Journal Sentinel Sports Awards to salute area's top high school athletes

You’ve cheered for them on the field, celebrated their performance on the court and marveled at their ability on the diamond.

At times, it seems like there is nothing the area’s top high school athletes can’t do. This spring, we’ll put them to the test by taking them out of their comfort zone and placing them into a new arena.

The Pabst Theater.

On May 17, the 122-year-old theater in downtown Milwaukee will be the site of the inaugural Milwaukee Journal Sentinel High School Sports Awards. The red-carpet event will not only celebrate the area’s top performers but also honor athletes whose ability to overcome life’s hurdles show a value of high school sports that goes beyond wins and losses.

It will be a night when prep athletes get their due. Helping us celebrate those accomplishments as the night's guest speaker is an athlete who knows something about succeeding at a high level as well as overcoming odds and fighting through adversity.

Jordy Nelson led the Green Bay Packers in receiving this season after missing the 2015 season due to a knee injury.

An all-state quarterback and defensive back in high school in Kansas, Nelson was a walk-on at Kansas State as a safety but eventually earned time as a receiver. By the time he was done, he was named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation’s top receiver, and was a second-round draft pick of the Packers.

For years, the Journal Sentinel has honored athletes in WIAA-sponsored sports with all-area recognition. This year, we’ll name our area player of the year for each of those sports at the show.

Aurora Health Care will sponsor the Comeback Player of the Year award, which will honor an individual who has returned from injury to make a significant impact on his or her team. We will give the Courage Award to an athlete who has overcome a tough circumstance to make a positive impact on his or her team.

We’ll also salute our boys and girls athletes of the year as well as the coach of the year, present the USA Today Sports Community Engagement Award and, last but not least, name the best mascot.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for the event, with the program beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at pabsttheater.org/show/sportsawards2017. For more information about the show, go to sportsawards.jsonline.com.

It will be a fun night. I hope to see you there.

Mark Stewart can be reached at mstewart@journalsentinel.com or on Twitter at MarkStewartMJS.