AURORA -- In one of the most meaningful recognitions a Colorado high school athlete can receive, Simon Lunsford of Green Mountain High School was recently named the 2025 CHSCA Freddie Steinmark Award winner. The award, considered the most prestigious honor in Colorado high school athletics, is presented annually by the Colorado High School Coaches Association to a senior who exemplifies excellence in athletics, academics, and community service, an embodiment of the legacy left by Freddie Steinmark himself.
Steinmark, a three-sport athlete at Wheat Ridge High School in the early 1960s, went on to help lead the University of Texas to a national football championship in 1969 before tragically passing away from cancer in 1971 at the age of 22. His legacy continues to inspire generations of student-athletes, and in Simon Lunsford, that legacy finds a powerful and modern reflection.
Other finalists for the 2025 Steinmark Award were: Shane Curry, Thomas Jefferson; Anderson Filla, Akron; Samuel Meisner, Wray; Marcus Mozer, Fossil Ridge; Matthew Napiekowski Holy Family; Joseph Probst, West Grand; and Benjamin Simon, Coal Ridge.
Lunsford’s resume is staggering. A three-sport varsity athlete with nine varsity letters, he earned First Team All-State honors in football, basketball and baseball, led his basketball team to a state runner-up finish, and pitched a no-hitter in baseball this spring to send Green Mountain into the playoffs. He was named both the 2025 Jeffco 4A Athlete of the Year and Green Mountain High School Athlete of the Year and is a four-time recipient of the school’s 3-Sport Athlete Award.
Despite a severe ankle injury in the state football semifinals, an injury that required a plate, seven screws, and ligament reconstruction, Lunsford returned a month early to basketball season, immediately scoring 41 points against a top ten opponent.
“Simon embodies the perseverance, courage, and humility that defines Freddie Steinmark’s legacy,” said Head Basketball Coach Mike Puccio. “The grueling work it took to come back from that injury, and then to perform at the highest level, speaks volumes. He leads with humility, competes with heart, and serves with purpose.”
Football Coach Anthony Rankin called Lunsford “one of the most driven, talented, and respectful young men I’ve encountered in my career.” He continued, “His All-State and All-Conference selections in multiple sports reflect more than athletic ability, they reflect his leadership, work ethic, and integrity.”
Off the field, Lunsford’s accomplishments are just as impressive. A five-time Honor Roll Gold Distinguished student for maintaining a GPA above 4.0, he is an eight-time Honor Roll recipient. His teachers and peers know him not only for his achievements, but for his character as he was honored with Green Mountain’s RAM Award for Citizenship in his senior year.
Lunsford has also dedicated himself to service. He has volunteered at the Denver Rescue Mission and Christ on the Mountain Church, has served as a youth camp counselor in both football and basketball for four years, and has been a staple volunteer at local elementary school field days and fun runs. During the summers, he worked at Slick City at Denver West and even started his own lawnmower blade sharpening business.
“Simon is a distinguished athlete, a mentor to young children, and a model of resilience and integrity,” said community member Cara Friedman. “He has shown my son that challenges can be overcome, and that kindness and humility are just as important as talent. His actions have left an indelible mark on our community.”
For Simon, the Steinmark Award is deeply personal. “Competing against Wheat Ridge throughout my life, I had the chance to walk the halls of their school and see the Freddie Steinmark display firsthand,” Lunsford said. “It left a lasting impression on me, not just because of what it stood for, but because of the stories my grandfather shared with me. He attended Lakewood High School and had the honor of competing against the first-ever Steinmark Award winner, Dave Logan.”
“As a kid, I never imagined I’d one day be mentioned in the same breath as those names. Being nominated for this award is the most meaningful recognition I’ve ever received. In the 55-year history of the award, Green Mountain High School has never had a Steinmark Award winner and representing my school in this way is something I’m deeply proud of.”
From the classroom to the field, from leadership to service, Simon Lunsford has left an indelible mark on Green Mountain High School and his broader community. As the 2025 Freddie Steinmark Award winner, he joins an elite group of student-athletes who have exemplified what it means to lead with purpose, persevere through adversity, and serve something greater than themselves.
Next year Simon will attend the Colorado Mesa University and will play baseball for the Mavericks.
Simon is the 55th recipient of the Steinmark Award, which was established in 1972 (there were two winners in 1976 and 1979). Dave Logan of Wheat Ridge High School, and now the extremely well-known sports announcer for the Denver Broncos and other sports endeavors, was the first winner of the award in 1972.
In 2024, Cole Gaddis from Longmont High School received the boys’ Steinmark and Zoe Martin from Colorado Academy High School was the recipient for the girls. The Colorado High School Coaches Association is proud to be the sponsor of the Freddie Steinmark Award and congratulates the athletes, and their coaches, who were nominated for this award.