Tiger men’s soccer team lands three players on All-America list
After having three teams qualify for the NJCAA Men’s Soccer National Tournaments, the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference has seen six players etch their names onto the NJCAA All-America lists, which includes two players becoming the league’s ninth and 10th two-time All-Americans.
Three players from Cowley were named NJCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer All-Americans with Kanta Ishii (first team), Jin Tokishi (second team), and Nino Inchico (third team) being joined by Barton's Masaki Tsuji (third team) while Neosho County saw Callum Niven (second team) and Luke Butcher (third team) both named NJCAA Division 2 Men's Soccer All-Americans. Since 1962, the league has had 102 men's soccer players earn NJCAA All-America status, including 22 first-team All-America selections.
"I am very proud of all three of our guys; this is a testament to their hard work and dedication to the program," Cowley head coach Marcos Ribeiro said. "We are well represented by our three players, who were outstanding throughout the entire year.
A complete list of NJCAA Men's Soccer All-Americans from the KJCCC can be found here: KJCCC Men's Soccer NJCAA All-Americans.
Kanta Ishii (Cowley) NJCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer First Team All-American
Becoming a two-time NJCAA All-American, Ishii once again had a standout year for the Tigers after leading the KJCCC in assists (eight) and total shots (68) while ranking second in the league in both goals (12) and total points (32). Scoring at least one goal in eight of the 18 games played by Cowley this season, Ishii was the KJCCC D1 Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year after recording at least one point in 12 games this season and leading the Tigers to a KJCCC D1 Men's Soccer regular season title, NJCAA D1 Men's Soccer Plains District Title, and the NJCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer National Tournament semifinal round.
"Kanta is highly talented and has done great for us over the past two years," Ribeiro said.
Jin Tokishi (Cowley) NJCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Second Team All-American
Starting 18 of 19 matches for Cowley this past season, Tokishi was a key component of the Tiger back line, which ranked in the top 10 of NJCAA D1 Men's Soccer in both goals against average (fourth, 0.80) and total goals allowed (ninth, 15). Tokishi was named the KJCCC D1 Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the year as the Tigers allowed more than one goal in only two of their 19 games while seeing eight of their 16 wins come by shutout.
Nino Inchico (Cowley) NJCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Third Team All-American
Earning NJCAA All-America honors in his freshman campaign, Inchico appeared in all 19 games for Cowley this past year and made 16 starts while scoring one goal and assisting on three goals for five total points. A defensive-focused midfielder, Inchico started each of the final 15 matches of the season while scoring his lone goal of the season on October 15th against Garden City.
"Jin has also been amazing here, and I am also very pleased with Nino and glad he'll be back next year to help us," Ribeiro said.
Masaki Tsuji (Barton) NJCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Third Team All-American
The KJCCC leader in goals scored (16) and total points (37), Tsuji becomes the 24th All-American in Barton men's soccer program history after ranking fifth in NJCAA D1 Men's Soccer in goals and seventh in points while taking the sixth-most shots (65) of any NJCAA D1 men's soccer player. Five of Tsuji's 16 goals were game winners, which ranked fifth nationally, while also converting three penalty kicks, which ranked eighth. Tsuji scored multiple goals on four separate occasions and recorded at least one point in 13 of the 22 matches he appeared in.
Callum Niven (Neosho County) NJCAA Division 2 Men's Soccer Second Team All-American
After earning NJCAA All-America honors last season, Niven becomes the 10th two-time All-American in KJCCC history after earning his second-straight KJCCC D2 Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year honors. Helping lead Neosho County to a fourth-straight KJCCC D2 Men's Soccer regular season title, Niven won the KJCCC D2 Men's Soccer scoring title with 14 goals and 31 total points after taking a league-best 53 total shots. Niven ranked 18th nationally in total shots, 24th in total goals, and 36th in total points. Three of his goals served as game-winners, ranking him 33rd nationally.
Luke Butcher (Neosho County) NJCAA Division 2 Men's Soccer Third Team All-American
The 2025 KJCCC Division 2 Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year, Butcher, helped Neosho County finish the regular season with a 13-0-3 record while allowing just 13 total goals in the regular season. Opponents scored multiple goals on the Panthers just five times in 20 games, with NCCC winning six matches by shutout. Nationally, Neosho County ranked 13th in goals against average (1.00) and 19th in total goals allowed (20).