12 Casper University soccer players sign letters of intent to play at four-year school

Casper University News Release by Lisa Eisnogle:

The Casper University men's soccer team announced that 12 additional players have signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level.

“The Casper University men's soccer class of 2024 was deep, talented and epitomized what it means to be a student-athlete,” said head coach Benjamin MacArthur. “With a team GPA of 3.56 for the fall 2023 semester, these young men knew how to get the job done in the classroom and on the soccer field.” The 2023 Thunderbirds team has a record of 10-7-5 in Region 9. The team finished the 2023 season with a 7-1-4 record, a Region 9 championship, and an appearance in the national tournament where the team finished with a 1-1 record. They finished the season in the top 8 nationally.

Players participating are Hayden Hollinger, Hubert Deragon, Louis Simon, Cole Venable, Kota Yamanashi, Sho Horie, Yuto Hatayama, Bogdan Steer, Mats Hugel, Zach Meunier, Isa Bramble, Hawkin Sweeney. 12 people.

Hollinger, a graduate of Casper Kelly Walsh High School, will be headed to NCAA Division I Winthrop University in the Big South Conference. In the 2023 season, the Eagles went 4-11-2 overall and 3-2-2 in conference play under head coach Daniel Ridenhour. Hollinger was a two-year starter on the offensive line at Casper University and was an All-Region player his sophomore year.

Deragon, of Quebec City, signed with the NCAA DI East Tennessee State University Buccaneers, who play in the SoCon of the Southern Conference. Deragon started almost every game at left back and was among the top 10 in the nation with nine assists on the season. Under former head coach David Rielly, the Buccaneers went 9-5-3 overall and 4-0-1 in conference play.

MacArthur said Simon was an all-region midfield player and the team's driving force in Paris. Simon signed with the University of Mercy, where he competed in the NCAA League. Under first-year head coach Nate Kopnek, the Titans went 5-10-3 overall and 4-3-2 in conference play.

Worland, a Wyoming product, is a two-time first-team All-Region selection for the Thunderbirds. He will play soccer next season for the NCAA D2 team Colorado Springs Mountain Lions at the University of Colorado. The Mountain Lions had one of the best seasons in program history under head coach Lewis Wilcox, finishing with a 10-6-5 overall record and a 5-2-3 conference record, according to UCCS. It is said that

Three international students from Tokyo have committed to play at NCAA D2 schools. Yamanashi will continue to play soccer at Felician College in New Jersey, which plays in the Central Atlantic University Conference. The Golden Falcons are 10-3-3 overall and 7-3-1 in conference play under head coach Brandon Levine. “Kota was a two-time All-Region, 2023 Region 9 Defender of the Year and an NJCAA All-America,” MacArthur said.

Horie will also play for Felician University's Golden Falcons. “Shaw brings stability at the back to the Thunderbirds as the anchor of the backline. He and Mr. Cota will form a strong partnership at Felician College,” MacArthur said.

Hatayama heads to the West Coast to play for the East Bay Pioneers in California. “Yut led the Thunderbirds with 14 goals in 2023 and was named the 2023 Region 9 Player of the Year and NJCAA All-American,” MacArthur said. The Pioneers went 7-7-4 overall and 2-6-3 in conference play under first-year head coach Michael Haswell.

Steer, of Bucharest, Romania, signed with the Tigers of Holy Family University in Philadelphia. DII schools participate in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Universities. Under head coach George Montag, the Tigers went 5-8-4 overall and 3-6-2 in conference play. MacArthur said Steer played on the back line and was part of the Thunderbirds' defense.

Huegel, a native of Pinneberg, Germany, who MacArthur called a “CC legend,” signed with the NCAA D2 Northern Michigan University Wildcats. “As a goaltender, Hugel has been an important player on the field and in the locker room the past two years. He is the ultimate student-athlete,” MacArthur said. The Wildcats compete in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic in his conference and under second-year head coach Alex Fatovic, he is 2-10-4 overall and in conference play. We had 1 win, 6 wins, and 3 losses.

Montreal's Meunier Gorman is headed to Lourdes College, a member of the National Intercollegiate Athletics Association that participates in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference. The Gray Wolves finished the 2023 season with a record of 6-6-6 overall and 6-3-2 in conference play under head coach Matt Johnson, who is in his fifth season. “Zac is a speedy outside defender who has helped our offense throughout the season,” MacArthur said.

Trinidad Mayaro, Bramble, Trinidad and Tobago… “An all-region player who had five goals and four assists in his second season,” MacArthur said. Bramble will play at NAIA Union Commonwealth University (formerly Union College in Kentucky). The Bulldogs are an Appalachian Athletic player who plays in his conference and is 15-3-2 overall in conference play and 10-0 in conference play for the 2023 season under head coach Jonathan Shaw. It was 1 loss and 2 losses.

Sweeney from Powell High School went on to NCAA D3 Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. The Boxers, who play in the Northwest Conference, finished the 2023 season with a record of 5-9-6 overall and 5-8-3 in conference play under head coach Brandon Porter. “Hawkin is a one-goal, one-assist forward,” MacArthur said.

According to MacArthur, the sophomore soccer players have been team players, great students and great teammates the past two years. When they came to Casper College to play soccer two years ago, they all liked MacArthur and assistant coach Connor Schmidt's style of play. “They developed a brother-like bond that made it fun to go to practice every day. Their work ethic set the tone for every game and allowed us to have success at the national level. . We are excited to see them continue their careers at four-year universities,” MacArthur said.

“When you add in the fact that Garrett Morris and Hugo Amo have already signed, this brings our class to 14 members who will go on to the collegiate level, which is a huge accomplishment,” MacArthur said. Ta.