ROCHESTER PRESS-RADIO CLUB'S

CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS​

PRESENTED BY ESL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

HELD AT ESL BALLPARK ON JUNE 9, 2026

 

• Professional Athletes of the Year

Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Lillis, Gold Medal Olympian, Freestyle Skier

Haley Winn, Gold Medal Olympian, Women’s Hockey

• Major Donald Holleder Lifetime Achievement Award – person whose active life has exhibited the highest level of sportsmanship, character, courage and achievement-Ray Maxwell, recently retired Livonia CSD Head Soccer Coach; 41-year coaching career

• Charlie Wagner & Christine Wagner Welch Founders Award – promoting sports on the local level with commitment and inspiration

• Ryan Kimball, Owner and Founder, Kickball League of Rochester

• Joe Thyroff, recently retired, Boys and Girls Head Tennis Coach, Pittsford Schools

• ESL Coach of the Year – Terrell Cunningham, Monroe High School Football and Basketball Coach

• Elliot Cushing Award – local person who has excelled on the national sports scene/level-Wrianna Hudson, 2025 NCAA D1 Most Outstanding Player, Soccer

• Gary Smith & George Beahon Sports Media Award – for local sports media excellence-Craig Rybczynski, Senior Director of Operations and Communications, Rochester Knighthawks, longest tenured broadcaster in NLL history

• Jean Giambrone Award – woman who has made an exemplary lifetime commitment to local women’s sports-Jennifer Granger, St. John Fisher University, Director of Athletics and Recreation

• Morrie Silver Award – for special contributions in promoting sports in Rochester & Monroe County-Faheem Masood, Retired President and CEO of ESL Federal Credit Union, dedication to community engagement

• Rich Funke Jr. & Jerry Flynn Local College Athlete Award

• Jillian Ambler, SUNY Geneseo, Track & Field, Empire 8 ‘25-‘26 Indoor Field Athlete of the Year

• Sierra Doody, SUNY Geneseo, Track & Field, Empire 8, ‘26 Track Athlete of the Year

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Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor ESL Federal Credit Union