Tate Myre named 2022 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Courage Award recipient
Tate Myre, a student who died in the school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, was named the 2022 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Courage Award recipient during the live show on July 31.
The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. More than 800 athletes were honored and winners for 29 sports and other special awards were announced during the show, which was hosted by former NFL tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Vernon Davis.
Myre was one of four Oxford students who died after being shot in the school by a fellow student on Nov. 30, 2021. Several students said they saw Myre, a standout football player and wrestler, running in the direction of the shooter while others were running out of the school.
“Knowing Tate, knowing how he was raised, he’s the kind of kid that wouldn’t think about it twice,” said Ross Wingert, who coached Myre in football and wrestling. “And he’s gonna do it.”
Myre is being honored as the Free Press’ 2022 recipient of the Sports Awards courage award.
“In my opinion, he was the face of Oxford,” senior wide receiver Alec Brown said. “Especially next year, he would have been the face of Oxford.”
Juniors are rarely made captain, but Myre was a rare athlete and teammate. Some athletes are vocal leaders and others prefer to lead by example. Myre was a little of both. He was an immediate standout and was brought up to the varsity as a freshman, something not often done at Oxford.
Oxford coach Zach Line understands that Myre’s death changes the football program forever. And Line is determined to make sure he will never be forgotten, especially the courage he displayed in the final moments of his life.
“Next year is going to be interesting, but I think Tate will be with us,” Line said. “Eventually we’ll learn to walk with Tate and not have a cloud over our heads, which I think will give this team a lot strength.”
Myre was also honored at the Detroit Free Press Sports Awards, held in June.
Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tate Myre named USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Courage Award recipient
