Two CC Men’s Soccer team members receive national and regional nods

Casper College soccer players Yuto Hatayama and Kohta Yamanashi were selected to the National Junior College Athletics Association Third Team All-Americans. Both players are sophomores from Tokyo.

“Kohta Yamanashi was also the Region IX Defender of the Year,” said Ben McArthur, head coach. According to McArthur, the sophomore defender was a leader for the team on the backline and the key defender in helping the team to the Region IX Championship. “Kohta started 38 games in his two seasons at Casper College,” McArthur noted. In addition to his selection from the NJCAA, Yamanashi was selected to the 2023 United States Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I Men’s All-America Team.

Hatayama was named Region IX Player of the Year. “The sophomore attacker led the team with 14 goals and five assists and started 19 games for the Thunderbirds in his sophomore year,” said McArthur. “He was instrumental in the team winning the Region IX Championship by scoring the game-winning goal in the semifinals vs Northwest College in a 1-0 win on the road,” added McArthur. During the 2023 season, Hatayama led the team with 33 points, including 14 goals.

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