

1989

David Roselle

Jerry Claiborne

41

1988

Richie Farmer

Pat Riley

47

1987

Phil Simms

Mark Higgs

303

1986

Denny Crum

Eddie Sutton

23

1985

Kenny Walker

Danny Sullivan

121

1984

Mary T. Meagher

Jerry Claiborne

230

1983

Jerry Claiborne

A. Ray Smith

166

1982

Roy Kidd

Valerie Still

191

1981

Roy Kidd

Mary T. Meagher

22

Note: The award was known as Kentucky Sportsman of the Year from 1981-2015.