(Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Wheat Ridge High School is hosting a number of events to celebrate the upcoming release of “My All American,” a movie based on the life of Farmers alum Freddie Steinmark, which is set to release on Nov. 13.
Steinmark graduated from Wheat Ridge in 1967 after lettering in football, baseball and basketball. He led the Farmers to the Class AAA football title as a senior, and then went on to play at the University of Texas.
At Texas, he helped the Longhorns win a national title in 1969, and gained national renown for his performance on an injured leg against Arkansas that season — a leg that was amputated just six days later when a bone tumor was discovered.
Steinmark died in the summer of 1971, but his memory lives on through the Steinmark Award, which is given each year to a male and female recipient who are multi-sport athletes and excel on the field, in the class and in the community.
Wheat Ridge’s events culminate with the school’s homecoming football game — the 119th in Wheat Ridge history — against Green Mountain on Oct. 1. The school is inviting all former Steinmark Award winners to participate.
“We’d like to have as many of those guys and gals there as possible,” said Wheat Ridge athletic director Nick DeSimone. “That’d be pretty cool.”
The full slate of events:
“Someone who has walked in your shoes”
Sept. 23, 7 p.m., Wheat Ridge auditorium
Shelley Smith, Wheat Ridge alumni and ESPN reporter, will be giving an inspirational and courageous presentation on being a Farmer, an ESPN reporter, and a woman battling cancer. This will be a ticketed event. Admission to the event will be $10, for $20 you receive admission and a Pink Showdown t-shirt.
Wheat Ridge High School will donate all proceeds to the Lutheran Medical Center/Cancer Center of Colorado.
Pink Showdown Breast Cancer Awareness Game
Sept. 24, 4 p.m., Jeffco Public Stadium
Wheat Ridge will battle Dakota Ridge in the 2nd Annual Pink Showdown game in Partnership with Lutheran Medical Center/Cancer Center of Colorado.
Thousands of students and fans from both schools will be wearing pink t-shirts made especially designed for this event. Coaches and players from both schools will be in their “pink” as well to help bring awareness to the fight against cancer.
As part of this event students from both high schools will be visiting the Lutheran Medical Infusion Care Center to spend time and support those undergoing treatment.
Shelly Smith, a Wheat Ridge High School alum and ESPN reporter will be honored at Halftime. Shelly is currently battling cancer herself, and we will honor her and her fight, as well as offer her all of our support at halftime.
Bower Yousse: “A Night With Freddie Steinmark and Friends”
Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Wheat Ridge auditorium
Bower Yousse, Wheat Ridge High School alum and author, screenwriter will be giving an inspirational multimedia presentation covering his friendship and life with Freddie Steinmark. Bower will bring friends who played together with Freddie, classmates, family members, and more, to celebrate who and why Freddie Steinmark is still such an inspiration to all.
Homecoming assembly
Oct. 1, 1:15 p.m., Wheat Ridge gymnasium
Wheat Ridge High School will celebrate a “homecoming” with students, alumni, and friends of the Farmers (wearing Freddie Steinmark No. 43 commemorative shirts) to honor Freddie Steinmark, his legacy, and of course the homecoming football game. The assembly will have skits for homecoming royalty, the band, Poms and Cheers and a tribute to Freddie and what he stands for at our high school.
Homecoming game
Oct. 1, 7 p.m., Jeffco Public Stadium
Wheat Ridge High School will play Green Mountain High School in our 119th homecoming game. This night has been dedicated to the memory of Freddie Steinmark and his legacy. Students, staff, parents, fans, little leaguers will all be wearing commemorative No. 43 jersey/t-shirts in the stands.
Alumni, former athletes that played with Freddie, and Freddie’s close friends and family will be in attendance and recognized at halftime. We will be using the scoreboard screen to bring back the memory of Freddie with quotes, photos, and hopefully previews of the upcoming feature film about his life.
The school’s choir teacher is writing a song that our choir singers will sing at halftime about Freddie, as well. We are hoping to bring together the 87 recipients of the Colorado Steinmark Award, the most prestigious award that is given to a Colorado High School student athlete, for the game and/or “A Night With Freddie Steinmark and Friends.”