South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) congratulates Men’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year, alumnus Yuta Shimazu, and alumni Chris Morell, Jason Montes, and Sharay Trotter for their nominations at the 2023 Sports Awards, held on Nov. 9, 2023.
Hosted by the Olympia & Beyond Sports Commission, the Sports Awards celebrates the remarkable talent and achievements of our community's athletes who have contributed to making Thurston County a sports destination.
Yuta Shimazu, a standout on the Clippers Men's Soccer team, took home the award for Men's Collegiate Sports Star of the Year. In his time as a Clipper, Yuta was selected for the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) West Region All-Star Soccer Team for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He not only excelled as an international student-athlete, Yuta was incredibly involved in the campus community, serving as a member of the Student Senate as Senator of Communications. He has spent time playing with the Oly Town Artesians and currently plays for Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash.
SPSCC celebrates two other nominees in the Men's Collegiate Sports Star of the Year category: Chris Morell from the 2022 Men's Soccer team, who currently plays at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, and Jason Montes from the 2022-2023 Men's Basketball team, currently playing for Pacific Lutheran University. SPSCC also celebrates Sharay Trotter from the 2022-2023 Women's Basketball team, who received a nomination for Collegiate Sports Star of the Year in the Women’s category, and is currently playing for Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo.
“All four of these incredible nominees have graduated and successfully transitioned to universities to continue their journeys as student-athletes,” said Vernell Willingham, SPSCC’s Director of Athletics. “We are so proud of their achievements, and we would like to express our gratitude to the Sports Commission for the continued partnership and for organizing this wonderful community event.”