Couch: LSJ Sports Awards a night for bold suits, a celebration of our best

Among the many highlights from two years of the Lansing State Journal Sports Awards: Jaden Sutton’s bold bright red suit. 

I respect and envy any man with that sort of confidence. He pulled it off and brought pizzaz to the red carpet at Wharton Center last year. I’d look like a giant tomato if I wore that.

“I bought that suit especially for the Sports Awards,” said Sutton, a former Waverly football and basketball star, now playing hoops at Huntington University in Indiana.

Sutton, to me, epitomizes the enthusiasm and energy of the evening. He was a member of two LSJ Dream Teams, not an LSJ Sports Awards finalist or winner, but still among our best, and he embraced the celebration. 

I’m rarely more proud to be part of the Lansing State Journal than on this one night each spring. But what makes me happiest is that our area high school athletes find enjoyment and value in it, too. Because it’s about them and for them.

“I think it was wonderful. I think it was the best experience of my senior year,” Sutton said Wednesday. “To be able to be recognized, whether you get an award a not, it was definitely a great experience. To be able to have your name up there, be dressed up, have your picture taken.”

This year’s event is Wednesday, May 30, again at Wharton Center. Tickets can be purchased at sportsawards.lansingstatejournal.com. Every member of an LSJ Dream Team receives free admission once they RSVP. The red carpet opens at 7 p.m., the show begins at 8. 

Cincinnati Bengal defensive back and former Michigan State star Darqueze Dennard is our featured guest this year. He’s an impressive person, similar in that regard to previous speakers Claressa Shields and Kirk Cousins.

For the second year, our winning athletes will also have a chance to speak and to thank those who mean the most to them. This is my favorite part.

Mason’s Autumn Kissman endured the experience last year after being named Female Athlete of the Year.

“I’m not a really big fan of public speaking, but I thought it made it more award-show-like. I thought it was also good practice for the real world,” said Kissman, who just finished her freshman year on Oakland University’s basketball team. “I was actually kind of nervous about it. I had thought about it, in case I did win.

“I thought it was an incredible experience. I thought it was really cool to see athletes from other schools who also deserve those awards all in one place."

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.