Cheyenne Mountain's Canyon Barry Wins Fred Steinmark Award
By Scott Stocker
"Wow. I'm so stoked right now."
Those were the words from Cheyenne Mountain's Canyon Barry when he was informed Tuesday he had won the Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award for the boys.
"This is such a fine honor." Barry said. "Fred Steinmark was such a great athlete and student. You never know about winning such a prestigious award with so many great athletes out there."
While this is the 41st year for the Steinmark Award, sponsored by the Colorado High School Coaches Association, Barry is the 43rd winner. There were two boys winners in 1976 and 1979.
The rules for an athlete's nomination require that two sports be played during an athlete's high school career - in which the athlete must have been selected All-State in one sport and at least All-League in another. The student must carry at least a 3.0 grade point average and being active in school and community activities also carry's a lot of weight with the voting coaches.
"I have always understood the importance of academic and athletic excellence," said Barry, who will attend the College of Charleston in South Carolina on a Division I basketball scholarship. "Unfortunately, the two are often perceived as an incongruous pair. This Award, however, is about so much more than just athletic success and academic rigor. The Steinmark is a direct reflection of the intangible qualities that Fred possessed."
There is little doubt that Barry has excelled on and off the field of athletics. For starters, he is a state champion in tennis as well as being ranked No. 1 in his class of 322 students academically.
It certainly can be noted that he has never received a grade lower than A in any class dating back to his elementary school days.
Barry has qualified for the state tennis tournament in doubles all four-years of his high school career, chalking up two state titles in the process in 2010 and 2011.
Yet tennis is not the only sport in which the 6-foot 5 inch Barry stands out. He also earned All-League and All-State honors in basketball and was a triple-jumper on Cheyenne Mountain's 2011 state championship track team. And with it, he has earned CHSAA, First Team Academic All-State honors in all three sports.
Basketball, though, is his passion, and for a pretty good reason.
"Pressure, you bet," wrote Chemistry teacher and girls basketball coach Janie Mueller. "Barry's father is Rick Barry, the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame member, and his mother, Lynn, was also an exceptional college player. He has three half brothers who have also played in the NBA, so Canyon could feel a bit of pressure."
Cheyenne Mountain tennis coach and English teacher David Adams also praised Barry.
"One particular area that separates Canyon from his peers even more than his accomplishments in the classrooms and the athletic arena is his faith," wrote Adams. "When I heard about his experience with Rabbi Grossman and the Children's Orphanage, it became even more clear that Canyon Barry is so much more than an excellent student-athlete -- he is thoughtful, conscientious young adult who views the plight of those less fortunate with genuine compassion."
This past season on the basketball courts, Barry averaged 17.2 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.2 assists. However, the year didn't end the way the team captain had hoped as he suffered a season-ending injury with three torn ankle ligaments in the Indian's 20th game.
"Canyon has gone above and beyond as a student athlete at Cheyenne Mountain High School," wrote basketball coach J'on St. Clair. "He has balanced his extracurricular and academic responsibilities and has made a lasting impression on myself and many other individuals."
He has overcome his injury this season to once again has qualified for the state in track in the triple jump with his 43-foot effort.
It can be added that Barry is also an accomplished badminton and volleyball player. In 2009 he was state bandmimton singles runner-up and in 2010 won the singles title as well as finishing second with his doubles partner.
Volleyball is not a CHSAA sanctioned sport, but he has played for the Cheyenne Mountain team as a middle blocker.
As mentioned, he has excelled in the classroom and has been a top AP scholar at Cheyenne Mountain in Chemistry, Calculus, Economics, Human Geography and Biology.
"Because of his demanding school schedule and spirited community involvement, Canyon has definitely established himself as a self-regulated learner," wrote English and Journalism teacher Charity Grauberger. "He is a curious individual, always searching for rhyme and reason. Overall, Canyon is not only a very conscientious and able student, but also a steadfast individual."
Yet here is a youngster who can make "music" off the sports field. He has played first chair Euphonium in the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble and received a Superior Rating at the Solo and Ensemble Festival for three consecutive years.
Barry has also been active in Boy Scouts earning his Eagle Scout Award. Among his many accomplishments in Scouting was planning, organizing and executing the painting of basketball courts and playground lines for the Parks and Recreation Department and Ivywild Elementary School in Colorado Springs.
During the summer Barry teaches tennis and basketball lessons to children and helps his parents conduct numerous basketball camps and clinics.
"I am well aware that others are not as fortunate, and therefore, I have tried to do my best to volunteer for organizations that serve the less fortunate individuals in our community," Barry wrote in his application letter. "I do a majority of my volunteer work in the food pantry at Ecumenical Social Ministries. All of these volunteer opportunities in my local community have been very rewarding."
Barry adds a few more items that have made his life all the more interesting. "I can bring humor, diversity, leadership, and character everywhere I go," Barry said. "I do not believe in the word Can't."
2012 FRED STEINMARK AWARD BOYS FINALISTS
AUGUSTUS MARKER, CASTLE VIEW -- Marker will attend Brown University where he will continue his athletic career in wrestling. While at Castle View, where he accumulated a weighted 3.8 grade-point-average, he also excelled in football and lacrosse. He certainly improved his finishes on the mats as he finished third in state as a sophomore, was a state runner-up as a junior, and became a state champion as a senior. He was a three-year starter on the football team, captain as a senior, all-league and earned Academic All-state laurels his junior and senior seasons. He has been a three-year letter winner in lacrosse, twice earning all-league honors, and captain of the squad as a senior.
Gus was also active with Student Government, as well as the Rotary Interact Club, the Student Advisory Group for Douglas County Board of Education and the Town of Castle Rock Cornerstone Award Committee. He was also with the St. Francis of Assisi Work Camp Missouri trip his sophomore and junior seasons and has done summer landscaping on a weekly basis for neighborhood retirees.
CHRISTIANO MARQUEZ, HOEHNE -- Marquez has excelled at Hoehne in football, basketball and track for the Farmers while being ranked No. 3 in his class with a weighted 3.7 grade point average. He helped lead the football team to the 2010, State 8-Man championship earning his All-state honors in the process as a junior and senior. He also helped pace Hoehne to the state runner-u[ position two years ago. He is deeply involved in the Hoehne school government programs and serves as the treasurer for the National Honor Society. He will be headed for Adams State College in the Fall.
Christiano has been involved with the Future Business Leaders of America, 4H for the past 10 years and has worked with several of the community ranches and farms for several years. He was presented with the Masonic Lodge Outstanding Junior Leader Award and participates in the Science Olympiads. He considers helping people an essential part of his life with one of his main interests helping at the St. Baldrick Kids Cancer Charity.
NICK SWANSON, WHEAT RIDGE -- Swanson, who sported a 3.81 grade point average, won state championships in wrestling his sophomore and junior seasons, finished second as a senior and was fourth as a freshman for the Farmers. He completed his prep career on the mats with a 139-10 record. He was selected first team All-State in football his senior season after earning All-League honors three years either on defense or at running back. He was named the Jefferson County Offensive MVP as a senior while also earning all-league honors at defensive back. He also earned All-League honors in baseball and was named honorable mention All-State on the diamond.
Swanson was also was a leader in youth football and wrestling programs as well as active with several elementary school academic and physical education programs.
He is headed for Mesa State University where he has obtained a wrestling scholarship and he will also be playing football.