The Bobbys celebrates the best in Sumter-area sports with Item's 2nd award show downtown
The Sumter Item hosted its second-annual sports awards show, The Bobbys, on Thursday, June 20. The best local athletes flooded to the Sumter Opera House for a night of celebration. While there were award winners, the night was about reminiscing on a spectacular year of athletics more than any individual honor.
An event like this needs some help, of course. On top of the excellent athletes, sponsors like Thompson Construction, Simpson Hardware and Sporting Goods, Hines Furniture, Wright Way Plumbing and Sumter Trophy and Engraving make events like this possible. J. O'Gradys also provided some exquisite memorabilia for the stage, which gave us the chance to recognize the stars of the past and present as we celebrated our current crop of high school standouts.
The event could only begin in one way, as the show's namesake, Bobby Richardson, took the stage after introductions.
"Thanks to The Item for doing this. It's humbling when they name an award after you," Richardson said. "I'm honored here tonight because we're honoring the best athletes that have come to Sumter from the various high schools. I can't wait to watch who comes up and see what they have to say."
Richardson shared memories of recently lost legends both local and from afar. The former Yankee second baseman faced off with Hall of Famer Willie Mays and recounted their World Series matchup, noting that Mays told him that his Giants would've taken the series from the Yankees had Mays been the lead runner on his own late double that instead left a crucial run on third. He also shared memories of Tommy Jones, whom we lost just before the event. The pair are forever tied with South Carolina baseball and as pillars of the Sumter baseball community.
The namesake of the show also shared a poem that is familiar to anyone who has heard Richardson speak but is always a delight to hear.
"Your name may not appear down here in this world's Hall of Fame. In fact, you may be so unknown that no one knows your name," started Richardson. "The honors, the flashbulbs may pass you by and neon bulbs of blue, but if you know and love the Lord, then I have news for you. This Hall of Fame is only good as long as time shall be. But keep in mind, God's Hall of Fame is for eternity. This crowd on earth, they soon forget the heroes of the past. They cheer like mad until you fall, and that's how long you last.
"But in God's Hall of Fame, just for believing in his son, inscribed you'll find your name. I'll tell you, friend, I wouldn't trade my name, however small, that's written there beyond the stars in that celestial hall. For any famous name on Earth or glory that they share, I'd rather be unknown here and have my name up there."
Later in the evening, former Clemson and NFL defensive back Dexter Davis gave an impassioned speech to encourage the next generation about how to be a champion, using his C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N. ministries as a touchstone.
"I've been all over the world, Clemson University I went and played in the National Football League for six years, I was the chaplain with the Atlanta Falcons, and it wasn't because of anything up here," he said while pointing at his head before putting his hand to his heart to say, "It's because of what's in here and who I serve."
But the night was truly about the student-athletes that were welcomed on stage throughout the evening. Sumter High's Kiara Croskey opened the night, as she was named the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year. She was back on stage midway through the show, as she was named the Best Girls Basketball Player. Croskey was then joined by her Sumter High teammates, as they were named Best Team after winning the SCHSL 5A state title, to close out the show.
The night was a great encapsulation of the great athletes from both SCHSL and SCISA schools. The best Male and Female Athletes both hailed from SCISA programs, as Wilson Hall baseball and football star Clark Kinney earned the male honor, while Laurence Manning basketball and softball standout Lyza Prickelmyer earned the female honor. East Clarendon's Demetress Adams-Ludd was recognized as the top coach after leading an incredible turnaround with the Lady Wolverines' basketball team. Sumter School District had winners from all three schools, as did East Clarendon. Wilson Hall, Laurence Manning and Thomas Sumter all took home honors on the SCISA side.
The Thompson Award for Courage was one of the highlights of the evening, as Crestwood's Summer Golston was recognized. The senior cheerleader lost her home in a fire in December but never missed a beat thanks to the support of the CHS community. She was still on the sidelines cheering and graduated in May.
We hope this is just the beginning for The Bobbys. Hopefully, it will continue to expand. This season we added Best Soccer Player as a step toward growth, and we will keep trying to find new ways to celebrate the extraordinary athletes in the tri-county.