WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 – Kino Ryosuke, the superstar striker from the Des Moines Menace’s 2018 storybook season, is the Premier Development League’s Most Valuable Player.

When PDL officials made the announcement this morning, Ryosuke joined Tomas Boltnar in a select, two-man club. They’re the only league MVP’s in the Menace’s decorated, 25-year history.

Paving the path to an unbeaten, 13-0-1 record, Ryosuke stockpiled 17 goals and three assists for the PDL’s regular-season champs. His 37 points – one more than the SC United Bantams’ Marek Weber (18 goals, no assists) – led the league.

A native of Hyogo, Japan, Ryosuke is preparing for his junior season at Louisville after two record-breaking years at Marshalltown Community College.

Ryosuke’s goals and points totals are the best single-season showings for a Menace player since Boltnar burst on the scene with back-to-back MVP campaigns in 2002 (59 points on 24 goals, 11 assists) and 2003 (38 points on 14 goals, 10 assists).

Through the years, the Menace’s honor roll has grown to six all-PDL and 13 all-conference recipients. On Tuesday, goalkeeper Carlos Mercado joined Ryosuke as a selection on the All-Central Conference Team; defender Brandon Fricke and midfielder Audi Jepson received honorable mention.

Each of the PDL’s 74 teams received one ballot for the awards, based on regular-season performance.