From left, Spring Valley High School basketball player Ella Zanders, Centennial High School football player Vladimir Plotnikov, a Raider’s cheerleader, Basic High School bowling and softball player Hannah Barr, a Raider’s cheerleader and Golden Knights mascot Chance pose for a photo, after Hannah Bar wins the Citizen of the Year award during the Las Vegas Sun Standout Awards at South Point, Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 | 2 a.m.
The Las Vegas Sun is again recognizing the best in high school sports. We need your help identifying the top athletes and performances.
The Sun Standout Awards will return for a fourth consecutive year at the South Point Showroom on May 21, honoring the top student-athletes, sports moments and more from the 2018-19 high school season.
Modeled after ESPN’s ESPY Awards, the black-tie-optional event honors the top games, moments, teams, players and more with such awards as Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Scholar Athlete of the Year and Citizen of the Year.
This year’s event will be presented by SCE Federal Credit Union, Rising Star Sports Ranch, South Point and others.
Since debuting after the 2015-16 season, the Sun Standout Awards have been presented to representatives from more than 20 schools, with the evening drawing packed crowds to the venue. Here’s the link to nominate someone from your school for this year's show.
“South Point loves doing this for Las Vegas, all of the kids, their families and parents, and the schools,” said Michael Libonati, the South Point entertainment director.
The Hank Greenspun Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the founder of the Las Vegas Sun, is the top award of the program. It is reserved for those who have displayed general excellence and strength of character or someone who displays exceptional sportsmanship and perseverance while dealing with adversity.
Last year, the award went to retiring Chaparral High football coach Paul Nihipali, who spent nearly 20 years with the Cowboys and was noted for his compassion in working with the at-risk school’s athletes. This will be the event’s fourth year.
“This is my favorite night of the year,” said Ray Brewer, the Sun’s managing editor and Sun Standout Awards host. “It’s extremely rewarding to honor the student-athletes of Las Vegas and further bring to light their great accomplishments.”
Coronado last season took the top team award — the Greenspun Cup, which ranks schools on academic and athletic performance in every sport.
Here’s how we tally the points:
For athletics, 10 points are awarded for a state championship. Eight points are awarded for two or more playoff wins, and five points for making the postseason. For sports with meets as the state tournament, such as cross country, the state team champion still receives 10 points. Nine points are awarded for second place, eight for third and so forth.
For academics, we’ve coordinated with the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association to use the team grade-point averages it collects for the team-by-team Academic State Championship. If a team wins the Academic State title, it’s worth 10 points — equal to winning an athletic title.
For a GPA of 3.5 or better, eight points are awarded in the standings. Five points are awarded for 3.0 or better and three points for 2.5 or better.
There’s only one Greenspun Cup winner, regardless of classification.
After the fall season, Bishop Gorman and Boulder City were tied with 117 points, with Centennial (112), Faith Lutheran (110), Palo Verde (108), Coronado (101) and Moapa Valley (101) in contention. Boulder City’s girls volleyball team earned 20 points — 10 each for winning the state championship and academic state championship.
