Rio Grande's Labutis named RSC Male Athlete of the Year 2022-23
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Vilius Labutis from University of Rio Grande (Ohio) has been selected the 2022-23 River States Conference Male Athlete of the Year. A junior on the RedStorm men's soccer team, Labutis is recognized as the top overall male athlete across all eight of the RSC men's championship sports. He was selected after a vote of the athletic directors in the conference.
A native of Ireland, Labutis had an impressive season for Rio Grande men's soccer in 2022. He led the RedStorm to the national semifinals of the NAIA National Championship and was named NAIA Men's Soccer First Team All-America. Labutis was one of just three midfielders in the country named to the NAIA All-America First Team. That honor also put him highest of any male athlete in the RSC this year for the sports that have national first and second teams.
Labutis took the RSC by storm sweeping the big individual awards in the conference. In his first year with Rio Grande, he was named RSC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He put up 18 goals and 43 points to rank second on the team. He also had seven assists for fifth on the club.
Rio Grande finished the year 18-4-2 and ranked within the NAIA Top 25. The RedStorm won the RSC Championship for the third year in a row to earn their way into another national tournament. It was a loss to eventual NAIA champion Bethel (Ind.) as the only thing keeping them from playing for a national championship.
Labutis is the fourth men's soccer player to win the award. He is the third one from Rio Grande. See below for past recipients since the award was established in 2009-10.
RSC/KIAC MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (SINCE 2009-10)
2009-10 -- Kyle Lenn, IU Southeast -- Baseball
2010-11 -- Jazzmarr Ferguson, IU Southeast -- Men's Basketball
2011-12 -- Marcus Isaac, IU Southeast -- Men's Basketball
2012-13 -- Matt Lowe, Brescia (Ky.) -- Cross Country/Track & Field
2013-14 -- Hank Stewart, Brescia (Ky.) -- Baseball
2014-15 -- Lucas Silva, Point Park (Pa.) -- Men's Soccer
2015-16 -- Willian Paulino, Rio Grande (Ohio) -- Men's Soccer
2016-17 -- Jorge Guinovart, Rio Grande (Ohio) -- Men's Soccer
2017-18 -- Trenton Thompson, Asbury (Ky.) -- Men's Basketball
2018-19 -- Joshua Turnquest, Asbury (Ky.) -- Men's Tennis
2019-20 -- Bishop Smith, IU East -- Men's Basketball
2020-21 -- Matt Monahan, IU Southeast -- Baseball
2021-22 -- Trevor Campbell, IU Southeast, Baseball
2022-23 -- Vilius Labutis, Rio Grande, Men's Soccer