While both excelled in academics and character, one dominated an individual sport, the other rolled through multiple team sports.
The result was Mark Dylla and Morgan Miller being named male and female student-athletes of the 2006-07 school year Thursday night at The Denver Athletic Club.
In their 11th year, the awards given by The Denver Post, 9News and The DAC honored top high-schoolers. Honorees will have contributions to charity made in their names.
Dylla, a senior at Heritage who will begin preliminary swimming this morning for the Class 5A state meet in Fort Collins, is a six-time individual champion who could win two more in Saturday’s finals. He is 79-0 in varsity races and qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in both breaststroke and individual-medley races.
“I had a one-in-five chance of winning,” he joked. “I’m honored.”
Dylla will attend Georgia.
For Miller, a senior at the city’s Colorado Academy, her speed, strength, quickness and savvy were evident in a three-sport career, notably in the emerging sports of lacrosse and field hockey, where she was a state leader in goal-scoring. Miller was all-Metropolitan League in basketball.
“I didn’t think I would win,” she said. “I’m very thankful.”
Miller will play lacrosse at Duke.
Other finalists were C.J. Gillman, Columbine; Karl Heimbrock, Cherry Creek; Brian Hendricks, Burlington; Cory Berliner, Rocky Mountain; Amanda Brown, Limon; Lindsey Licht, Grandview (who recently completed her first semester at Nebraska); and Hannah Tuomi, Horizon.
Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday was the club’s Colorado athlete of the year. The college winner was the Metro State women’s soccer team, and former Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry was cited for achievement.
Other DAC awards: Nellie Hayes, youth female; Andrew Lay, youth male; Chiara Del Monaco, female athlete of the year; Richard Bradsby, male athlete of the year; Terri Watson, master female; and Charlie Luther, master male.
