Ten 10 MaxPreps stories from fall of 2012

From a record-setting rusher to blind athletes to 67-yard field goals to 21-year-old imposters, the fall of 2012 had it all. Here's a sampling.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Mitch Stephens
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Jan 2, 2013, 3:00pm

3. Prep sensations picked as top 2012 Female Athletes

Two high school girls finished 1-2 in balloting for the Associated Press U.S. Female Athlete of the Year.

Gabby Douglas
Gabby Douglas
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Gabby Douglas won top honors with 48 of 157 votes from a panel of AP sports editors throughout the U.S.  A home-schooled sophomore from Virginia Beach, Va., she captured the all-around gymnastics gold medal during the 2012 London Olympics.  Still just 16 years old, Douglas also helped the U.S. women win the team gold medal for only the second time in history.

She is the fourth U.S. woman and the first African-American woman to win the coveted all-around Olympic gold medal. Her efforts also helped the youthful Americans win the Olympic team championship at the London Olympics.

Douglas is a native of Virginia Beach, Va., but has been living in West Des Moines, Iowa while working with Chow Gymnastics, which has also produced another standout Olympian, Shawn Johnson.

Missy Franklin, a senior at Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.), was just seven votes behind in second place. She won four swimming gold medals during the 2012 London Olympics.

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