Clute, Austerman take home big awards at Sport Commission’s annual banquet

The last place Katie Clute and Maya Austerman ever imagined themselves being was on a stage in front of hundreds of people who were standing and applauding them.

But that’s where Clute and Austerman were on Jan. 25 at the 23rd annual Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s annual awards banquet at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Clute, a senior at Olmsted Falls, was named the 2022 female high school athlete of the year after dominating the cross country and track circuits both in the area and in Ohio last year. A short while later, Austerman, a junior at Avon Lake, took home the Courage Award for her courageous battle with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction.

The two awards were just a pair of honors doled out in front of a packed house of contributors and supporters that spanned high school, college and professional athletics.

“This is so cool,” beamed Clute after taking home the first award of the night. “This whole event is so awesome.”

Clute has done it all at Olmsted Falls. Not only was she a Division I state cross country champion, but she also finished cross country and track season undefeated.

She has signed to run at the University of Oregon.

“I didn’t think I’d be doing cross country in college,” she said. “I thought soccer was going to be my thing. Picturing this now, I never would have believed it.”

Clute was declared the winner over two other finalists, Caroline Jurevicius of the NDCL volleyball team and Tessa Knapp of the Bay soccer team.

“I know both other girls are awesome athletes too,” Clute said. “Either way, I know all three of us did pretty cool things last year. Any of us deserved it, really.”

Austerman overcame a major medical obstacle to continue playing competitive sports last year. EILO, a condition often mistaken for asthma, put a halt to her athletics — but only temporarily. She continues to experience symptoms, but said breathing techniques help her manage her conditions.

“I want to thank everyone who stood by me and helped me through these conditions and hard times,” she said. “I think really this experience for me has been so surreal. I never expected to get this award or be recognized for this.”

She said the biggest life lesson she learned was, “just being brave is something everyone should do no matter what. No matter what callenge you face, it is so important to just be who you are and follow your dreams.”

PHOTOS: Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, Jan. 25, 2023

Other award winners on Jan. 25 were:

• Tyler Lencewicz (Shaker Heights hockey) as the boys high school athlete of the year.

• Sencire Carry (Kent State men's basketball) as the male college athlete of the year.

• Case Western Reserve women's soccer team as the female college athlete of the year.

• Jose Ramirez of the Guardians as the professional athlete of the year.

• Luise Easton as the 5-star senior athlete award winner

• Ted Ginn Sr. as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

• The Guardians' 2022 season as the best moment in Cleveland Sports last year.