Rye Boys Varsity Soccer head coach Jared Small has named his MVP for the 2025 season: senior Shun Nagata.
“Shun put together a strong regular season and an even stronger postseason, cementing himself as one of the top center midfielders in Rye program history,” Small told MyRye.com. “Shun was at his best as we progressed through the sectional and state tournaments, proving to be a ball-winner in the midfield and a consistent, concise distributor.”
The senior center midfielder started 23 games for the Garnets in 2025, missing only one all season as his team went 19-2-3 and advanced all the way to the State championship game. He totalled 9 assists in those 23 matches to help lead the Garnets to their first State final since 1979, a run which included a Regional title, Sectional title, and League title. He struck a beautiful assist on Kasen Scarperi’s lone goal in the 2025 sectional championship game, simultaneously defending exquisitely, to help Rye overcome Byram Hills 1-0.
“Playing center back with Shun in the midfield boosted my confidence, as he does all the dirty work along with being a reliable option for me to play out of the back to,” teammate Cole Furber said of Nagata. “His unrelenting work rate paired with his excellent game IQ makes him the perfect midfielder to fuel our offense and also help out the defense.”
Along with his assist in the sectional championship, Nagata’s other best moment from the year came against John Glenn in the Regional finals. The captain’s rugged play in the center of the pitch allowed Rye to dominate positionally. Rye won the game 5-0. Small called his MVP a ” ball-winner in the midfield” and a “consistent, concise distributor,” specifically speaking of Nagata’s work during the postseason run.
“Playing with shun in the midfield is the most fun I’ve ever had playing soccer,” fellow center middie Peter Wilmot said of Nagata. “I have always been able to rely on him as my partner in the midfield and don’t know what I’m going to do without him. “Shun is the perfect teammate because he’s not only a great player, but is such a genuine guy.”
Nagata captained the Garnets in his third varsity season, and his leadership was arguably just as impactful as his on-field play. “Beyond his technical skill, Shun was a tremendous leader whose influence elevated everyone around him,” Assistant Coach Jon Tuttle told MyRye.com. “Our program will truly miss his steady leadership and the example he set every day.”
Overall, the senior wraps up his career with 60 games played and 19 points – one memorable goal and 17 assists. The lone tally came in the 2024 Sectional championship game, as Nagata scored from 35 yards out in a 2-1 upset victory over Byram Hills. Small called the goal the “iconic moment in his three year varsity career.” It is fair to say that while Shun Nagata was an excellent player in all situations, his clutch gene and leadership ability separated him from the pack.
