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Rio Grande's Vilius Labutis (left) earned three major individual awards and was one of eight RedStorm players named to the All-River States Conference Men's Soccer teams.
Rio Grande's Vilius Labutis (left) earned three major individual awards and was one of eight RedStorm players named to the All-River States Conference Men's Soccer teams.
Posted: Nov 12, 2022

Rio's Labutis captures three awards, eight RedStorm players named All-RSC

Rio Grande/RSC Sports Information
     MIDDLETOWN, Ohio - University of Rio Grande junior midfielder Vilius Labutis earned three major individual honors as part of the River States Conference's announcement of its men's soccer all-conference teams and awards.
     The teams and award winners, which were voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, were announced by conference officials prior to Saturday's RSC Tournament championship.
     The first, second and honorable mention teams all included 14 players - four forwards, four midfielders, four defenders and two goalkeepers.
     Labutis, a native of Ireland, was among the All-RSC First Team selections and also took home Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors.
     He helped Rio Grande finish the regular season at 12-3-2 and earn a No. 20 ranking in the NAIA coaches' poll.
     The RedStorm defeated Indiana University East to reach Saturday's title game against West Virginia University-Tech.
     Also named to the all-conference first team from Rio Grande was senior midfielder Charlie Chechlacz (Liecestershire, England), sophomore forward Gabriel Silva (Sao Luis, Brazil) and junior defender Rodrigo Basso (Santiago, Chile).
     WVU-Tech defender Enrique Ezuerro Lopez was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
     Joining Lopez and the Rio Grande quartet on the first team were forwards Jaime Rodriguez of Point Park, Oakland City's Roberto Dominguez and Endjick Albert of WVU-Tech; midfielders Phillip Harder of Point Park and Omar Belahna from WVU-Tech; defenders Julian Diaz of WVU-Tech and Drake Dickens from Oakland City; and goalkeepers Peter Lamprou of IU East and Lucas Rivera Paramio of WVU-Tech.
     Rio Grande also placed four on the all-conference second team in junior forwards Osvaldo Pereria (Campo Grande, Brazil) and Benjamin Cam Orellana (Santiago, Chile), freshman midfielder Altan Sayar (Switzerland) and senior goalkeeper Daniel Merino Correa (Madrid, Spain).
     The remainder of the second team was comprised of forwards Luis Baldivieso from Brescia and Carlow's Janvier Ramson; midfielders Joao Benassi-Silva of Brescia, Sergio Revuelta from Oakland City and Oakland City's Matt Menegon; defenders Callum Coleman from IU East, Taiwo Anifowose of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, WVU-Tech's Ruben Martin Macias and Martin Burgos from Oakland City; and Oakland City goalkeeper Laurin Aumueller.
     WVU Tech's Oliver Hewitt-Fisher was named Coach of the Year.
     The RSC Champions of Character Team had one team member nominated by their head coach for best displaying the NAIA Champions of Character traits of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
     The RedStorm's representative on the team was sophomore Harry Walsh (Letchworth Garden City, England).
     The RSC Scholar-Athlete Team honored those with a 3.25 GPA or higher who play women's soccer and have been at their current institution for at least two semesters.
     Representing Rio Grande on the list was senior Cristobal Encina (Santiago, Chile); juniors Rodrigo Basso (Santiago, Chile), Benjamin Cam Orellana (Santiago, Chile); sophomores Devon Berry (Manchester, England), Micah Parsons (Rotherham, England), Robert Turner (England), Samuel Wark (Aberdeen, Scotland), Josh Smith (Limavady, Ireland) and Inzwi Zunga (Johannesberg, South Africa); and freshmen Ibrahim Khan and Said Rodriguez.