Since the 1996-97 school year, The Denver Post, Denver Athletic Club and 9News have honored Colorado’s outstanding high school student-athletes.
Ten finalists will be honored tonight at the DAC’s annual athlete of the year banquet, which includes a silent auction and a tribute to former Avalanche star Joe Sakic.
A boy and girl will be recognized as student-athletes of the year, and the DAC’s scholarship fund will make substantial donations to charities in the winners’ names.
Girls finalists
Annie Kunz of Wheat Ridge has been a three- sport athlete, two in the same season, for which she received numerous prep All-America honors. The Parade All-American in soccer made Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section after she set a school high jump record (5 feet, 8 inches) on the same day she scored a hat trick in soccer. She also played volleyball. With a 3.89 grade-point average, Kunz was a peer counselor for the Farmers and will compete in soccer and track in the Big 12 Conference for Texas A&M.
Kelsey Lakowske of Boulder won consecutive Class 5A cross country championships, the second coming after surgery the previous May. She also won the 3,200 meters in 5A in 2009. She has a 4.165 grade-point average and is a volunteer with school programs. She will compete for Duke.
Somin Lee of Overland is the top schoolgirl golfer in the state, having won the Class 5A championship last spring and earning many honors through the junior ranks. She will attempt to win another state title Monday and Tuesday in Lone Tree. The native of Seoul, South Korea, has a 4.1 grade-point average and will play at Pepperdine.
Jordan Mattern of Cherry Creek was a nine-time state champion in swimming and a state-record holder. She was a Team USA representative at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. An 18-time prep All-American, Mattern has a 4.275 GPA. She is active with the National Honor Society and Special Olympics and will swim at Georgia.
Katelyn McDaniel of Highlands Ranch was the state’s top basketball player, a center whose scoring and rebounding fueled the Class 5A champion Falcons. McDaniel also competed in the long sprints and relays in track. A senior with a 3.75 GPA, McDaniel will play basketball at San Diego.
Boys finalists
Ian Imamura of Pueblo West was The Denver Post’s 2010 Gold Helmet Award winner, presented annually to Colorado’s top senior football player, scholar and citizen. The linebacker and tight end will attend the Air Force Academy. Imamura also helped the Cyclones advance to the Class 4A semifinals in basketball and competes in track and field in sprints and relays. He has a 3.7 grade-point average and has been an active volunteer in school projects, such as food and blood drives and tutoring a special-needs student.
Adam Marostica of Idalia captained the Wolves’ 6-man football team to a state championship as well as their Class 1A basketball team. He also placed in the Class 2A long jump and triple jump last spring. He has a 3.85 grade-point average and has been the vice president of the school’s National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America chapters. Bound for the University of Northern Colorado, Marostica had a legendary performance in the football championship game. He rushed for 216 yards, had 121 yards in receptions, scored six touchdowns, made 11 tackles (including a sack) and also contributed an interception.
Eric May of Arvada is the defending Class 4A swimming champion in the 200-yard individual medley, earned All-America consideration in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, set five school records and is an accomplished swimmer on the club circuit. He has a 4.10 GPA, volunteered for nearly a dozen programs at school and will swim at Cornell.
Connor Medbery of Loveland has had one of the top tough-guy careers in state history. In Class 4A football, the fullback ran for 1,978 yards in 2010 and 4,018 overall. In wrestling, Medbery finished third at 215 pounds as a freshman and won the next two state titles at 215. He won the 5A heavyweight title this year. He was 164-2 in his wrestling career and set a state record for career pins (128). Medbery has a 3.3 GPA. He has been an active volunteer at school, including food distribution in Larimer County, and will wrestle at Wisconsin.
Spencer Wenck of Palmer Ridge is the state’s premier distance runner. He won the Class 4A cross country championship last fall, as well as the 800 meters and 1,600 meters in 4A track a year ago. Wenck placed fifth at the Nike nationals. A regular contributor to a local assistance agency, Wenck has a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in his senior class of 238. He plans to compete for MIT in college.
