Best of Hometeam High School Sports Awards

Hometeam awards turn to star-studded streaming broadcast
Posted on 05/15/2020
Television sports anchor Sage Steele will be a co-host for the Best of Hometeam High School Sports Awards online streaming broadcast on June 18. [File Photo/Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports]                 WORCESTER — The Telegram & Gazette is changing its annual Best of Hometeam High School Sports Awards banquet from a physical event to a star-studded, on-demand streaming broadcast that will be available at no charge at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 18.

The show will feature more than 20 professional athletes as hosts and award announcers, and provide the community with an on-demand broadcast to maintain the annual tradition of honoring and celebrating hundreds of student-athletes for their hard work and dedication in their sports during the past school year.

“In stopping the spread of coronavirus, the best defense we have is to practice social distancing. With that in mind, we are excited to be able to continue this great tradition and honor these outstanding student-athletes by shifting from a physical event to a star-studded, on-demand streaming broadcast of the awards show,” said Dave Nordman, executive editor of the Telegram & Gazette. “With the new on-demand streaming format, we plan to keep the awards ceremony full of high energy and excitement to properly honor and celebrate the student-athletes in the same way we have at past Best of Hometeam events.”

The awards show will be available to watch on any smart device through YouTube and the event website, telegram.com/bestofhometeam, thanks to the continued support of area business leaders like partners DCU — Digital Federal Credit Union, Big Y and Wachusett Mountain.

“For a second consecutive year, Digital Federal Credit Union, better known as DCU, is proud to sponsor the Best of Hometeam All-Stars event, which recognizes the dedication, teamwork and perseverance of local high school student-athletes,” said John LaHair, DCU’s corporate communications manager. “Although this is a different format, our commitment to the community remains the same, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of these outstanding student athletes on June 18th with their family, coaches and the community.”

The streaming broadcast at telegram.com/bestofhometeam will be hosted by television sports anchors Jesse Palmer and Sage Steele. Celebrity athletes participating in the award presentations will include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees as the football award presenter, Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams as the tennis award presenter, Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor as the volleyball award presenter and Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas as the gymnastics award presenter, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

The show will feature opportunities to win autographed gifts and other prizes both before and during the show. Students who register online by Sunday, May 10, at telegram.com/bestofhometeam will receive event updates and be included in any gift mailings.

Gannett owns and operates the largest high school athlete recognition program in the United States. Viewers can find various locations, including the Best of Hometeam All-Stars Awards show, at: sportsawards.usatoday.com, as well as on the event website at telegram.com/bestofhometeam.