The results are in: Here’s who received votes for Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year

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2020 Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year

Click here to read all of our stories and watch our video unveiling the winner of the Lexington Herald-Leader’s 40th annual Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year award.

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The results are in: Here’s who received votes for Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year

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One hundred fifty-three current and former media members from across Kentucky helped select the 2020 Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year. Here’s a closer look at the results:

Final voting

Voters submitted up to 10 names. Points were awarded in the following manner: 12 for a first-place vote; 10 for second; eight for third; seven for fourth; six for fifth; five for sixth; four for seventh; three for eighth; two for ninth; one for 10th. First-place votes in parentheses:

x-tie broken by number of first-place votes received; z-tie broken by number of second-place votes received.

Others receiving first-place votes in order of total points received: Tony Love, football (1), 43; Julian Tackett, administration (2), 33; Kelly Wells, basketball (1), 18; Class of 2020 spring athletes (1), 12; Ben Lundt, soccer (1), 12.

Others named on at least two ballots: Darian Kinnard, football, 61; Chris Coffey, basketball, 58; Robert Ervin, wrestling, 55; Mary Tucker, rifle, 51; Donovan Mitchell, basketball, 47; Brooke Forde, swimming, 46; Tyler Gaffalione, horse racing, 46; Jamal Murray, basketball, 46; Joe Chirico, football, 42; Justin Haddix, football, 42; Michael Mayer, football, 40; Matthew Mitchell, basketball 40;

Dayvion McKnight, basketball, 38; Angel McCoughtry, basketball, 37; Jaire Alexander, football, 34; Devin Booker, basketball, 33; Terry Taylor, basketball, 33; Mark Stoops, football, 31; Taveion Hollingsworth, basketball, 30; Za’Darius Smith, football, 30; Jager Burton, football, 28; Thomas Deck, wrestling, 27; Chris Briggs, basketball, 26; Drake Jackson, football, 23; Nicholas Albiero, swimming, 21; Matthias Ervin, wrestling, 21;

Cam Hergott, football, 18; Jordan Nwora, basketball, 18; Rajon Rondo, basketball, 18; Will Shaner, rifle, 17; Will McDaniel, football, 16; Harry Mullins, rifle, 16; Nick Richards, basketball, 16; Swiss Skydiver, horse racing, 16; Ashland boys’ basketball team, basketball, 16; Kenny McPeek, horse racing, 15; Keontae Pittman, football, 15; Chris Gabehart, auto racing, 14; Montrezl Harrell, basketball, 14; Tyler Herro, basketball, 14;

John Calipari, basketball, 13; Cameron Lancaster, soccer, 13; Mallory Comerford, swimming, 12; Lauren Hartlage, golf, 12; Tim Haworth, basketball, 12; Evan White, baseball, 12; Erin Boley, basketball, 11; Jazmine Jones, basketball, 11; Adam Duvall, baseball, 9; Reid Detmers, baseball, 8; Monomoy Girl, horse racing, 8; Ben Rhodes, auto racing, 8; Madison Faulkner, basketball, 7; Gavin Wimsatt, football, basketball, 6; Phillip Hawkins, football, 5; Brooke Hammonds, basketball, 4; Abby Steiner, track and field, 4; Aaliyah Hampton, basketball, 3.

Ballot leaders

Candidates included on the most ballots:

Voting by region

How the leaders fared in each region of the state (Eastern Kentucky is the 606 and 859 area codes outside of Lexington; Western Kentucky is the 502 and 270 area codes outside of Louisville):

Past winners

The history of the Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award:

Note: The award was known as Kentucky Sportsman of the Year from 1981-2015.

Mark Story

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-444-4731

Mark Story has worked in the Lexington Herald-Leader sports department since Aug. 27, 1990, and has been a Herald-Leader sports columnist since 2001. I have covered every Kentucky-Louisville football game since 1994, every UK-U of L basketball game but three since 1996-97 and every Kentucky Derby since 1994. Support my work with a digital subscription