Kevin Gray award finalists revealed

The third annual Kevin Gray awards finalists were revealed on Monday and will be featured in a live show at 6-6:30 p.m. CT on Time Warner Cable Metro Sports broadcast from the Shield Club at Sporting Park. The Kevin Gray Awards presented by Ivy Funds were established in 2011 in honor of the late Kansas City Sports Commission president Kevin Gray and annually recognize the athletic achievements of soccer players, coaches and ambassadors in or from the Kansas City area.

The award categories:

• Male Youth Player of the Year-- given to a high school senior for club/high school success
• Female Youth Player of the Year-- given to a high school senior for club/high school success
• Adult Player of the Year-- given to a collegiate or professional player with ties to Kansas City
• Coach of the Year-- given to a local girls or boys recreational, high school, club, college or professional coach, from either Kansas or Missouri, for his/her team's success
• Soccer Ambassador of the Year-- given to a person in the community who has worked tirelessly to support the game and growth of soccer within the Kansas City

The top three nominees in each award category are listed below:

Male Youth Player of the Year

• Paul Dean: Blue Valley North, Sporting Kansas City Academy U18
• Seo-in Kim: Blue Valley West, Sporting Kansas City Academy U18
• Clay Stewart: Olathe South, Sporting Blue Valley Ajax 96-97

Female Youth Player of the Year

• Jaycie Johnson: Lee's Summit West, Sporting Blue Valley ECNL U18
• Emily Herndon: Blue Valley North West, Sporting Blue Valley ECNL U18
• Sydney Miramontez: Shawnee Mission West, Sporting Blue Valley ECNL U18

Adult Player of the Year

• Matt Besler: Sporting KC, US Men's National Team, Notre Dame, Blue Valley West
• Andy Gruenebaum: Columbus Crew, Kentucky, Blue Valley North
• Nia Williams: FC Kansas City, Missouri State, St. James Academy

Coach of the Year

• Rick Pribyl: Blue Valley Northwest Women's Team
• Rob Herringer: Benedictine College Men's Team
• Chris Lawson: Rockhurst High School

Friday's ceremony, hosted by Dave Stewart, will profile each the above candidates and also unveil this year's "Kevin Gray Soccer Ambassador of the Year." Winners of the Kevin Gray Awards will then be announced on Saturday, July 13 at Sporting Park prior to Sporting Kansas City's home match against Toronto FC.

Sporting KC's Matt Besler could be the first repeat winner. He was the Adult Player of the year in 2011, the same year Nick, his younger brother was the Male Youth Player of the year.

Past Winners:

2012

• Male Youth Player of the Year - Derek Schrick
• Female Youth Player of the Year - Allie Stephenson
• Adult Player of the Year - Adrianna Franch

2011

• Male Youth Player of the Year - Nick Besler
• Female Youth Player of the Year - Caroline Gray
• Adult Player of the Year - Matt Besler