The honors keep coming in for Craig Huxtable, a graduating soccer player from Blacksburg High School.
The Roanoke College commit capped his high school career with a state championship, and Friday as the Virginia State High School Boys Soccer Player of the Year and a Boys High School All-American.
These honors are among players in all classifications from both private and public high schools.
Huxtable was the River Ridge District Player of the Year (repeat selection), Region 4D Player of the Year, and Class 4 State Player of the Year. He is a First Team repeat selection for All-District (third year), All-Region (third year), and All-State (second year).
He was also named the all-county, all-city boys’ soccer player of the year.
In 2026, Craig scored 31 goals and had nine assists from his central midfield position and completed his career with 72 goals and 35 assists. He captained Blacksburg to the State Championship, a 24-0 record, and the MaxPreps Spring #1 National Ranking.
Soccer is now the third most popular sport in the United States and this past month’s FIFA tournament helped to fuel the increase.
Fox Sports reports soccer has now surpassed baseball and only trails American football and basketball. The growth is heavily driven by the younger demographics, digital media and the FIFA World Cup.
Over the years, Americans have had to differentiate from “futbol” and football. The world has laughed at us as we have ignored the rise of soccer. But things are a-changing.
The sport is highly concentrated among the younger generations. The Fox Sports numbers show among 18–34-year-olds, soccer is now the second most popular sport. Additionally, youth participating is massive as the third most popular sport American children ages 6-17 play on a regular basis.
“Futbol’s” popularity has been amplified by streaming, digital games and the pop culture phenomena like Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso.”
There is also the fact that Major League Soccer has expanded to 30 teams and averages around 22,000 fans per match. The National Women’s Soccer League has also expanded to 16 teams and built its own soccer stadiums around the country.
Futbol might not be able to ever catch American football’s numbers, but it is gaining. The recent study showed American football has 36 percent of the fans, compared to basketball’s 17 and soccer’s 10 percent.
Baseball is a close fourth at nine percent.
But I would have to break it down even further. I feel American professional football is number one with college football number two. In the third sport is college basketball and fourth is professional baseball. I also believe baseball remains at number four and futbol is sliding in at five. Baseball remains close at six.
Growing up in southwest Virginia, I never had heard of this sport called soccer. You can call it what you would like, but the word “futbol” just doesn’t exist for Americans. Maybe, this is what complicates everything.
We call it soccer, but anywhere else it is futbol. I’m sorry but we already have football, so soccer it is.
I do believe many Americans tuned into the World Cup this year because it is being played in our country and the United State’s men’s team had a brief moment of success. Can we ever duplicate what other countries around the globe are doing?
I don’t think so. American soccer cannot compete with the futbol world. Yes, you can call me out on this as the U.S. women’s team has had its share of success. But the men’s league cannot compete against the Messi of the world. Matter of fact, the Argentina soccer star is making a name for himself playing for Miami’s MLS team.
Thank you, world, for making us more aware of soccer (futbol). We will never call it by that foreign name. It’s just not in our DNA. Maybe, if we ever did, we might find success both on and off the field.
On a side note, congrats to our two boys’ state champions from Blacksburg and Christiansburg high schools, which are also helping fuel the interest in soccer.
