Masaki Tsuji of the Barton Community College men's soccer team has been named to the 2025 NJCAA Division I All-America third team.
Already recognized as a United Soccer Coaches All-America performer, Tsuji becomes the program's 24th NJCAA All-America honoree in its twenty-five years of existence and marks Head Coach Rafael Simmons' third NJCAA All-America performer in the last three seasons.
Masaki Tsuji – 3rd Team NJCAA All-America: The freshman forward from Tokyo, Japan, compiled an outstanding debut season by finishing with the fourth-most goals in the NJCAA Division I ranks (16) and adding five assists accumulating the seventh-highest point total nationally (37).
A first team All-KJCCC/Region 6 selection, Tsuji established himself as one of the region's most dangerous attacking threats, producing six multi-point matches and registering at least one point in 10 of 17 of his regular season contests while converting both of his penalty attempts.
Tsuji also collected three KJCCC and two NJCAA Player of the Week honors during the regular season before adding a pair of goals in postseason play—capping the District semifinal win over Crowder and scoring again in Barton's national tournament finale against Daytona State—earning All-Tournament honors finishing his campaign among the program's top 15 all-time in single-season goals and points.
The efforts helped lead Barton to a second-place KJCCC finish at 7–2–1 and a runner-up showing in the Region 6/Plains District Championship. Facing eight nationally ranked opponents during the year, the Cougars' late-season twelve-game unbeaten streak climbed to No. 4 in the NJCAA rankings, earning the program's seventh national tournament berth.
Traveling to Daytona Beach, Florida, Barton opened pool play with a 2–1 victory over Blinn College before falling 4–3 to eventual national runner-up and host Daytona State College, finishing the season 17–5–2.