Ten student-athletes will be honored on Thursday at the 32nd annual pro athlete of the year banquet at The Denver Athletic Club, also sponsored by The Denver Post and 9News.
Five boys and five girls were chosen from the 72 honored weekly since September. It is the 11th year of the student-athlete program.
Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday will be honored as the DAC’s professional athlete of the year; former Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry will be cited for career achievement; the Metro State women’s soccer team is being named collegiate athletes of the year and the DAC will honor its club athletes of the year.
The DAC is located at 1325 Glenarm Place. Tickets are $100 and may be obtained by calling 720-931-6785. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.
The prep finalists:
Mark Dylla, Heritage: Has not lost an individual swimming race in high school, with 79 wins entering the Class 5A state championships. Six-time individual state champion. Has qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials. GPA: 3.4. Will swim at Georgia.
C.J. Gillman, Columbine: Named All-Colorado catcher by The Denver Post in 2006. Four-year regular in baseball. Quarterback and defensive back in football, named championship game MVP by The Post in 2006. GPA: 3.9. Will play baseball at Coastal Carolina.
Karl Heimbrock, Cherry Creek: All-Colorado defensive back by The Post, also played quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Three-year letter winner and two-year starting guard in basketball. Defensive midfielder in lacrosse, member of state champions. GPA: 4.0 Will play football at the Merchant Marine Academy.
Brian Hendricks, Burlington: All-Colorado linebacker by The Post in 2006; multiple all-stater also played running back. Two-time wrestling state champion, 62-0 as a junior and senior. State-placer in track sprints. GPA: 3.9. Will play football at Wyoming.
Tucker Lane, Nucla: Three-time wrestling state champion and runner-up. Was 147-4 in his career, and 15-1 at the state meet, each victory by pin. Played football; state champion in 2A discus and runner-up in shot put. GPA: 4.1. Will wrestle at Nebraska.
Cory Berliner, Rocky Mountain: Pitched the Lobos to the 5A championship; recorded an 18-1 record in 2006 with 217 strikeouts, seven walks and a streak of 79 scoreless innings; did not allow a run in two Front Range League seasons; a three-time all-stater. GPA: 4.0. Will play at Pittsburgh.
Amanda Brown, Limon: The Denver Post 2A Ms. Colorado Basketball; member of three- time champion Badgers. Shortstop on softball team that made the semifinals, 3A all- state honorable mention. Jumper and sprinter on three-time champions, won five relay medals. GPA: 4.0. Will play basketball at Valley City State University in North Dakota.
Lindsey Licht, Grandview: Year-round volleyballer who led Wolves to two 5A championships. Tall (6-feet-5), left-handed and mobile, two-time player of the year by The Post; played in four consecutive championship matches. Completed her high school classes in December; enrolled at Nebraska in January, where she also plays volleyball. Has trained with national and Olympic teams. GPA: 3.4.
Morgan Miller, Colorado Academy: Three-sporter at the midrange level – All-Colorado lacrosse, All-Colorado field hockey, three-year letter winner in basketball. Member of various elite travel teams in lacrosse; a regular among scoring leaders in lacrosse and field hockey; all-Metropolitan League in basketball. GPA: 3.97. Will play lacrosse at Duke.
Hannah Tuomi, Horizon: Best known for basketball by helping Hawks to two 5A state runner-up finishes and two semifinal showings; The Post’s 2005-06 Ms. Colorado Basketball; three-time all-stater, twice as All-Colorado. In volleyball, three-time all-Front Range League, three-time all-stater. GPA: 3.9. Will play basketball at Vanderbilt.
