Some of north Alabama’s top high school athletes and a Super Bowl champion were among those recognized on Monday at the third annual Rocket City Awards.

Presented at the Mars Music Hall at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center, the awards hosted by 97.7 ESPN The Zone recognize top athletes, coaches and teams in the Huntsville area and across north Alabama.

Awards presented for both men’s and women’s categories include teams of the year (high school and college), athletes of the year (high school and college), coaches of the year (high school and college).

The banquet also recognized a college and professional athlete of the year from the area, inspiration athlete of the year and a Billy Neighbors lifetime achievement award winner.

Here are the award winners and finalists from the Rocket City Awards in Huntsville:

Men’s college team of the year: UAH basketball

Other finalists: Jacksonville State football, North Alabama basketball and North Alabama tennis

Men’s college athlete of the year: Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M football)

Other finalists: Tommy Murr (UAH basketball), Sam Wilhelm (UAH cross country and track) and Jacari Lane (North Alabama basketball)

Women’s college team of the year: UAH basketball

Other finalists: Alabama A&M basketball and Jacksonville State bowling

Women’s college athlete of the year: Lili Wilken (UAH basketball)

Other finalists: Kalia Walker (Alabama A&M basketball), Erin Klemencic (Jacksonville State bowling) and Alisha Wilson (Alabama A&M basketball)

Women’s college coach of the year: Dawn Thornton (Alabama A&M basketball)

Other finalists: Allen Sharpe (UAH basketball) and Shannon O’Keefe (Jacksonville State bowling)

Men’s college coach of the year: Mick Hedgepeth (UAH basketball)

Other finalists: Aitor Reparaz (North Alabama tennis) and David Cain (UAH cross country and track)

College athlete of the year (from area): Caleb Ransaw (Tulane football, Harvest native)

Other finalists: Gio Lopez (South Alabama football, Madison native), Denver Jones (Auburn basketball, New Market native) and Gabi Nicastro (Samford golf, Huntsville native)

Inspirational athlete of the year: Reece Colburn

Billy Neighbors lifetime achievement award: Keith Butler

Pro athlete of the year (from area): Reed Blankenship, Philadelphia Eagles (West Limestone High alum, Athens native)

Other finalists: Nic Dowd (Washington Capitals, Huntsville native) and Nick Dunlap (PGA Tour, Huntsville native)

High school team of the year (girls): Buckhorn cheer

Other finalists: Whitesburg Christian cross country, St. John Paul II soccer, Westminster Christian girls soccer

High school athlete of the year (girls): Kennedy Vaughn (Bob Jones volleyball)

Other finalists: Katie Lowe (St. John Paul II wrestling, track and field), Kalee Yarbrough (New Hope basketball) and Lova Stenberg (Randolph tennis)

High school team of the year (boys): Huntsville swimming

Other finalists: Huntsville cross country, Madison Academy baseball and Bob Jones baseball

High school athlete of the year (boys): Eric Moore (Huntsville cross country)

Other finalists: J.D. Gossett (Huntsville basketball), Luke Bedsole (Huntsville swimming) and AJ Rice (Madison Academy football)

High school coach of the year (girls): Hunter Chapman (Westminster Christian Academy soccer)

Other finalists: Reece Morton (Huntsville tennis), Mandi Faith (Buckhorn cheer) and Samuel Bennett (St. John Paul II soccer)

High school coach of the year (boys): Christian Schweers (Huntsville basketball)

Other finalists: Blake Borden (Huntsville cross country) and David Pressley (Madison Academy baseball)

For years, his face was synonymous with charm on American television. Eric Dane, the actor who brought to life the unforgettable Dr. McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy, has gone public with a diagnosis that offers no cure—but many questions. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has transformed his life. But Dane is not giving up.

“I don’t think this is the end of my story,” the actor said in an interview aired Monday on ABC News’ Good Morning America.

In April, Dane revealed that he had been diagnosed with ALS after a long stretch of medical consultations. It all began with a slight weakness in his right hand, something he initially attributed to fatigue. “I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued,” he recalled. But as the weeks went by, the deterioration became clear. What followed was a journey through multiple specialists, until nine months later, he received the diagnosis that would change his life.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively destroys motor neurons. It affects a person’s ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe. “I’ll never forget those three letters,” he said. “It’s on me the second I wake up. It’s not a dream.”

At 52, Dane spoke with honesty and vulnerability. He shared that only one of his arms is still functional, and he fears that the other will soon lose mobility as well. “I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won’t have my left hand either.” Though he is still able to walk, he worries constantly about losing strength in his legs. Alongside the fear, there is anger. “I’m angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young.”

His personal history gives that fear an added emotional weight. Dane’s father died by suicide when he was only seven years old. Now, as the father of two teenage daughters, he faces the painful possibility that history might repeat itself in a different form.

In the interview, Dane recounted a heartbreaking moment during a boat trip with his youngest daughter. Once a competitive swimmer and water polo player, he jumped into the ocean—only to realize he could no longer generate enough strength to return to the boat. “I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn’t swim and generate enough power to get myself back to the boat. I thought, ‘Oh god.’” It was his daughter who rescued him.

The experience shattered him. But even in that moment of anguish, he made sure his daughter wouldn’t carry that memory with her. “I made sure she got back in the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkeling. But I was just heartbroken.”

In the midst of this struggle, Dane has found comfort in someone important: Rebecca Gayheart, his former partner and the mother of his daughters. Though they were once separated, they now maintain a close and supportive relationship. “We have managed to become better friends and better parents. She is my biggest champion and most stalwart supporter.”

News of his diagnosis was first shared in an interview with People and later covered by The New York Times, which highlighted not only his career but also his resolve to keep going. Despite his physical decline, Dane plans to return to the set of Euphoria, where he plays Cal Jacobs. He also has a new series on the way: Countdown.

His response to the disease defies the stereotypes often associated with ALS. Rather than retreating, he chose to be visible. Rather than stopping, he plans to move forward. “There’s so much about it that’s out of my control… All I want to do is spend time with my family, work a little if I can, and make sure that I tell them that I love them every day.”

Stories like his put a human face on a disease that, according to Good Morning America, affects around 5,000 people each year in the United States. And while the famous Ice Bucket Challenge raised $200 million a decade ago, the path to a cure remains long.

Amid it all, Dane holds onto something that transcends his acting career: “I don’t feel like this is the end of me.”

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