Colorado High School Coaches Association

CONNOR MEDBERY WINS FRED STEINMARK AWARD

By Scott Stocker

"Awesome."

That was the first word that came for Loveland's Connor Medbery when he was notified he had won the 2011 Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award.

"This is incredible, that's for sure," said Medbery, the winner of the 40th annual award. "The Steinmark is a very prestigious award. I was certainly honored to be nominated and just knowing that was an honor in itself. But I didn't have high expectations when you think of all the fine athletes in Colorado. This one is special."

The Steinmark Award, sponsored by the Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA), has become recognized as the most prestigious athletic award a graduating senior athlete can receive in Colorado. Even though the award carries 'Athlete of the Year' designation, it actually recognizes a career. It is an all-classification award and through the decades, all classifications, boys and girls, have had winners.

There are four requirement to receive a nomination, that can be made by any CHSCA member. An athlete must be All-State in one sport, all-conference in another, carry at least a 3.0 grade point average, and be active in their school and community.

Medbery will be presented with his award at the Colorado High School Coaches All-State Games Awards Dinner, June 10, 2011, at Adams State College in Alamosa.

"Throughout my high school career, I have tried to find a balance between school, sports and community service, family and friends," Medbery said. "In the process of doing so there have been challenges and obstacles to overcome. Looking back on the past four years, the rewards that I have obtained through being involved in both wrestling and football have certainly been worth it.

"I have always considered myself determined to reach my goals," Medbery wrote in his nomination letter. "However, after reading Fred's amazing story, I now have a true understanding of determination. He is the perfect example of how to act and live out life to the fullest with no regrets. I am honored and blessed to be acknowledged as a candidate for this award."

It hasn't made much difference whether or not Medbery is on the wrestling mat, on the football field or in the classroom. Success has been the name of his game. And while he has been All-Colorado in both sports, the Loveland ace may be better known for that success in wrestling.

Medbery, who will head for the University of Wisconsin in the fall on a wrestling scholarship and plans to major in Kinesiology, lost his only two high school matches when he was a freshman. The second loss relegated him to third place in the state tournament, but he never lost after that season on the prep mats and went on to win 128 matches in a row. That string, the second-best in Colorado history, enabled him to win state championships at 215 in 2009 and 2010 and heavyweight in 2011, thus finishing his career with 164 victories. Those victories were produced with an average pin time of just over one minute.

In the process, Medberry, has been named to the All-Colorado Team three times and this season was the winner of the Colorado Dave Schultz Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma as well as co-state Wrestler of the Year by the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with Conifer's Travis Himmelman.

Himmelman, also a three-time champion, is the wrestler ranked ahead of Medbery for overall career wins with 169.

One of his finest tournaments for Medbery was winning the Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament with six pins in six-minutes. Those in wrestling know that is the time of one regulation match.

And, Medbery has also had exceptional success nationally on the mat. As a sophomore he won the National High School Coaches Association Sophomore National Title at 215 pounds and named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. This past season, he did it again winning the NHSCA national title at 285 pounds.

When it comes to Junior Nationals in either Freestyle or Greco-Roman, Medbery has had a banner career. He won the Cadet National Freestyles, held in Fargo, North Dakota, at 215 in 2008 and was seventh at heavyweight in 2010. In Greco-Roman, he was the national runner-up at 215 in 2008, third place in 2009 and eighth last season at heavyweight.

"What impresses me the most is his character off the mat," wrote Faren Stroh, Loveland's assistant wrestling coach. "And this is where he shines. Connor's demeanor is purely that of a true leader. There is extreme and intense pressure that goes with being showcased not only in your school or local community, but on a stat and national level as well. Connor has learned to hold his head high while still being uncommonly humble."

Loveland football coach John Poovey speaks highly of Medbery.

"Connor is truly an amazing athlete, competitor, leader and person," Poovey wrote in his recommendation letter. "He has been outstanding in almost every aspect during his entire time at Loveland High School. He is like another coach on the field. He is talented, driven, focused, humble, and yet, confident.

"Polite and humble off the field, he is a great leader," Poovey said. "He is a unique blend of someone who competes with intensity, but at the same time is able to keep it focused on the task at hand and is a great example of sporting behavior."

Indeed, Medbery was stellar on the football field. While earning All-Colorado honors at fullback last season, he was able to cap his career as the career rushing leader for Loveland with 4,018 yards and having scored 316 points. He rushed for 1,978 yards as a senior, his best game was against Niwot where he gained 314 yards.

"The academic classes that Connor has taken at Loveland are very challenging," wrote Anatomy and Physics teacher Craig Lange. "He has exceeded all the requirements with the added challenge of honors, advance courses and extra curricular activities. He was also very willing to put in extra time and effort to process the curriculum and would constantly strive to advance his own knowledge and that of his fellow classmates."

Medbery was a member of the Boy Scouts from 2004-2009 and earned honors as an Eagle Scout. His main project was Homeless Gear Drive while also working from St. John Church. He has worked with the Food Distribution Larimer County Food Bank and as a fitness trainer for kids at Next Level Fitness in Loveland.

"To receive this award is a very distinguished achievement and one in which I will never forget," Medbery said. "It is an accomplishment that is a testament to my character and the person that I continually strive to be. The qualities that Fred possessed are in alignment with the positive qualities I hope people are reminded of when they hear my name."

And, those are qualities for Medbery that will soon not be forgotten, if ever.

----------------

FINALISTS FOR THE BOYS 2011 FRED STEINMARK AWARD

The accomplishments of the finalist are substantial. Here is a short breakdown of their high school careers.

BRYCE GABER, MONTROSE

Bryce, who will enter the University of Colorado in the Fall, was able to attain a 4.0 grade-point-average while playing three sports and participating in several school and community activities. He earned All-state honors in football as a running back and linebacker for the Indians and was named a 2010 National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete and College Hall of Fame Colorado Chapter Scholar Athlete. He was two-time state runner-up in wrestling at 171-pounds in 2010 and 2011 compiling a 78-8 record during that time span. He twice earned all-league honors in baseball batting .339. He is active in Future Business Leaders and directed Montrose in adopting children of the Partner's Organization and has coached Little League football and baseball since 2007.

BRAD GOLDSBERRY, ELIZABETH

Goldsberry graduates as Valedictorian at Elizabeth after attaining a 4.24 grade-point-average and will begin classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Fall. He earned the Colorado Section of the Chemical Society Award and is a winner of the John Lynch Family Legacy Scholarship among his many academic laurels. He was selected All-state in football as a specialist and has earned all-league honors as a sophomore and junior. Currently, he ranks second in batting, third in total hits and fifth in home runs in 4A. He is credited for starting the Cardinals for Reading program which consists of high school athletes working with struggling students in the local elementary schools.

CALLEN HECKER, LOVELAND

Callen has yet to make a college selection, but after graduating as the Loveland Valedictorian with a 4.245 grade-point-average and Boettcher Scholar he shouldn't have trouble getting into any school of his choice. He finished seventh at state in the discus this season in 5A and was also seventh in state in the shot put as a junior. He was a three-season all-league football player for the Indians and Academic All-state the past two helping to pace his team to the quarterfinals in 2009 and 2010. He received the Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award in 2010. He has been a member of the Spanish Honor Society the past three years and helps provide impoverished children with gifts for Christmas.

NOLAN MAYHEW, CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN

Mayhew scored in the 97th Percentile on his PSAT, is a National Merit Commended Scholar with a 4.23 grade-point-average and will attend Texas A&M in the Fall. An outstanding athlete, he is also the Student Body President as senior and has been his class president throughout high school. His school and community efforts are many. He finished second in the 400 and 800-meters in the 4A state meet helping lead the Cheyenne Mountain to the state team championship. He is a state champion with the 3,200-meter relay team in 2010 as well as finishing third in his two specialties. He also finished second in the 400 at the Great Southwest Meet in Albuquerque and a two-time All-American in the Milesplit.com Indoor Track in 2011 and outdoor Milesplit in 2010.

CONNOR MEDBERY, LOVELAND

Medbery, who will head for the University of Wisconsin, lost his only two high school matches when he was a freshman and finished his career 164-2, winning his final 128-straight matches. Medberry, has been named to the All-Colorado Team three times and this season was the winner of the Colorado Dave Schultz Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was stellar on the football field. While earning All-Colorado honors at fullback last season he was able to cap his career as the career rushing leader for Loveland with 4,018 yards and having scored 316 points. He rushed for 1,978 yards as a senior, his best game was against Niwot where he gained 314 yards.

RICHARD YATES, KENT DENVER

Yates graduated with a 3.65 grade-point-average. He received appointments to West Point and the Air Force Academy, but chose to attend the University of Colorado where he plans to major in Engineering. He was a standout for the Sun Devils in football earning All-state honors at defensive back, where he led his team in tackles with 101 solos and into the state's Final Four. He also attained all-league honors in basketball and baseball, again while helping to lead his team into the Final Four in both sports. He has served as a youth coach for his sports, worked with the National Disabled American Olympics and the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and collects funds for Cancer Awareness.