'Aiea receiver Phillip Madriaga is among the top 12 finalists for the High School Fotoball Rudy Awards, according to the award's web site.

The top four winners will be announced Jan. 18. Web site voting ends Jan. 16.

To cast a vote for Madriaga, go to: http://www.highschoolrudyawards.com/nominees/393/Phillip_Madriaga.aspx?mid=2356

Despite sustaining a football career-ending spinal injury as a junior, Madriaga still trained in the offseason with hopes of playing his senior year. But his doctor told him he risked paralysis if he suffered a similar injury again. Still, he was considered a member of the team this past season, even serving as honorary captain for two games.

The Rudy Award is named after Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, whose inspirational story was told in the move Rudy, which was about a player with little athletic ability, but a big heart, made the Notre Dame football team in the 1970s.

The Rudy Award winner receives a $10,000 scholarship with two runners-up receiving $5,000 each. A fan-voting winner also will received a $5,000 scholarship.

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