In its 38th year for boys and the 36th for girls, the Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award is widely regarded as the most prestigious high school award in the state. The award honors Fred Steinmark, who excelled in football, basketball and baseball while attending Wheat Ridge High School in the late 1960s.
Steinmark also was a standout student and active in the community before attending the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns to the national football title in 1969. Steinmark died from cancer in 1971 at age 22.
With the blessing of the Steinmark family, Stocker started the award at Colorado Sidelines in 1972, before bringing it to the Rocky Mountain News, which closed in February. Stocker and the Colorado High School Coaches Association are sponsoring the award this season, in conjunction with MaxPreps.
To be nominated for the Steinmark Award, a student-athlete must have participated in at least two sports through his or her high school career and have been selected all-state in one sport and at least all-league in another, while also maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average. Citizenship and community involvement also are major factors in the award. A panel of coaches, administrators and former winners selected the finalists from a record 60 nominees.
The winners will be profiled for MaxPreps by Stocker and by Marcia Neville on Fox 31 on May 30. The winners also will be honored at the CHSCA All-State Games banquet June 12 in Greeley.
Here are the 2009 finalists:
BOYS
ANDREW BERBERICK, Mullen
* Sports: Cross country, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.1/School does not currently rank its students.
* Athletic honors: State champion in the 800 meters in 2008 and 2009, third in 2007 and fifth 2006; state champion in the 1,600 in 2009, state champion 3,200 relay in 2007. At the Oregon Relays in 2009, ran 8 minutes, 33.74 seconds in the 3,000 meters to have the No. 1 time by a Colorado runner. He placed fifth in state in cross country in 2007, sixth in 2008, and went on to finish seventh at the Footlocker Midwest Regional and 17th at the Footlocker Nationals.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society, four years; awards of excellence in AP chemistry, calculus, science and biology and government, and national honors in Spanish Honor Society.
* Citizenship: Active with Lasallian Core Principals at school, volunteer and coach for the University of Northern Colorado in Special Olympics, volunteer for several community and school projects.
* College: Stanford University.
BRIAN FORD, Alamosa
* Sports: Football, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.364/1 of 137.
* Athletic honors: Three times all-state in football; ranked eighth in nation as tight end by MaxPreps; state record-holder for longest pass reception (99.5 yards); selected for Down Under Bowl in Australia; United States Achievement Academy All-American Football selection; three times all-state in track in the discus and shot put; placed fourth in state in discus and fifth in state in shot in 2009.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society, four years; AP honors in biology, calculus, computer science, English language, government; National honors in Spanish; School of Mines Medal of Achievement in Math and Science; Knowledge Bowl; vice president of National Honor Society.
* Citizenship: Student body president as a junior and senior; sophomore class president; Future Business Leaders of America; 9 News Who Cares Nominee; founded the Alamosa “Moosie Mentor’ program for elementary age students; member of show choir; summer youth football and basketball camp volunteer.
* College: Air Force Academy.
STRYKER LANE, Norwood
* Sports: Wrestling, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 3.79/Third.
* Athletic honors: Three-time state wrestling champion; voted Wrestler of the Year by the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the state winner of the national Dave Schultz Wrestling Award; Denver Post wrester of the year, unscored upon as a senior; ranked among top 10 nationally by Wrestling USA, Amateur Wrestling and WIN magazine; state track champion in the discus in 2008 and 2009; champion in shot put 2008, second 2009.
* Academic honors: Member of National Honor Society four years; awards of excellence in geometry, math, science, Spanish; ranked in the 92nd percentile on the ACT in Arts/Literature.
* Citizenship: Member of band, camp clinician and counselor at the All-American Wrestling Summer camp, coaches youth wrestling and track and is a wrestling official; performs in school drama productions.
* College: Cornell University.
ZACHARY SHORT, Salida
* Sports: Baseball, Basketball, football, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.29/1 of 72.
* Athletic honors: Three years all-league in football and all-state quarterback in 2008, Tri-Peaks League Special Teams Player of the Year; four-year starter on the basketball team, earning all-league three years; four-year starter on the baseball team and earned all-league honors three seasons; qualified for state track meet with the 800- and 3,200-meter relay teams.
* Academic honors: Honor roll all four years; never had grade lower than an 'A' in high school; scored in the 96th percentile on the ACT; national honors in English, math and science.
* Citizenship: Future Business Leaders of America state and national qualifier, Key Club member; Chafee County election judge; Masonic Lodge Outstanding Male Student; official for youth basketball programs, church leadership and Knights of Columbus.
* College: Hastings (Nebraska) College.
BRYAN PETERS, Rocky Mountain
* Sports: Baseball, basketball, football.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.06/27 of 564.
* Athletic honors: Three-year football team captain; All-Colorado quarterback Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post; state Gatorade Player of the Year; winner of Denver Post Gold Helmet; Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year; undefeated career pitcher for three-time state baseball champions, earning all-state honors as pitcher and third baseman; Louisville Slugger preseason All-American; listed among top 100 preps in the nation by Rawlings and MaxPreps; American Legion most valuable player in the state tournament; honorable mention all-league in basketball and academic all-state.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society, awards of excellence in AP calculus, geography, statistics and environmental sciences; National Technical Honor Society.
* Citizenship: School Link Crew, respite care volunteer, Adopt-A-Family Program, Windsor tornado relief volunteer.
* College: University of Nebraska.
Jacob Stewart, Rocky Mountain
Photo by Patrick Miller
* Sports: Baseball, basketball, football.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.042/ 25 of 564.
* Athletic honors: Three-year starter in football and two-year All-Colorado selection in Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post at receiver; Front Range League Special Teams Player of the Year; four-year starter, two-years All-Colorado in baseball for three-time state champions in the outfield;, preseason All-American Under Armour; Rawlings honorable Mention All-American, USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., two years all-league in basketball and selected first team academic all-state.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society; honors for AP excellence in calculus, chemistry, environmental science, physics, Spanish and history.
* Citizenship: Link Crew, respite care volunteer, Lobo Fund team volunteer, works in summer with construction crews.
* College: Stanford University.
GIRLS
HANNAH BOWER, Loveland
* Sports: Gymnastics, swimming, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 3.94/ 27 of 375.
* Athletic honors: First Class 5A three-time all-around gymnastics champion and runner-up senior year by .02 of a point, state vault and balance beam champion 2005 in 2007, floor exercis champion in 2005, 2006 and 2008; four-time All-Colorado team selection, Colorado Sportswomen of the Year in gymnastics in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and inducted into its Hall of Fame; member of USA National TOPS Gymnastics team in 2008; all-state diving 2006; all-state in track all four seasons in sprint medley.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society, Who’s Who Among High School Students, National Spanish Honor Society.
* Citizenship: Student council vice president, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Cross Roads Church youth group, Resurrection Fellowship, coach and counselor of Flip Fest gymnastics camp, life guard at city swimming pool.
* College: Undecided.
ERIN KRAUSE, Akron
* Sports: Basketball, gymnastics, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.06/1 of 37.
* Athletic honors: State pole vault champion 2008, 2009, eighth in 2007; member of sprint medley champion team 2007-2009; state champion 400 and 800 relay teams, 2009; co-ops gymnin astics with Sterling, runner-up on vault 2006 and 2009, third 2007 and fourth 2008; sixth on the balance beam in 2008; captain of the basketball team 2008-2009; pom team captain, team fifth at state.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society all four years, awards for excellence in anatomy, calculus, Spanish, math, physiology and political science.
* Citizenship: Member of jazz band for four years; student council representative; Future Business Leaders Youth Advisory Council; delegate to Girls State; volunteers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, works as life guard at city pool.
* College: Colorado State University or Chadron State College.
MICHAL ‘MIKEY’ KENNEY, Arvada West
* Sports: Basketball, softball, track ad field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 3.85/ 36th.
* Athletic honors: Four years all-league in softball, three years first team all-state; All-Colorado softball honors in 2006 and 2008 and Jefferson County Player of the Year in 2008; ESPN/Rise Magazine/Under Armour All-American in 2007; First team all-league in basketball 2007-2009 and league player of the year in 2009; state high jump champion in track in 2008, third in 2009.
* Academic honors: National Honor Society, honors in American government, biology, geography, algebra and trigonometry, American and world history.
* Citizenship: Arvada Food Bank Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, youth group basketball coach, DECA, tutors students in math and writing, summer softball umpire and basketball official, Lutheran Hospital volunteer.
* College: Texas Tech University.
CHRISTA LOYD, Wray
* Sports: Basketball, track and field, volleyball.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.098/1 of 51.
* Athletic honors: Selected Ms. Colorado Class 2A Basketball for state 2009 champions; selected all-tournament and was two years first-team all-state and scored more than 1,000 points in her career; four-year state qualifier and five-event state place winner in track, among them state champions in 3,200 relay.
* Academic honors: Boettcher Scholarship winner and already has earned 32 college credits through Morgan Community College; Science Fair second-place Medicine and Health Division Naval Research Outstanding Project and Army Special Award winner; Colorado-Wyoming Junior Academy of Science Outstanding Presentations.
* Citizenship: Junior class president, freshman and sophomore class treasurer, Eastern Zone Chair of Colorado-Wyoming Junior Academy of Science, Spanish club, concert band and choir, Big Sister program, Meals on Wheels volunteer.
* College: University of Denver.
KELLY STONE, Wheat Ridge
* Sports: Gymnastics, swimming.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.194/1 of 305.
* Athletic honors: Co-ops gymnastics with Green Mountain, four-time Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado team, three-time Denver Post; state vault champion in 2006, state balance beam champion in 2008; placed fourth in all-around three times; placed 11 times in top four individual events; seven league individual championships and a four-time state qualifier in swimming for Wheat Ridge; fourth in state in butterfly, 100 backstroke and with the medley relay team in 2009, and earned five other state place medals in career in backstroke and butterfly.
* Academic honors: Composite 99% on ACT and had perfect scores in English and reading; Boettcher Scholarship semifinalist; two-time Wheat Ridge Scholar Athlete of the Year; honors in AP English/Composition, calculus, chemistry, European history; George Eastman Young Award; Wheat Ridge Science Student of the Year.
* Citizenship: Peer tutor for students at Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County Outdoor Education Lab Leader, Instituted and coordinated the Pineapple Power Challege to benefit the Daniel J. Lunger Memorial Fund for youth cardiac conditions.
* College: University of San Diego.
LAURA TREMBLAY, Thompson Valley
* Sports: Cross country, track and field.
* Grade-point average/class rank: 4.17/5 of 335.
* Athletic honors: Lost only two races in cross country in 2008, finishing second in. Class 4A; won the Nike Cross Country Regional, then earned All-American honors at the Nike Cross Country Nationals in Oregon; won back-to-back state track titles in the 1,600 meters, won the 800 in 2008, finished second in 2009 and helped the Eagles set the state record in the 3,200 relay with the second-fastest time in the nation this season (9:00.07).
* Academic honors: National Honor Society, honors in AP calculus, chemistry, geography, history, physics and English Language; assistant principal of Chamber Orchestra; honors orchestra participant playing the cello.
* Citizenship: Student council, works with neurologically-impaired youth, Larimer County Canned Food Drive Leadership, helps with various volunteer organizations such as Jaycees and Rotary.
* College: University of Colorado.
Others nominated:
Boys
Terrance Alletto, Ponderosa; Evan Appel, Dakota Ridge; Al Brown, Yuma; Zachary Casias, Cheyenne Mountain; Joseph DeMoor, Buena Vista; Bryant Elrick, Flagler; Zach Grossnickle, Denver East; Ryker Haddock, Longmont; Kent Herman, Hi-Plains; Sam Hutchinson, University; Kevin Johnson, Falcon; Arturo Maltos-Garcia, Brush; Dalton Madsen, Northglenn; Reed Miller, Greeley West; Patrick Murray, Kent Denver; Parker Orms, Wheat Ridge; Christian Parkinson, Lutheran-Parker; Wes Rickman, Falcon; Colby Ridennoure, Rocky Ford; Andrew Roberts, Lyons; Tony Ryerson, Vail Mountain; Jared Sanderford, Dayspring Christian; Dakota Stonehouse, Glenwood Springs; Willy Strazza, Kent Denver; Justin Tjaden, Julesburg; Chase Toft, Genoa-Hugo.
Girls
Amy Barczuk, Arapahoe; Jordan Barnett, Eads; Emily Blok, Conifer;Janelle Cass, Pawnee; Kellie Deremo, Dove Creek; Brianna Donahue, Ralston Valley; Katerina Garcia, Durango; Ema Hanna, Fountain Valley; Hillary Hawkins, Elizabeth; Emily Lubbers, Yuma; Stephanie Lund, Lutheran-Parker; Allie McLaughlin, Air Academy; Alex (Alexis) Morford, Roosevelt; Lauren Patterson, Cheyenne Mountain; Tae'lor Purdy, Deer Trail; Wrendy Rayhill, Fountain Valley; Brooke Regan, Thompson Valley; Natosha Rogers, Dakota Ridge; Ashlee Smalley, Greeley West; Liz Tremblay, Thompson Valley; Emma Vosberg, Crested Butte; Kellen Wittkop, Legacy.
