PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Pensacola Sports seventieth annual awards banquet happened on the Brownsville Community Center Tuesday night time.
Hometown sports activities icons and upcoming athletes have been acknowledged for his or her achievements.
NFL professional Doug Baldwin, and as soon as the quickest man on this planet, Justin Gatlin each say they would not be who they’re with out Pensacola.
More than 2 hundred households, athletes and buddies got here collectively to have fun.
“We’ll be recognizing everything from aquatics to wrestling,” Pensacola Sports CEO Ray Palmer stated.
Special achievement awards got to dozens of athletes from numerous sports activities, like weightlifting.
“It’s pretty cool, getting in the big leagues,” Pace High School weightlifter Kollin Daniels stated.
“It’s kind of shocking,” Special Olympics athlete Samuel Johnson stated. “But I love it though, at the same time.”
Four Pensacola-grown sports activities execs have been inducted into this system’s corridor of fame. Olympic gold medalist sprinter Justin Gatlin is one.
“I’ve been inducted in a few hall of fames but tonight is special because it’s my hometown,” stated Gatlin. “It’s where the sport really came from the roots of me growing up.”
Gatlin went to Woodham High School.
“…And to be acknowledged by the city, it has embraced me and all of my accolades and my triumphs, it couldn’t mean couldn’t be in a better place,” Gatlin stated. “Pensacola is home and I love it.”
Baldwin the previous Seattle Seahawk from Gulf Breeze can also be coming into the Pensacola Sports Hall of Fame this yr.
“I’m just honored to be among that list of names… The way that I think about the world, the way I maneuver and navigate through the things that I’m going through right now, it’s based off of my experiences growing up in Pensacola and Gulf Breeze,” Baldwin stated. “So I’m very grateful for the experiences and the lessons that I’ve learned and to be here tonight amongst family and friends being recognized for this achievement.”
Superbowl LX Champion Devin Witherspoon was given a “special recognition” award. Although he wasn’t there to settle for the trophy, Washington Commander Jeremy Reaves left him a message.
“So shout out to spoon, shout out to represent Pensacola at the highest level in the Super Bowl, getting you a chip, playing your ass off, excuse me in that game,” Reaves stated. “That’s awesome, man. You lived a lot of kids’ dreams. You lived my dream, man. So I was just as happy as if I was playing in it.”
Congratulations to each athlete who received an award — novice, professional or Olympian.
Watch beneath for the total interview with Doug Baldwin. To discover out concerning the group heart he created, impressed by the Salvation Army in Pensacola, visit this link.