SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett has been nominated as a finalist for the 2015 Male Sports Star of the Year at the 2016 MTR Western Sports Star of the Year event. Every year, the Seattle Sports Commission has the honor to host this event as an acknowledgment of the many triumphs of Washington sports. This year's show will be hosted at the Paramount Theatre on February 10th, 2016.
Bennett, now in his third season with the Seahawks, is having one of his most productive seasons playing in the NFL. Over the span of 13 games, Bennett has recorded 8.5 sacks, already more than the number of sacks (7) he recorded all 16 games last season and ranking him in the NFL's top-10 sack leaders.
The Seattle Seahawks have had three straight Male Sports Star of the Year, and over the years football has claimed 27 Sports Star awards. Bennett is one of six nominees in the Male Sports Star award, other nominees include: Nelson Cruz, Mariners; Cheng-Tsung Pan, UW Golf; Luke Falk, WSU Football; Pete Fewing, Seattle University Men's Soccer; and Clint Dempsey, Sounders FC.
Now in its 81st year, this event has honored some of Seattle's most well-known and iconic sports individuals, legends, media and philanthropists. Once an individual has been named a Sports Star, he or she becomes a member of an elite group that forever etches their name in Seattle's sports history.
Nominees are selected by the Sports Star Committee, compiled of local sports historians, media and other members of the sports industry, and then voted on by the general public. Fans can vote for their favorite male, female and sports story of the year online at www.sportsstaroftheyear.org. Voting opens today, Wednesday, December 16 at 10 a.m. PST and closes Friday, January 29, 2016 at 5 p.m. PST. The winners are announced during the 2016 MTR Western Sports Star of the Year show hosted at the Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
Tickets to the show can be purchased online as either a table ticket package or individual reserved ticket. More details about the upcoming event and pricing can be found on our website www.sportsstaroftheyear.org. To stay up-to-date with information as the event approaches follow the SSC Twitter account, @SportsStarSEA, or the event hashtag, #SSY16.
Seattle Sports Commission
*The Seattle Sports Commission (SSC), a division of Visit Seattle, is committed to making Seattle a world-class sports community. Sports have the opportunity to bring the world to Seattle and bring our region together. A strong sports culture can strengthen local businesses, local kids, and local pride. *www.seattlesports.org
