U.S. Soccer Athlete Council

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U.S. Soccer Athlete Council

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Election 2020

You may find the FAQ's for the 2020 election HERE

2020 Athlete Council Candidates

Matt Freese

Smith Hunter

Matt Freese

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Matt was a member of the U-23 MNT on several occasions and is a member of the Philadelphia Union in the MLS. He attended Harvard University for 2 years before opting to turn pro. He would be able to represent the homegrown and young male athletes in the system if elected.

Brad Guzan

Smith Hunter

Matt Freese

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Being a member of the AC I’ve the last few years has been an honor and privilege.  Being part of the growth of US soccer and seeing the impact that the AC has on US soccer community is something I have enjoyed and know that role will only grow.  As someone that has been very fortunate to be part of the national team for some time and see the growth first hand, I would thoroughly enjoy continuing in the position of an AC member.  It’s important that players have their voices heard and being involved in the AC allows not only that, but also a unique perspective in growing the sport of soccer in this country.   

Smith Hunter

Smith Hunter

Smith Hunter

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  Smith Hunter has represented US Soccer from the U-16 to the U-20 Women's National Team levels. In 2018, she participated in both the U-17 Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers in Nicaragua and the U-17 World Cup in Uruguay. As a young woman of color from a lower income background, she hopes to give a voice to youth footballers with similar backgrounds directly within the Federation. Hunter is truly devoted to working in partnership with US Soccer to face challenges with the systematic financial barriers that many players face within the youth system. She is also passionate about ensuring that every level of the Federation has adequate representation of women and minorities, as well as increasing new opportunities to join US Soccer through the expansion of the Extended National Team programs.

Seth Jahn

Lori Lindsey

Smith Hunter

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Seth has been an elected member of the USOPC since January of 2017. He captained the US National 7-aside Football team in the Rio 2016 Games and led the team in total points, and captained the team in the 2019 Lima Games to the first ever medal in their sport. He is a decorated 11 year Army veteran (seven years in the Special Forces) and 3x OEF/OIF Wounded Warrior. He served in the US Government as a Counterintelligence Special Agent, as well as an interrogator. He served as a law enforcement officer in Florida for four years (three in SWAT). He has served in Africa for three years as a team leader in an Anti-Poaching Unit. He was also on staff with the 2019 World Cup winning US Women's National Team (soccer). Seth currently serves as an undercover counter-child sex trafficking operative in Central and South America. He has competed in two World Cups, two Parapan Am Games, two World Championships, and one Paralympic Games. He is also an Olympic taekwondo hopeful for the upcoming games.

Lori Lindsey

Lori Lindsey

Lori Lindsey

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Mikey Lopez

Lori Lindsey

Lori Lindsey

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Mikey López represented the U.S. Soccer from the U-15 to the U-20 Men's National Team levels. In 2013, he was a part of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers in Mexico and was named to the U-20 World Cup in Turkey. As a first generation Mexican American that comes from a lower income background, he is able to bring a different perspective to the council and hopes to give young footballers of the same background a voice and representation within the federation. Mikey is truly devoted to working in partnership with U.S. soccer to face the many financial challenges that many young athletes face within our youth system. Mikey is also passionate about ensuring that every level of the federation has adequate representation of minorities, as well as increasing new opportunities to join U.S. Soccer through the expansion of the Extended National Team programs.

Nicholas Mayhugh

Nicholas Mayhugh

Nicholas Mayhugh

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Nicholas Mayhugh, the 2019 US Soccer Player of the Year with a Disability award winner, is a current member of the US Para 7-a-side National Team and has represented the team for the last three years. As a disabled athlete who is seen as a minority within the sport world, he is running for the Athletes Council to help advocate for representation, exposure and support for the ENT, to promote diversity and inclusion within the USSF at all levels of the game and to help dismantle the existing financial and structural barriers in the current pay to play model.

Michael Moore

Nicholas Mayhugh

Nicholas Mayhugh

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  My name is Michael Moore and I played for the US Paralympic National Team from 2014-2016, helping the team qualify for Rio 2016.
 

I was born with cerebral palsy, and playing soccer while growing up helped my social skills immeasurably. I gave up the sport when I was in middle school, thinking there was no place for me to play competitively. I didn't learn I could play soccer internationally until I was 19, when the USPNT gave me a second chance to pursue my passion. Today, I am excited by the grassroots work beginning in the world of CP soccer and am committed to ensuring that boys and girls like me know there is a pathway for them to live out their dreams of representing the United States.
 

After retiring from the PNT, I went to law school. I graduated this past May and have begun my career in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. I believe my legal education will be an asset to the council when considering US Soccer's prospective rules and policies. I went to law school passionate about issues of justice and equity, and I want to help make sure that US Soccer supports the game for all people regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status.
 

If elected, I promise to be a strong advocate for making this game accessible to all.

Oguchi Onyewu

Nicholas Mayhugh

Oguchi Onyewu

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Madison Perez

Madison Perez

Oguchi Onyewu

Brianna Pinto

Madison Perez

Brianna Pinto

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Pinto, the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, is a current member of the U-20 Women's National Team. She has represented every level of the YNT, including a U-17 and U-20 World Cup, and has had a few experiences with the Senior WNT. She was also the US youth representative at the 68th FIFA Congress and helped secure the United Bid hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As a young player, she is looking to work with the USSF and is running for the Athlete Council to help advocate for the needs of YNT players, to promote diversity and inclusion, and to help dismantle the existing financial and structural barriers in the pay-to-play model.

Gavin Sibayan

Madison Perez

Brianna Pinto

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I have served on the AC for the last 4 years and we all are making progress, and would like to represent US Soccer for the next 4 years. I have served in the military for 6 years and played on the USPNT for 7 years because of my disability from being deployed. While playing I have been given the opportunity to play in 2 paralympic games. Now i serve as a Police officer. I would like to continue my service to the athletes of US Soccer.

Jonathan Spector

Jonathan Spector

Jonathan Spector

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 I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Athletes’ Council since 2012. The knowledge and experience I’ve gained these past 8 years have been invaluable in allowing me to represent all US Soccer Athletes. While serving on the Council I have been a member of several committees including the Appeals Committee, the Sports Medicine and Research Advisory Board and the USYS Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.


I began playing at the grassroots level at the age of 4, and my journey has taken me all over the world representing the US National Teams at every age group along the way. I was fortunate to play professionally for 16 years in both England and the United States, and I currently work in the front office for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer.


The game has given me a wealth of opportunities, experiences and friendships, and I remain as committed as ever to continue to grow the sport in this country. As a council we represent all Athletes within US Soccer, and while we have made some gains in recent years there is still much work to do.


With your support I look forward to continuing to represent and advocate for every US Soccer Athlete.

Megan Wharton

Jonathan Spector

Jonathan Spector

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  I believe that I would be a useful member of the Athlete's Council because I will provide insightful and confident representation for the newly formed Women's Beach Soccer National Team. As captain for our team, I want to advocate for our development and relationship with US Soccer.

Lynn Williams

Jonathan Spector

Lynn Williams

o	I am honored and excited to be nominated and have the chance to be a part of the Athlete Council.

  I am honored and excited to be nominated and have the chance to be a part of the Athlete Council. As a black woman in the soccer world, I believe I have a unique experience and viewpoint that would be beneficial to the Athlete Council. I was raised in Fresno, Ca, a place not known for its soccer. I played on a club team that did not get much exposure, and even so, I worked hard and was determined to play D1 soccer. I went on to Pepperdine University (the only school that recruited me), another place not well known for its soccer dominance. Even though I did not go through the ODP program, or have a conventional soccer journey I was still able to persevere and reach my goals and dreams. I believe because my life has had many trials and tribulations, I now have the ability to have a level head, think critically, and bring a unique perspective that will not only contribute to the Athlete Council, but also bring a voice to people who look like me.

2020 USOPC AAC Candidate

Sean Boyle

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I decided to run for USPOC Representative because I wanted the athletes who represent US Soccer and the country on the field, have the best representation off the field on decisions that affect them within the US Olympic and Paralympic realm. 


It would be an honor to serve you as a representative within the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. I hope you consider me in your voting plans, and if elected, I promise to represent you to the best of my ability.

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