Eastview High School's Paige Palkovich and Eagan High School's Alanna Stangl are two of six finalists for Female Athlete of the Year. Eagan High's Drew Bauer is a finalist for Male Athlete of the Year. All three are three-sport athletes who were captains of all three of their teams this year. Palkovich has been a member of Eastview's swimming and diving, gymnastics, and track and field programs the last six years. Stangl competes in cross-country, hockey and track, and Bauer played football, basketball and golf.

The 2012 winners will be named at a banquet held in May to recognize all of the finalists.

The Athlete of the Year wards have been given out by the St. Paul Downtown Lion's Club every year since 1943. Previous recipients include Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Joe Mauer and Eagan's own Natalie Darwitz.