By Lisa S. Icenogle

CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper College Athletics Department was recently honored during the NERD YMCA of Natrona County’s 11th annual Wall of Honor Celebration.

Paxton Stoneking, who just finished his freshman year at the college as a member of the Casper College Men’s Soccer team, accepted the award on behalf of athletics. According to head soccer coach Ben McArthur Paxton has a unique relationship with the Y.

“Paxton started soccer as a child through the Casper YMCA, which made him a great person to accept this recognition on behalf of the CC athletics department,” McArthur said.

Stoneking, a midfielder for the men’s soccer team, noted that it was at the Y when he was a small child that he put on a pair of soccer cleats for the very first time.

“I was just a little kid, running around with a jersey that nearly reached my ankles,” he said. “Fast forward to today, and the YMCA is still a major part of my life.”

“Watching Paxton mature has been really fun over the last few years. Last year, as a soccer team member, he showed growth and leadership skills. Having the chance to represent Casper College Athletics is a full circle moment for him with the YMCA recognition,” McArthur added.

Four businesses or individuals are recognized each year. In addition to Casper College, the True Companies, Amber and Pete Fazio, and Trudi Holthouse were recognized.

“We are honored to be included in this year’s list of honorees,” president Brandon Kosine said. “This recognition represents the hard work of our student-athletes who engaged with community children and youth in sports activities at the Y. We genuinely value Casper College’s partnership with the Y and look forward to our continued collaboration.”

“The partnership between the YMCA and Casper College Athletics has greatly enhanced our youth sports programming. The athletes are great mentors and role models to our young sports players and help them see what the love for a lifelong sport can look like,” added Stephanie Disburg, CEO of the YMCA of Natrona County.

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Santa Barbara Soccer Club held a ceremony on Friday night for its 19 high school seniors who have signed to play soccer at the collegiate level in the fall.

Of the 19 signees, there are 14 boys and five girls who will be competing all across the country beginning next year.

Boys

Samuel Anum – Amherst College

Anum, a native of Ghana, will head out to Massachusetts to play Division 3 soccer at Amherst College.

Bridge Baltes – UCLA

Batles, who went to high school at Laguna Blanca, will head down south to play as a Bruin for the next four years.

Giovanni Chavez – CSU San Bernardino

Chavez will remain in California for his college career, leaving his hometown of Santa Maria to play at the Division 2 level at CSU San Bernardino.

Adam Ding – St. Mary’s College

After spending his high school years at Ardingly College in England, Ding will return to the United States to play Division 1 soccer at St. Mary’s (CA).

Keean Elliott – Harvard

Elliott, who is finishing up his time at Santa Barbara High, will compete in the Ivy League for Harvard in college.

Giacomo Gabrielli – Princeton

Meanwhile, Gabrielli will also compete in the Ivy League for the Princeton Tigers following his graduation from Dos Pueblos.

Irving Garcia, Diego Gonzalez, Noah Jimenez – SBCC

The trio of Garcia, Gonzalez and Jimenez will all be staying local and playing for the Vaqueros this fall. Garcia attends San Marcos, Gonzalez goes to Dos Pueblos and Jimenez is in the home stretch at Foothill Tech.

Alex Kobayashi – Nazareth

Kobayashi will head across the country for his college years, as he will play Division 3 soccer at Nazareth University in New York.

Isaiah Robledo – Brown

Robledo, a Dos Pueblos student, will join Elliott and Gabrielli in the Ivy League when he heads out to Brown University.

Thiago Valerio, Geb Wilcox – Westmont

Valerio and Wilcox will also remain in the 805 for their college careers, heading out to Montecito to play for Wesmont. Valerio is a Santa Barbara High Don and Wilcox goes to Dos Pueblos.

Eli Meisel – Carleton

Meisel rounded out this year’s male signees and will head out to Minnesota to play at the Division 3 level at Carleton College.

Girls

Kenzie Hessell – University of St. Andrews

Hessell, a San Marcos Royal, will be heading abroad for her college years to study and play soccer at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Wendy Guarneros – Willamette

Guarneros was also a standout at San Marcos and will continue her career in the Pacific Northwest at Willamette University.

Hattie Valdez Lindgren – Lewis & Clark

Valdez Lindgren will join her San Marcos teammate in the Pacific Northwest, as she will be off to Lewis & Clark in Portland this fall.

Giselle Najera – SBCC

Najera will head down from Cabrillo High to Santa Barbara City College to continue her academic and athletic careers.

Giselle Silva – La Sierra

Silva will make her way down south after she graduates from Lompoc High, as she will represent the 805 at La Sierra University in Riverside.