Former Northern Colorado standout Devon Beitzel has been named the state’s male collegiate athlete of the year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Beitzel, who led the Bears to the first NCAA tournament appearance in school history, averaged 21.5 points per game last season, and was named the MVP of the Big Sky Conference.
Colorado State volleyball player Katelyn Steffan was named the female collegiate athlete of the year after averaging 3.59 kills a set.
Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow was named professional athlete of the year, while Regis Jesuit swimming phenom Missy Franklin was named amateur athlete of the year. Franklin set a world record in the 200-meter backstroke in October.
Former Loveland wrestler Connor Medberry was named male high school athlete of the year. He’s now wrestling at Wisconsin.
Annie Kunz, a multisport star who graduated from Wheat Ridge last May, took the honor for female high school athlete. Kunz is now playing soccer at Texas A&M.
The athletes-of-the-year selections will be honored at the April 10 banquet along with the newest Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inductees Marcelo Balboa, Frank Carbajal, Peter Forsberg, Glenn Gondrezick, Greg Myers and Will Nicholson, Jr. The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012 was selected this past October.
Tickets are $175 each and Sponsor tables start at $2,500. For additional ticket and table information, please telephone the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (, 720-258-3535).
The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is located at Gate 1 on the west side of Sport Authority Field at Mile High at 1701 Bryant Street in Denver.
Ryan Casey: 303-954-1983 or rcasey@denverpost.com
