This season has been loaded with great action so far and NJ Advance Media is highlighting the best players and coaches in the state. We’ve picked a frontrunner and contenders in eight categories for the 2025 edition of NJ.com‘s midseason awards. Scroll through the post below to get a look at each category. NOTE: These picks are no indication of our decisions for postseason honors at the end of the season, but instead are a way to honor the players and teams that have thrived through the first half of the year. Attackman of the Year Kinney’s pick: Anthony Drago, West Essex, Sr. He has been closely guarded by opposing defenses since opponents first caught whiff of his blistering shots through the first few games of his freshman season. That is particularly so this spring with Drago working with mainly sophomores and freshmen on the Knights’ offense. And yet still the Duke commit has managed to use his quickness, instincts and, yes, that rocket release to produce 39 goals and 27 assists for 66 points for 6-6 West Essex. He stands No. 30 all-time in New Jersey with 336 points on 217 goals and 119 assists, and he also has scooped up 223 ground balls. This versatile athlete was third team All-State last spring and a second-team All-State DB in football this past fall. Gould’s pick: Thomas McAneney, Shawnee, Jr. McAneney has been an explosive playmaker since the second he stepped on the field for Shawnee. The 6-foot-1 attackman ripped in 70 goals last year and already has 30 scores this spring. When McAneney gets space to make a play, he buries shots. If a defense sends too much attention his way, he has the vision to dish it off. That’s been key for an offense that also features Rutgers commit Tyler Rotkowitz, Duke commit Brett Lundberg, and Iona commit Cale Stielau. Shawnee has one of the most dynamic offenses in New Jersey. McAneney is at the center of that attack. The Renegades are going to be hard to slow down the rest of the year. Others in consideration: Nick Begina, Ramapo, Sr.; Luke Caldwell, Hopewell Valley, Sr.; Mike Colaiacovo, Montville, Sr.; Colin Coyle, Westfield, Sr.; Holden Gillespie, Mountain Lakes, Jr.; Emanuel Jastrzebski, Notre Dame, Jr.; Jack O’Callaghan, Northern Highlnds, Jr.; Chubb Reid, Jefferson, Sr; Gavin Romweber, Delbarton, Sr.; Nolan Sabel, Seton Hall Prep; Brady Scioletti, Don Bosco Prep, Sr.; Dylan Blekicki, Pingry, Sr.; Keegan Borkowski, Kingsway, Sr.; Robbie Finnegan, Washington Township, Jr.,; Luke Grant, Moorestown, Sr; Ryan Hoffman, Cherokee, Jr.; Brady Kirk, Point Pleasant Boro, Sr.; Brandon Kunz, Manasquan, Sr.; Harrison LaMonaca, Mainland, Sr.; Luke Lydon, Rumson-Fair Haven, Jr.,; Tucker Malfa, Shore, Sr.; Tyler Rotkowitz, Shawnee, Jr.; Sebastian Varallo, St. Augustine, Jr.; Max Voigt, Gill St. Bernard’s, Sr. Midfielder of the Year Kinney’s pick: Johnny Devir, Don Bosco Prep, Jr. Devir is a constant threat as a scorer with his explosive speed and ability to unleash on the run, but perhaps twice as valuable for all the little things he contributes with his hustle and acumen on either side of the field. The Yale commit has netted 21 goals and assisted on seven this season for the second-ranked Ironmen, which is far below attackman Brady Scioletti’s 41 goals and 15 assists. But Scioletti would probably be the first to admit that many of his scoring opportunities are created in part by Devir’s activity. Devir has netted three goals in three games this season and deposited a career-high four in three games as a sophomore. He has 124 career points on 84 goals and 40 assists. Gould’s pick: Chase Caulder, Moorestown, Sr. Caulder is a gamer and he’s proven that the last two seasons. The senior is a two-way impact player who puts Moorestown in positions to win games. His scoring was a key part of a comeback win against Shawnee last month. Those two teams could see each other again down the line in the South, Group 3 final. Moorestown has a veteran offense that features Caulder, UMass-Lowell commit Luke Grant, Villanova commit Ryan O’Connor, Bryce Buck, Eric Morano and Aidan Ruff. Moorestown has been one of the best teams in the state so far this season. Others in consideration: Brendan Beatty, Princeton, Sr,; Will Corry, Glen Rock, Sr.; Jack Freeman, Summit, Jr.; Billy Gerne, Westfield, Sr.; Nick Hengerer, St. Joseph (Met.), Sr,; Sean Murtagh, Caldwell, Sr.; TJ Munn, New Providence, Sr.; Clark Rich, Seton Hall Prep, Sr.; Alec Siegel, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, Sr.; Cody Webster, DePaul, Jr.; Cole Hayden, Immaculata, Sr.; Chase Huggard, Eastern, Sr.; John Korczukowski, Warren Hills, Sr.; Declan Kurdyla, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr.; Brett Lundberg, Shawnee, Jr.; Matt Schneider, Manasquan, Sr.; Cale Stielau, Shawnee, Sr.; Luke Tortorici, Barnegat, Sr.; Ryan Wodazak, St. Augustine, Jr. FOGO of the Year Kinney’s pick: Mikey Ramirez, Pope John, Sr. Ramirez’ efficient work at the faceoff X helped keep the Lions fiercely competitive in his first three seasons, either through their ability to hold leads or stage rallies with his knack for gaining possession. This season, Ramirez’ play has Pope John (13-1) in the Top 20 at No. 19. The Boston University commit has won a staggering 233 of his 268 faceoffs this season for an .869 percentage and has gobbled up 241 ground balls. That’s just a fraction of his contributions, though, as he also has generated 17 goals and 29 assists. Ramirez is 724-of-989 (.732) at the X over his career with 584 ground balls, 35 goals and 43 assists. Gould’s pick: Jack Powers, Holmdel, Sr. Powers became the first player in state history to win 1,000 career faceoffs last week in Holmdel’s overtime win over Manalapan. The senior FOGO is a four-year starter who has been consistent throughout his career. Last spring, Powers helped Holmdel make it to the program’s first-ever sectional championship game. The senior has a 69 percent win rate at the faceoff X. Holmdel has dealt with injuries this year. Powers has been a steady force for the Hornets. Others in consideration: Luke Angel, Seton Hall Prep, Jr.; Ander Berman, Millburn, Sr,; Carmine Carusone, Princeton, Jr.; Scott Conte, Don Bosco Prep, Sr.; Luke Gouse, West Morris, Jr.; Jacob Holicki, St. Peter’s Prep, Jr.; Ryan Lazzara, Mendham, Sr,; Matt Maurer, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Sr.; Joseph Santangelo Monroe, Jr.; Ardem Sarajian, Ridgewood, Sr.; Tommy Dipietro, Kingsway, Sr.; Lucas Estevez, Shawnee, Sr.; Michael Hoarle, Wall, Sr.; Dante Lam, Gill St. Bernard’s, So.; Brendan O’Brien, Shore, Sr.; Ryan O’Connor, Moorestown, Sr.; Parker Reese, Washington Township, Jr. Defenseman of the Year Kinney’s pick: Will Pedicano, Delbarton, Sr. Few long poles in N.J. over the last several years have been able to transform themselves from goalie’s best friend to goalie’s top fiend the way Pedicano has. The five-star Duke commit uses his range at 6-3, 195 and excellent footwork to consume opposing shooters, and brilliant stickwork and open-field speed to collect his forced turnovers and turn them into cash for the top-ranked Green Wave. Pedicano has scored nine goals and assisted on six this season and has 15 goals, 12 assists for his career. He was a two-way super power April 24 against Westfield with three goals and three assists in a 16-7 victory. Gould’s pick: Quinn Kelly, Christian Brothers, Sr. Kelly is a special talent. The Harvard commit is a tone-setter for a veteran defense that always gives CBA a chance to win. Bryant commit Luke Krebs, Air Force commit Jackson Gervais and senior Michael Poskay are also defensive playmakers for the Colts. Kelly is not only a shutdown defender, though. The Harvard commit plays out on the wings on faceoffs and also goes to the offensive end and plays with a purpose. He does score in transition, but Kelly is a focal point of CBA’s man-up offense. The senior is arguably the best scoring threat that team has. He has 31 career goals and 32 assists. Kelly has seven goals, 10 assists and 83 ground balls this season. Others in consideration: Luca Avelino, Summit, Sr.; Michael Clifford, Seton Hall Prep, Sr.; David Corb, Don Bosco Prep, Sr.; Milan Desai, Hopewell Valley, Sr.; Dan Klinger, Kinnelon, Sr.; Lochlan Mahoney, Chatham, Jr.; Luke Marra, Ridgewood, Sr.; Drew Pravlik, Westfield, Sr.; Aneel Ward, St. Peter’s Prep, Sr,; Frank Argilagos, Rumson-Fair Haven, Sr.; Noah Blinkoff, Gill St. Bernard’s, Sr.; Paul Canton, Moorestown, Sr.; Marcus Cermele, Holmdel, Jr.; Brock Duerring, Warren Hills, Sr.; Ryan Glenn, Kingsway, Jr.; Jack Gounaris, St. Augustine, Sr.; Parker Harms, Manasquan, Sr.; Connor Henry, Eastern, Sr.; Luke Holmgren, Moorestown, Sr.; Tyler Katt, Pingry, Sr.; Thomas Keating, Eastern, Sr.; Luke Krebs, Christian Brothers, Sr.; JD Steidle, Clearview, Sr.; Jake Vernieri, Voorhees, Sr. Goalie of the Year Kinney’s pick: Robbie Kievit, Summit, Jr. Occasionally in conversations, Kievit’s impact between the pipes will be diminished a bit simply because he backs a zone defense. Not one of those judgements has ever come from an opposing attackman or middie who’ve tried to sneak one by him. Since opening day of his freshman season, Kievit has kept that zone moving like clockwork and used his positioning and lightning reactions to send dozens of those shooters home feeling frustrated. The Fairfield commit has made 80 saves against just 48 goals (.625) this season for fourth-ranked Summit (10-2) and led the Hilltoppers to the Group 2 state championship as a freshman and sophomore, and to the Kirst Cup title last June. Gould’s pick: Kyle Holtby, Immaculata, Sr. The St. Joseph’s commit is a four-year starter who suffered through a few tough years. Immaculata is on a tear right now, though, and has won nine straight games. Holtby has 137 stops this spring and has only allowed 69 goals. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior has a .614 career save percentage and 872 saves. Holtby came into the year with a 23-32 record. He played well every year and kept getting better. It shows now for the 10-2 Spartans. Richmond commit Cole Hayden leads Immaculata’s offense with 37 goals and 25 assists. Others in consideration: Corey Gilford, Westfield, Sr,; Conor Keenan, Seton Hall Prep, Sr.; Cody Larson, Boonton, Sr.; Gov. Livingston, Sr.; Michael Nelson, Gov. Livingston, Sr.; Jamison Reid, Jefferson, Sr.; Michael Urbach, Morristown-Beard, Sr.Brennan Visokey, Glen Rock, Sr.; Colin Anderson, Gill St. Bernard’s, Sr.; Luke Burns, Pingry, Jr.; Wes Canton, Moorestown, So.; Connor Doel, Manalapan, Jr.; Dylan Duerring, Warren Hills, Sr.; Reid Feinstein, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr.; David Hamilton, Ridge, Sr.; Pat Loxley, Manasquan, Sr.; Patrick McGeough, Voorhees, Sr.; Ben Zaitz, St. Augustine, Sr. Sophomore of the Year Kinney’s pick: Owen Crowley, Ramsey, A Crowley occupied this spot last year as midseason Rookie of the Year, and has done nothing to lose his position, having helped the Rams to a 9-3 mark this season with 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points. Interestingly, one of Crowley’s top competitors for this distinction is teammate Pat O’Neill, who also has generated 57 points on 28 goals, 29 assists. Crowley has used his blistering left-handed shot to sink four goals three different times this season, and his better judgement and precise passing skills when he’s looked to shoot and spotted a more open teammate. Gould’s pick: Carson Wiley, Sterling, M Wiley is a three-sport athlete who also swims and plays soccer at Sterling. Lacrosse is his main sport, however. He came in last year as a rookie and put up 42 goals and 52 assists for a team coached by his father, Clint. Wiley has been red hot this season too, with 37 goals and 32 assists. The young midfielder is going to have a great career. Moorestown’s Wes Canton is another star sophomore down in South Jersey. He’s one of the best goalies in the state. Others in consideration: Mason Braen, Ramapo, D; Nick Lagunowich, Chatham, A; Quentin Moore, New Providence, D; Pat O’Neill, Ramsey, A; Jagger Zemachson, Seton Hall Prep, D; Brian Shannon, Northern Burlington, G; Aidan Shaw, Morris Knolls, D; Wayde Smith, Chatham, A; Easton Tedesco, Bergen Catholic, A; Carson Wiley, Sterling, M; Gerard Uzzolino, Toms River East, A; Myles Malone, Washington Township, A; Owen Dougherty, Kingsway, A; Hunter Reynolds, Neptune, M; Kyle Sininsky, Southern, A; Owen Sanford, Immaculata, A; Brayson Thurber, St. Augustine, M; Kieran Schneider, Manasquan, M; EJ Martino, Shawnee, A; Dante Lam, Gill St. Bernard’s, M; Joey Longo, Shore, G; Wes Canton, Moorestown, G; Ryan Caruso, Toms River East, G; John McEntee, Kingsway, G. Rookie of the Year Kinney’s pick: Chris Davies, Summit, A Summit’s stifling zone defense is almost always the first thing that comes to mind when pondering this program’s sustained excellence under head coach Jim Davidson. But that wasn’t foremost on opening day of this season, when this freshman playing in his first varsity game struck for three goals and one assist in a 15-3 win over Princeton. Davies netted three goals a week later in a victory against West Essex and has scored two goals twice, and he’s getting his points against some of the top teams in New Jersey. He has helped the fourth-ranked Hilltoppers to a 10-2 mark with 28 points on 17 goals and 11 assists. Gould’s pick: Brendan Scott, North Hunterdon, A Scott leads all freshmen in points at this point in the season. He has 32 goals and 28 assists for the Lions so far. The rookie put together his best game of the year when he had five goals and two assists in a 12-11 win over Watchung Hills. Scott followed it up with three goals and four assists in an upset win against Hunterdon Central. The freshman attackman is a skilled offensive playmaker that North Hunterdon is going to build around the next few years. Others in consideration: Sebastian Assuncao, St. Joseph (Met.), FOGO; Zuva Chakabra, Newark Academy, FOGO; Brendan Fox, Jefferson, A; Owen Higgins, Mountain Lakes, M; Tyler Kamil, Gov. Livingston, Jr.; Will LoSauro, Ridgewood, A/M; Bennett Mehl, Morristown, A; Jack Rynearson, Delaware Valley, A; Nicholas Mangelli, Christian Brothers, FO; Max Bilodeau, West Deptford, A; Jackson Chaney, Christian Brothers, A; Daniel Varone, Christian Brothers, M; Liam Haggerty, Rumson-Fair Haven, M; Anthony Serini, Holmdel, A; Teddy Whitehouse, Rumson-Fair Haven, A; Alex Finkelstein, Pingry, A; Conor Albert, Pingry, D. Coach of the Year Kinney’s pick: Matthew Foret, Hopewell Valley Seniors Luke Caldwell, Dylan Yasher and Ryan Foret were able to crack the varsity lineup (Caldwell as a regular) as freshmen to help the 2022 Bulldogs finish 15-4 and reach the Mercer County Tournament final. But those three and their current classmates go much further back than ’22 with Hopewell Valley’s head coach, who is Ryan’s dad. Matthew Foret began grooming this talented senior group when Ryan and his buddies began playing organized lacrosse in town as fourth-graders. Now attackmen Caldwell and Ryan Foret, FOGO Yasher, defensemen Milan Desai, Ben DeCore and Michael Vagott and goalie Owen Shehab are composed, polished veterans, and several among the top at their positions in the Colonial Valley Conference and state. Gould’s pick: Kevin Miller, Kingsway Kingsway is the last undefeated team left in New Jersey right now. The Dragons are a perfect 12-0 and led by a senior class that has the program thinking big. Kingsway was 1-14 the year before this year’s seniors joined the lineup at the South Jersey school. Senior Keegan Borkowski just broke Kingsway’s record for all-time points. He’s the leader of this class, but guys like Tommy Dipietro, Dominic Hibbs and Dane Jespersen have also made a big mark. Kingsway is very talented and right now, it is the favorite in South, Group 4. If Kingsway can live up to the hype, this team has the chance to make history and win the program’s first sectional title. Others in consideration: Adam Ahmad, Paramus; Russ Anderson, New Providence; Tony Calandra, St. Joseph (Met.); Joe Della Fera, Pope John; Matt Will, Pascack Valley; David Piescia, Old Tappan; Stephen Harvey, Ramapo; Bryan Rice, Notre Dame; Christian Scarpello, Chatham; Anthony Sicoli, Glen Ridge; John Svec, Seton Hall Prep; William Brasil, Barnegat; David Hobson, Immaculata; Gavin Liepe, Middle Township; Gregg Malfa, Shore; Luc Swedlund, Mainland; Joe Shore, Toms River East. Mike Kinney can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @MikeKinneyHS. Brandon Gould can be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. 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