Palten trains for a soccer career in Buenos Aires

James Palten ’04 during his playing days at CC.

James Palten ’04, former captain of the men’s soccer team, has always dreamed of playing the sport professionally and now he is pursuing that goal in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Palten graduated with a degree in Hispanic studies and has been living in the country for six months. He teaches English and trains competitively in a sport that he is passionate about to secure a spot on a professional team at the division one or division two level in Argentina.

While honing his skills in tryouts and training he has met three world cup champions from Argentina’s 1978 and 1986 squads, watched the country’s star player Sergio Aguero’s last season and had the chance to play alongside three members of the United States National Team.

“I really like the Argentinean style of play,” Palten said. “It is about each player being very technical with great ball control and skill, small, quick touches, passes and ball possession, moving the ball quickly up and back, side to side.”

Off the field, Palten is enjoying the city life in Buenos Aires. People are friendly and he doesn’t mind standing out from the crowd with his red hair. This is not his first trip abroad — he took advantage of the College’s study away programs, traveling to Madrid in his junior year. During his senior soccer season, the team visited Sweden.

Palten said those experiences, coupled with his Hispanic studies major, have given him a solid foundation for living in a new country and immersing himself in the culture. “I feel that my CC experience has helped me become more confident in my abilities and decision making,” he said.

Palten’s family has been very supportive of his soccer career and carries a strong legacy at Connecticut College. His father David is a 1976 graduate and his sister Emily is a member of the Class of 2009. His cousin Daniel Yacavone is a member of the Class of 1997.

Palten believes the competitive NESCAC experience as a student-athlete prepared him well for this opportunity. But if things don’t work out professionally, he will have no regrets for investing his time — he is speaking Spanish and seeing a different part of the world.

And above all else, he is having fun.