Lutheran’s James Willis (22). (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“Surprise” seems to be the one word that recipients of the Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award spout once they have been notified of the award. And that was the reaction from James Willis of Lutheran when he took his phone call from Tom Southall of the Colorado High School Coaches Association.
“I am so surprised to have won it,” Willis said. “I’m shocked. I didn’t know I would and it’s something that seems to come from out of the Avengers movies. It’s certainly an honor to be included among the many others who have been recognized with this award.”
Willis is the 46th winner for the boys as there were two winners selected in 1976 and 1979. He will be presented with the Steinmark at the CHSCA All-State Games, June 12, in Alamosa. Not only that, but he will also be taking part in the CHSCA All-State basketball game.
James is certainly pleased that he was even able to complete his high school career with such high achievements. He is the valedictorian at Lutheran with a 4.3 grade point average and active in several school and community activities.
“I am truly grateful for all of the acknowledgements I have received in academics and athletics,” said Willis. “As I appreciate them, I do not view those accomplishments as my most important endeavors in high school. I can honestly say that I’m happy for the struggle of recovering from a very serious injury during my senior year.
“While going under anesthesia three times for back procedures, I had to face the real possibility that my athletic career would be over…I am so grateful to have regained the ability to play again,” Willis continued. “I cherish every moment. I have also been blessed to have a wonderful family, great role models, coaches and teammates that have served me in more way than I could have ever imagined.
“My goal now is to serve others as much as possible, specifically in strengthening the faith in everyone I am around just as others have done for me,” Willis said.
He certainly joins a great field of former winners of the Steinmark.
Dave Logan of Wheat Ridge, now the voice of the Denver Broncos, head football coach at Cherry Creek and KOA radio talk show host, was the first winner of the Steinmark in 1972. Anne Vento of Pueblo Centennial was the first girls’ winner in 1974. She was the first high school girl player to fashion an undefeated season playing tennis. She also was a standout in swimming and track.
Freddie Steinmark was a brilliant scholar, athlete, and citizen that graduated from Wheat Ridge High School and earned All-State and All-American honors while competing for the Farmers in football, basketball and baseball. At the University of Texas, he helped the Longhorns win the national title in football in 1969. His life was cut short as Steinmark died of cancer in 1971.
There are four requirements for a senior student athlete to receive a nomination for the CHSCA Steinmark Award that can be made by any coach or school. The rules for nomination require that two sports be played during an athlete’s high school career in which they must be All-State in one sport and at least All-Conference in another. They also need to have carried at least a 3.0 grade point average and be active in their school and community.
Even though the CHSCA Steinmark Award carries “Athlete of the Year” designation, it actually recognizes a high school career. It is an all-classification award and through the decades all classifications, boys and girls, have had winners. It has become recognized as the most prestigious athletic award a graduating high school senior athlete can receive in Colorado and is now sponsored by the Colorado High School Coaches Association.
It is a difficult task to select the finalists for the award out of the many youngsters who have been nominated by coaches throughout the state each year. The winners are selected by a panel of high school coaches and administrators, but no coaches or administrators from the schools of the nominees are allowed to participate in the selection process.
Former Lutheran basketball coach Ryan Bredow, who resigned just after the season, has also been extremely proud of the accomplishments of Willis.
“I can absolutely assure you that Christopher James Willis is one of the most superior young men that I have ever been around,” Bredow wrote in letter of recommendation. “James has established himself in my eyes as one the most impressive, high character, high achieving, humble-spirited students I know. Few individuals have ever made such a significant impact in so many different ways on our campus in recent memory as James.
“He has a natural gift and ability to encourage, inspire, challenge, empower, befriend, and ultimately make a positive impact on the people around him,” said Bredow. “More importantly, I trust him. He has excellent discernment, was raised in a home that reinforces positive values and high character, and understands and believes what it means to live a life of integrity.”
Lutheran Dean of Women, Alicia Oates, also speaks very highly of Willis.
“I have had the opportunity to teach James for the past three years,” Oates wrote. “He is an excellent student who is respectful of his teachers and peers. James is the type of student that makes teaching ‘easy’. James is a natural leader who is self-disciplined and self-motivated. He takes the initiative, focuses, and accomplishes the task at hand. He does not complain about the hard work, but embraces the opportunity.”
Lutheran Pastor Ken Murphy is also well pleased with what Willis has been able to accomplish over his years.
“The most interesting thing about it all, is that James is one of the most humble young men I have ever met,” Murphy wrote. “He does so much of his influencing by his actions and not his words. He makes people want to be better and improve just by his steady example and humble attitude. Sports truly test the mettle of a young man when in deep competition. … He is calm when everything around him is coming undone. You cannot rattle him. He is poised, cool and collected.”
The competition for the 2015 Steinmark Award made it very difficult for the committee to select its winner from the group of finalists that included: Daniel Book of Cherry Creek, Dave Louthan from Air Academy, James Reed from Paonia, and Kyle Rosenbrock of Brush.
Other student athletes receiving nominations this year were: Brandon Barringer of Skyview, Brenden Fulton of Northridge, John Heaphey of Aspen, Austin Littlefield of Prairie, Mike Morean of Cherry Creek, Adam Munoz of Rocky Ford, Alec Petterson of Brush, Brandon Saunders of Wheat Ridge, and Jacob Smith of Strasburg