01/21/26 – UK Healthcare Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Seeks Nominations for Kentucky Comeback Athlete of the Year Award

January 21, 2026 2025-2026 News Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 21, 2026

For the tenth year, UK Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, through its partnership with the KHSAA, seeks nominations for the Kentucky Comeback Athlete of the Year, meeting the following criteria:

The nominee must have overcome illness or injury that affected their ability to participate in KHSAA-sanctioned sports.
The nominee must have returned to their sport(s) and demonstrated excellence and achievement beyond expectations.
The student-athlete must consistently demonstrate good sportsmanship and ethical behavior on and off the playing field.
The nominee must be in verified good academic standing with their school.
The student must have participated and been a member of an athletic team during the 2024-25 academic year.
Nominations should be submitted by February 6, 2026, to the KHSAA via form submission – https://form.jotform.com/260063927314050

Nominees will then be sent to UK Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for review and selection.

Nominees will be automatically forwarded to UK HealthCare and the Sports Medicine Staff for review and selection.

The selection committee, consisting of athletic trainers from each region across the state, will evaluate each nominee.
A decision will be made and the winner will be contacted in February, 2026.
The boys’ award will be presented at the 2026 UK HealthCare Boys Sweet 16® Basketball tournament at Rupp Arena and the girls’ award will be presented at the 2026 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls Sweet 16® Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena.

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