Six boys and girls have been selected to vie as finalists for the 38th annual Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award that is now sponsored by the Colorado High School Coaches Association. And, as is the case, they are an exceptional group of young athletes and scholars. The award honors Fred Steinmark, who excelled in football, basketball and baseball while attending Wheat Ridge High School in the late 1960s. Steinmark also was an outstanding student and was active in several school and community-oriented endeavors before attending the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns to the national football title in 1969. Steinmark died from cancer in 1971 at age 22. To be nominated for the Steinmark Award by a coach, athletic director or school administrator, a nominee must have participated in at least two sports through his or her high school career and have been chosen all-state in one and at least all-league in another. Each nominee also must have carried at least a 3.0 grade-point average. There were a record 60 nominees this year. The finalists and winners are selected by a committee of athletic directors, coaches and former winners of the Award. They will be honored June 12 at the Colorado High School Coaches Association all-State Games banquet in Greeley.