One of the first times you heard of Chauncey Billups was in 1991, when he was a freshman at George Washington High School.
Tonight, when Billups is honored as The Denver Athletic Club’s Colorado athlete of the year, the Nuggets guard and former NBA Finals MVP will again stand among high-schoolers. Male and female student-athletes of the year by The Denver Post, 9News and The DAC will be chosen from 10 finalists.
Since 1996-97, top graduating seniors have been highlighted through excellence in academics, athletics and character, awarded scholarships and headed substantial donations to charity and schools. The inaugural winners were Marcques Spivey of Cherry Creek and Elena Villareal of Englewood.
The program at The DAC (1325 Glenarm Place) will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
Award finalists
BOYS
Mason Finley, Buena Vista, Sr.: National record holder in discus (236 feet, 6 inches); Colorado record holder in the shot put (67-10 1/4); tight end and defensive tackle in football; center in basketball. . . . 3.7 GPA. . . . Will compete in track at UCLA.
Stryker Lane, Norwood, Sr.: Career record of 113-11 in wrestling with 113 pins; three-time state champion; All-American; Class 2A state shot put and discus champion. . . . 3.8 GPA. . . . Camp coach and counselor in wrestling; coached junior high track and field. . . . Will wrestle at Cornell.
Patrick Murray, Kent Denver, Sr.: Football defensive player of the year in 2A Colorado League; 2A first team all-state linebacker by The Post; two-time All-Colorado lacrosse midfielder by The Post. . . . 3.65 GPA. . . . Volunteer for Anchor Preschool for the Blind. . . . Will play lacrosse at Georgetown.
Bryan Peters, Rocky Mountain, Sr.: Two-time All-Colorado third baseman-pitcher in baseball by The Post; 2008 Gold Helmet winner by The Post; finished career 21-0 on the mound; starting guard in basketball. . . . 4.06 GPA. . . . Link Crew, Lobo Fund, Adopt-A-Family program. . . . Will play baseball at Nebraska.
Jake Stewart, Rocky Mountain, Sr.: Two-time All-Colorado center fielder in baseball and wide receiver in football by The Post; 2009 baseball player of the year by The Post; 14th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies; All-American in baseball; forward in basketball. . . . 4.04 GPA. . . . Volunteer in Windsor Tornado Relief Fund, Link Crew, Lobo Fund. . . . Will play baseball at Stanford.
GIRLS
Meagan Fulps, Highlands Ranch, Sr.: Class 5A Ms. Colorado Basketball by The Post; member of two state title teams; all-tournament in 2008-09 season and All-Colorado by The Post. . . . 3.8 GPA. . . . Will play basketball at Santa Clara.
Jenna Gregoire, Rampart, Jr.: Two-time Colorado champion in 5A 100-yard freestyle; state record holder; All-American; Colorado Springs swimmer of the year; All-Colorado by The Post. . . . 4.76 GPA, ranks first in class of 465, had GPA up to 5.0. . . . Link Crew leader; has worked with nursing home, Salvation Army, school carnivals and community cleanup.
Kirsten Milberg, Rock Canyon, Sr.: Did not lose an individual swimming race in 4A career and was a 10-time state champion; set three state records; led team to team title; was fifth in 4A state cross country, 2005. . . . 4.0 GPA. . . . Volunteers with Special Olympics and Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame museum; did swimathon to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. . . . Will swim at University of Denver.
Anna Prins, Broomfield, Sr.: Three- time all-Northern League basketball; Ms. Colorado Basketball 2008-09, two-time All-Colorado and two-time Class 4A tournament MVP by The Post; member of three-time 4A champions. . . . Played volleyball as a freshman and junior, all-league both times. . . . 3.8 GPA. . . . School humanitarian award, worked with elementary essays and student aid for special-education classes. . . . Will play basketball at Iowa State.
Emma Vosburg, Crested Butte, Sr.: Three-year starting point guard in basketball; 1A honorable mention by The Post; qualified for state in five track and field events, three top-five finishes; placed third and fifth at state cross country meet; earned 11 letters in career. . . . 3.98 GPA, ranked first in class. . . . Volunteered at community theater, organized hike for breast cancer awareness, taught skiing to disabled. . . . Will attend Virginia.
2008-09 student-athletes of the week
BOYS
David Armstrong, Rangeview
Cole Chapleski, Broomfield
Chase Cooper, Smoky Hill
Connor Davis, D’Evelyn
Mason Finley, Buena Vista
Brett Green, Peyton
Zach Grossnickle, East
Pierce Hornung, Ralston Valley
Brian Hunter, Green Mountain
Colten Huskey, Dove Creek
Daniel Kelly, Ponderosa
Stryker Lane, Norwood
Zack Lass, East
Eric Law, Arapahoe
Seth Lobato, Eaton
Dirk Macdonald, Regis
Casey MacMaster, Rocky Mountain
Arturo Maltos-Garcia, Brush
Joseph Manilafasha, North
Gavin Miller, Greeley West
Patrick Murray, Kent Denver
Parker Orms, Wheat Ridge
Bryan Peters, Rocky Mountain
Michael Reitz, Denver Christian
Andrew Roberts, Lyons
Travis Shepherd, Fairview
Jake Stewart, Rocky Mountain
Bud Thomas, Regis
Nick Umholtz, Greeley Central
Craig Von Allman, Windsor
Tyler Wallace, Eaton
Gage Wooten, Eaglecrest
Taylor Young, Heritage
Zach Petrik, Evergreen
GIRLS
Shelby Babcock, Legacy
Carrie Baird, Cherry Creek
Kaitlin Bast, Arapahoe
Emily Blok, Conifer
Bonnie Brandon, Cherry Creek
Morgan Broekhuis, Colorado Springs Christian
McKenzie Brown, Cherry Creek
Bethany Buchner, Loveland
Sarah Dixson, Steamboat Springs
Blake Dowling, East
Natalie Dunn, Poudre
Kelsey Dutton, Limon
Meagan Fulps, Highlands Ranch
Jenna Gregoire, Rampart
Ellen Hackstaff, St. Mary’s Academy
Kaitlin Hanenburg, The Classical Academy
Amanda Hughes, Gateway
Dara Kipp, Caliche
Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley
Elizabeth Kresock, Colorado Academy
Meagan Malcolm-Peck, Horizon
Kelly Mathews, East
Lara Mathewson, Holy Family
Allie McLaughlin, Air Academy
Kirsten Milberg, Rock Canyon
Kellen Morrissey, Smoky Hill
Ashlie Ortega, Erie
Laura Palmere, Mullen
Caroline Piehl, Smoky Hill
Anna Prins, Broomfield
Wrendy Rayhill, Fountain Valley
Erin Sanders, Ponderosa
Ariel Turner, Mountain Vista
Emma Vosburg, Crested Butte
The Denver Post
