On the fast-track to another Norris Trophy, Cale Makar received another distinction on Tuesday for his body of work in 2025.

The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame named Makar its Pro Athlete of the Year after the Avalanche star defenseman became only the fourth player in the 21st century to win at least two Norris Trophies. Makar also finished sixth in voting for the Hart Trophy, the NHL MVP, in 2024-25 while leading the league’s defensemen with 30 goals and 92 points.

In addition to Makar’s selection, the Hall also announced honors for five other individuals on Tuesday who will be recognized alongside the six-member Hall of Fame class at the banquet in April.

Regis University catcher Adam Paniagua and CSU Pueblo shot putter Katherine Higgins were named College Athletes of the Year, Legend softball/flag football star Lucy Thompson and Montrose running back Elijah Womack are the High School Athletes of the Year, and Ri Armstrong earned the Athlete with Disabilities Award.

Paniagua hit .448 with 27 homers, 100 RBIs and a .970 slugging percentage, leading Division II in the latter two categories to earn first-team All-American honors. He was a catalyst behind Regis’ program-record 35 victories in 2025. Higgins won the Division II women’s shot put national title.

Thompson was a two-sport star last fall for Legend, helping the Titans to state runner-up finishes in both softball and flag football. The shortstop is committed to Nebraska, and on the gridiron, she led the state with 1,970 receiving yards while racking up 32 TDs. Womack was also a force, with 2,157 yards rushing and 33 TDs a year after posting a state-best 2,285 rushing yards while helping Montrose to deep playoff runs both seasons.

Armstrong, who competed in slalom and giant slalom in the Paralympics in 1980 and ’84, has been a volunteer for the National Sports Center for the Disabled for the last 38 years as one of the organization’s most influential instructors.

Last year, the Hall named a trio of Colorado stars as Pro Athlete of the Year: the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (2023-24 NBA MVP), the Broncos’ Pat Surtain II (2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year) and the Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon (2023-24 NHL MVP).

The Hall’s 61st annual awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction is April 16 at the Hilton Denver City Center. Tickets are $250 each and sponsor tables start at $3,000.