Rubin named U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year

• by Soccer America , Nov 21, 2012

[AWARDS] U.S. U-17 Rubio Rubin was named the 2012 Young Male Athlete of the Year. He emerged as a standout on the U-17 national team, finishing among the team's leading goalscorers with eight goals.

Rubin, a product of the Timbers U-16 academy, tallied goals in four straight games in October. Other finalists were forward Terrence Boyd, midfielder Joe Corona, defender Shaquell Moore and midfielder Danny Williams.

Clint Dempsey joined Landon Donovan as the only player to win back-to-back awards as the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year, while Felicia Schroeder, who helped the USA win a gold medal at the World Deaf Football Championships and plays professionally in the Sweden, was named the 2012 Disabled Athlete of the Year.

Online votes registered on U.S. Soccer's Facebook Page counted for 50 percent of the total votes, while the other 50 percent was represented by votes compiled from members of the national media and U.S. Soccer representatives, including national team coaches and members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors.

Nominees for Female and Young Female Athletes of the Year will be announced Monday with voting on U.S. Soccer's Facebook Page running throughout the week until Dec. 1.

YOUNG MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1998: Josh Wolff
1999: Ben Olsen
2000: Landon Donovan
2001: DaMarcus Beasley
2002: Bobby Convey
2003: Freddy Adu
2004: Eddie Johnson
2005: Benny Feilhaber
2006: Jozy Altidore
2007: Michael Bradley
2008: Sacha Kljestan
2009: Luis Gil
2010: Gale Agbossoumonde
2011: Brek Shea
2012: Rubio Rubin