AI-assisted summary The 2025 Enquirer High School Sports Awards will be held on June 18 at Princeton High School.

The event starts at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 4:45 p.m. for photos and activities.

Tickets are free but limited, and attendees should register in advance.

Bengals Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz will be the featured speaker.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in business casual attire.

With the 2025 Enquirer High School Sports Awards, presented by Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, happening Wednesday, June 18, at Princeton High School, here are answers to frequently asked questions about the event.

Q: When does it start and what is the process?

Doors open at 4:45 p.m. Between that time and when the event starts at 6 p.m., families can get “red-carpet” photos at the step-and-repeat spots, visit booths (including Ohio Army National Guard) and high-five the Florence Y’alls’ mascot. There is no food at the event so you will want to have dinner first. There’s no food allowed in Matthews Auditorium.

The event will run until about 9:15 p.m., with awards starting around 6:30 p.m. after the featured speaker. The awards order is spring, winter, fall and premium awards. The Enquirer’s Shelby Dermer and Fox19’s Joe Danneman will share presentation duties. Girls tennis will be announced with boys tennis in spring. Gift bags will be available on the way out.

Seating is first-come, first-served. We will have the athletes, coaches and athletic directors seated together in the front of the auditorium so we can get everyone up to the stage quickly. Winners can give a brief speech after their wins.

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The program will be digital and the event hashtag is #cincyhssa. Follow sportswriters Alex Harrison (@ByAlexHarrison), Jack Schmelzinger (@jackschmelznger), James Weber (@JWeberSports), Brendan Connelly (@BConnellySports) and Kamran Nia (@kamran_nia) as they provide live coverage on X.com.

Click here: To reserve tickets

Click here: Enquirer releases complete nominee list

Q: What is the free ticket process?

A: The venue is now a little more than 80 percent reserved so it’s important to register quickly before the last 20 percent fills up. Please do not book more than you need.

Here is a direct reservation link. At the bottom of that link, you’ll see “athlete” and “athletic director” buttons. Team and coach nominees will use “athlete.” Please be sure to register under the coach/athlete’s name, not the parents’ names. Also, we’d like to ask athletic directors to say who their tickets are for, please.

Every athlete gets three (3) free tickets, one of which is for the athlete. If they are nominated twice (say, in track and cross country), they still have just three (3) tickets to start. Every athletic director of nominated athletes gets three (3) tickets for themselves, coaches, staff or the athlete. Among the spring and premier category nominees in June will be “team” of the year nominees. Those teams will get three (3) tickets initially, one of which will be the coach and two players of his/her choice.

Q: Why do my digital tickets give two different times?

A: Unfortunately, some of this year’s tickets arrived with last year’s information on them. The ticket software company is working to fix the problem. Please consider the information in this article to be accurate.

Q: What’s new this year, Y’all?

A: The Florence Y’alls mascot will be on hand at the event. The baseball team will host an Enquirer High School Sports Awards game on Sunday, July 13. Winners will receive two free tickets with their award and all nominees will have access to discounted tickets ($10) using the QR Code found on a flyer inside the gift bags. Please note: You must buy tickets up to 24 hours in advance to get the deal.

Doors open at noon with the game starting at 1:07 p.m. Recognition will happen around 12:40 p.m. Other activities that day include team autographs, kids running the bases and Bark in the Park (bring furry friends; they don’t need tickets.)

Q: That’s not all: How can attendees enter the Ultimate Cincinnati Sports Experience giveaway?

A: At the show, the Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati.com will provide one winner with tickets to four professional games – FC Cincinnati, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Cyclones. It’s one entry per person, who must be 18 or older to win. Because the winner will be announced that evening, he/she must be present to win. The Enquirer will provide a QR code and a URL at the event to enter.

Q: Who is the speaker this year?

A: Cincinnati Bengals Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz will speak and have a short Q&A with Bengals beat writer Kelsey Conway early in the show.

Q: What is the dress code?

A: Dress up! Wear business casual, with dresses or slacks for ladies and shirt/tie or nice shirt and slacks for the guys. No jeans, t-shirts or sweatshirts (you never know), please.

Q: Do the athlete of the week winners or all-star/all-city teams take part in this event?

A: They do not, unless those same athletes just happen to be among those invited. We will, however, have a table at the event for athlete of the week winners after April 11 to pick up their certificates if they’re in attendance. We will mail the rest to athletic directors after the event.

Q: How did The Enquirer staff determine which players were nominated?

A: Our staff produced those lists based on stats, postseason awards, impact on far-reaching tournament teams, strength of schedule and more. We then sent those lists to key coaches within the sport to get their feedback. We used their input to solidify the lists.

Are they ultimately perfect? With 129 Greater Cincinnati schools, 10s of thousands of high school athletes and coaches and no shortage of opinions, we think we’re as close as we can be.

There are great athletes not on the list, not because we felt they weren’t special, but because we had to keep our numbers smaller this year, with only one show and expanded categories.

The 2024-25 Detroit High School Sports Awards show was Monday night at The Fillmore Detroit. The show was produced with the support of Gift of Life Michigan.

More than 300 athletes from the Detroit area were honored, including the Player of the Year in 29 sports and the area’s overall winners for boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, John Herrington Boys Coach of the Year, Mary Cicerone Girls Coach of the Year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, courage award, lifetime achievement award and USA TODAY Studio IX Trailblazer Award.

NFL Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney was the guest speaker.

Here’s a list of all the award winners:

Boys Athlete of the Year, Presented by Les Stanford Chevrolet — Trey McKenney, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School

McKenney was named the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award winner, given to the state’s top boys basketball player, after a season in which he averaged 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. He scored 1,930 points for his high school career. McKenney will join coach Dusty May’s talented squad at the University of Michigan next season.

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Girls Athlete of the Year, Presented by Les Stanford Chevrolet — Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy High School

Pallozzi is arguably the No. 1 softball pitcher in the country in the 2025 class and an Alabama signee. Pallozzi struck out 22 hitters in a no-hitter in April for the No. 1 Marlins, with a devastating rise ball that reaches speeds in the upper 60s to low 70s mph. This continues the dominance Pallozzi displayed in the first two starts of an epic high school career – a no-hitter in her debut and striking out all 21 batters in her follow-up. She’s also a .400 hitter.

Courage Award, Presented by Michigan Orthopedic Surgeons — Danny Holt, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice High School

Holt is a lacrosse player at Birmingham Brother Rice, and has become a formidable faceoff specialist while managing Type 1 diabetes. “He’s an incredible player, incredible faceoff kid,” coach Ajay Chawla said. “He’s got to be the best in the Midwest as far as I am concerned. He controls a lot of games for us. We don’t stay in games or win games without Danny.”

USA TODAY Studio IX Trailblazer Award — Brenda Gatlin

Gatlin began as a health and dance teacher at Detroit Northeastern in the late 1960s, and she coached girls’ basketball through the transformative passage of Title IX in 1972, fighting for equal gym time and full-court play. She went on to coach at multiple Detroit schools, including Cass Tech, where she became the first woman to lead a Class A boys basketball team to the Public School League championship. Gatlin later became an administrator, serving as department head, vice principal, and principal at various schools, always promoting the value of athletics as a pathway to education. Now the academic dean at Cranbrook Kingswood’s Horizons-Upward Bound program, she continues to mentor students.

Lifetime Achievement Award — Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press

Mick McCabe has been a defining voice in Michigan sports journalism for over five decades. McCabe spent 55 years at the Detroit Free Press, where his dedication to high school sports earned him induction into both the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame — a rare honor shared by only a handful of writers. McCabe’s influence stretches across the state, from the Upper Peninsula to the Ohio border. His mission has always been clear: tell stories for the kids and their scrapbooks. A relentless advocate for young athletes, he never shied away from challenging those who put their interests above the students. His pioneering coverage of girls’ sports in the 1970s helped elevate female athletes, and his respected all-state teams focused on performance over hype. Beyond prep sports, McCabe covered Michigan football, the Olympics, and countless collegiate events, but his passion remained with high school athletics. The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan now honors top players with the Mick McCabe Miss Basketball Award, cementing his legacy. More than a sportswriter, McCabe is a storyteller whose work continues to shape Michigan sports culture.

John Herrington Boys Coach of the Year — Josh Hickey, Rochester Adams High School

Hickey joined a short list of soccer coaches in state history to lead both boys and girls soccer programs to state championships, doing so in the same year. The boys team won the Division 1 title in November with a 2-0 win over Byron Center.

Mary Cicerone Girls Coach of the Year — Sarah Lindstrom, Northville High School

Lindstrom’s Northville volleyball squad broke through with the school’s first state title after finishing runner-up in 2022 and losing in the semis in 2023. The Mustangs knocked off Rockford in a thrilling four-setter in Division 1, finishing the season 41-2. “I feel honored to be a part of what I think was one of the best state championships I’ve seen in a while,” Lindstrom said afterward. “I think these girls are putting our sport on the map and really showing how exciting and fun women’s volleyball can be, not just for us but for the girls who are going to continue on after these guys.”

Boys Team of the Year — Detroit Cass Technical High School football

The Technicians football team went 12-2 en route to the Division 1 state championship, their first since 2016. They defeated Hudsonville, 42-20, at a raucous Ford Field for the crown and celebrated with a parade down Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. They also defeated rival King, 30-14, for the Public School League title before their state playoff run.

Girls Team of the Year — Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming & diving

Ann Arbor Pioneer won its fifth consecutive state title in Division 1. The heavy favorites dominated the meet despite not having an individual event winner, instead showcasing supreme depth and winning the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. The Pioneer earned 386 points, well ahead of runner-up Jenison. It’s the second-longest title streak in program history behind the 2000-08 teams that won nine consecutive state finals.

Boys basketball, Presented by Gift of Life Michigan — Trey McKenney, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School

McKenney earned the 2025 Mr. Basketball award after leading St. Mary’s as a high-volume scorer and rebounder. He is signed to play at Michigan next season.

Girls basketball, Presented by Gift of Life Michigan — Sydney Savoury, Belleville High School

Savoury established herself as one of the best players in the state, leading Belleville to the Division 1 state title as a sophomore. She averaged 27 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers, making her one of the top recruits nationally in the 2027 class.

Boys bowling — Lyman Derrick III, Wayne Memorial High School

In the state finals, Lyman rolled past the defending state champion to capture the Division 1 singles title. Lyman rolled a 490 series – his best of the season — and eclipsed 200 pins in 11 of his 14 games on state championship day. Lyman had a high game of 278 this season, averaging 193.

Girls bowling — Madeline Gazzarari, Novi High School

Maddie captured the Division 1 state singles title, rolling five 200 games throughout her eight-game run through the bracket, culminating with a dominant 430-385 victory in the final round. Maddie finishes her career as a two-time all-stater, a three-time all-conference bowler and a 4.0 student.

Gymnastics — Leah Hodge, North Farmington High School

Hodge repeated as Division 1 individual all-around champion at the state meet, winning this year with a final score of 38.325. She won the bars (9.6500) and was second in the vault (9.6750) at the state meet. Hodge also was a regional champion, finishing with a total of 38.075.

Hockey — Nolan Kaminski, Salem High School

Named Mr. Hockey and first team All-State, Kaminski scored 37 goals and had 33 assists across 25 regular-season games and 4 playoff games. He has offers from the North American Hockey League, but college plans are undecided.

Boys skiing — Broden Janczarek, Lake Orion High School

An all-state skier for all four of his high school years, Janczarek finished by placing second in the giant slalom at the Division 1 state meet. At the SEMSL meet, he won the slalom competition and finished second in the giant slalom. He also swept the giant slalom and slalom events at his regional meet.

Girls skiing — Maren Studt, Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Studt was a consistent winner all season, and capped off the year by sweeping the giant slalom and slalom titles at the Division 2 state meet. Studt also swept both titles at the SEMSL meet, which brings together teams from all four area mountains.

Boys swimming & diving — Evan Tack, Detroit U-D Jesuit High School and Academy

Tack had a day for the ages at the Division 2 state finals. He started off by playing a role on the Cubs’ runner-up medley relay team, before returning minutes later to win the 200 individual medley with a meet-record time. Tack was later runner-up in the 100 butterfly, and concluded his day by leading off U-D’s champion 400 freestyle relay, which set a meet record. Tack has signed with Boston College.

Boys wrestling — Connor Bercume, Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School

The Harvard-bound wrestler closed his high school career with a third individual state title at Ford Field, a 10-2 major decision in the final, and three team state championships as well. He had a 169-18 career record while maintaining a 4.25 GPA.

Girls wrestling — Maggie Buurma, Fowlerville High School

Buurma’s win at the state finals gave her the outright claim as the first female wrestler to win four state championships under the MHSAA format. She went 38-3 for this season and finished 105-11 for her career. Buurma added the 2025 title to her previous championships won at 115 pounds as a freshman, 125 as a sophomore and 135 as a junior.

Baseball — Uli Fernsler Novi High School

Fernsler performed as one of the best pitchers in the state to finish off a four-year career at Novi that featured pitching in a Division 1 state championship win in 2023. Fernsler had a 0.32 ERA and 89 strikeouts across 42 2/3 innings, also earning the annual Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year award for 2024-25. Fernsler is committed to play baseball at Texas Christian University.

Boys golf — Dominik Dostal, Bloomfield Hills

Dostal has consistently performed as one of the top players in the state for Bloomfield Hills, who is vying for the Division 1 state championship as a team. Dostal shot a tournament-low 65 in the regional tournament at Twin Lakes Golf Club. Dostal is committed to play golf at Saginaw Valley State.

Girls lacrosse — Mary Pavlou, Detroit Country Day

Pavlou has helped lead Country Day to the state championship game each of her four years in high school, including as the team’s top goal scorer as a senior. On top of serving as Country Day’s top goal-scoring threat, Pavlou took faceoffs and dictated the pace of play from the midfield. Pavlou is committed to Johns Hopkins

Boys lacrosse — Lachlan Moffatt, Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School

Moffatt became the all-time leading goal scorer for Catholic Central lacrosse during a prolific senior season. Moffatt scored the game-winning goal for in the Catholic League championship and led the Shamrocks to the state championship to try to finish on top of Division 1 for the second consecutive year. Moffatt is committed to Villanova lacrosse.

Girls soccer — Ava Lutke, Hudsonville Unity Christian

Lutke led the Crusaders to a 20-0-2 record, clinching the No. 1 seed int he Division 2 rankings to go along with 28 goals and 27 assists. She was selected to the OK Black All-Conference and All-District teams and will attend Michigan State in the fall.

Softball — Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy High School

Alabama signee Pallozzi is the top softball pitcher in the 2025 class, renowned for her dominant rise ball, which reaches speeds in the upper 60s to low 70s mph. In April, she struck out 22 batters in a no-hitter for the No. 1 Marlins, adding to her remarkable high school career. She debuted with a no-hitter and followed with a flawless 21-strikeout performance. Beyond her pitching prowess, Pallozzi excels as a hitter, maintaining a .400 batting average. Her elite skills make her a rising star as she heads to Alabama.

Girls tennis — Nicole Fu, Rochester Adams High School

Fu broke through during the 2025 season to win the No. 1 singles individual state championship as a senior. Fu reached the state championship and lost during her first three years of high school, but finished her final high school year on top after beating Utica Eisenhower’s Gabby Sadowski 7-5, 6-2. Fu avenged a loss to Sadowski in the 2024 state championship. Fu will play college tennis for the U.S. Naval Academy.

Boys track and field — Will Jaiden Smith, Belleville High School

Smith came into the 2025 season determined to finish with a state championship and state record after coming up short as a junior. He won the 110 hurdles and reset the state record in the state championship race. Smith also won the 300 hurdles and was on the winning 4×100 relay team for Belleville, who won the team state championship. Smith will attend the University of South Florida to run track.

Girls track and field — Carrie VanNoy, Oak Park High School

VanNoy won individual state titles this year during the 2025 Division 1 Championship tournament for her performances in the 100 and 300 hurdle events. She also participated in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays for Oak Park and helped the school win its third-consecutive state championship.

Boys cross country — Ethan Powell, Northville High School

Powell has been an All-State runner for the past three seasons – the only boy to accomplish that at the Division 1 level. And it’s not an accident that his Northville team has been state champions throughout that three-year span. Powell has run his best races in the biggest meets. Last fall, Powell won seven of his 13 races, his PR of 15:18.1 ranks second on Northville’s all-time 5-kilometer record board, and he is the school’s record-holder on the track in the 3200 meters.

Girls cross country — Lucy Cook, Rochester High School

Cook is a four-time all-stater who placed among the top six in the Division 1 meet all four years. Perhaps more impressively, she is a four-time Oakland County individual champion, covering the course in under 19 minutes each time out. She is a four-time Oakland Activites Association White Division meet winner, a four-time champ at the Hanson’s Invitational and a three-time MHSAA regional champion. She will take her running talent to Michigan State University this fall.

Football, defense — Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Technical High School

Graham returned to Cass Tech for his senior season after playing at IMG Academy in Florida as a junior and helped lead the Technicians to the state title. Graham split duties as the top option on offense with Sadler and played all over the secondary. He moved from cornerback to safety midseason, sparking a strong finish to the year for the defense. Graham originally committed to Colorado but flipped and signed with USC on signing day.

Football, offense — Bryce Underwood, Belleville High School

Underwood, the top-rated recruit in the country, had another strong season in his final year at Belleville with a 30-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, accounting for almost 3,000 yards between rushing and passing. However, he could not lead the Tigers back to Ford Field for a fourth straight Division 1 state championship appearance. Underwood originally committed to LSU but flipped in late November and made it official Dec. 4 by signing with Michigan.

Girls golf — Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills

Melendez placed third in the Div. 4 state championship, after winning it three consecutive years prior. She made the All-State Super Team of top players in Michigan, regardless of class, all four years of high school. She was medalist eight times as a senior, including regional titles all four years. She also plays varsity soccer, and will attend Howard University.

Boys soccer — Alex Rosin, Rochester Adams High School

The Mr. Soccer Award winner, Rosin helped lead the Highlanders to their second Division 1 state championship in three years, finishing the year with 15 goals and 20 assists playing in arguably the area’s toughest league, the OAA Red. Rosin has signed to play in college for Notre Dame.

Girls swimming & diving — Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield High School

Eichbrecht is already a six-time individual champion at the Division 1 state meet, winning the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle each year. She holds county records in the 200, 500 and butterfly and West Bloomfield pool records in the entire spectrum of freestyle races, ranging from the 500 down to the 50. Considered the state’s top recruit, she has commitment to Big Ten power Indiana.

Boys tennis — Pierce Shaya, Bloomfield Hills

The Blackhawks senior went 23-1 and captured the individual Division 1 state title at No. 1 singles, in the process helping Bloomfield Hills win the team title. Shaya finished his career with four Division 1 state titles. He won the No. 3 singles title as a freshman, was part of a No. 1 doubles team that won the state title as a sophomore and won the state title at No. 2 singles in 2023 before moving up to No. 1 singles this past fall.

Volleyball — Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy High School

Flynn won Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, not long after being named 2024 Miss Volleyball in Michigan. She was the catalyst of the Mercy team that won last year’s MHSAA Division 1 state title, then this season won Districts before bowing out to eventual state champion Northville. Flynn has signed to play volleyball at Nebraska.

Lone Peak forward Sam Sellers, center, celebrates with forward Ellie Johnson, right, and defender Paityn Rohatinsky (16) after the Knights defeated Syracuse 3-0 in a 6A semifinal soccer game held at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Sellers scored the Knights’ third goal late in the second half.

It took 46 years, but South Sevier High is now an All-Sports champ.

South Sevier enjoyed its most successful athletics season in school history during the 2024-25 school year, and was crowned the 2A champs in the 46th annual Deseret News All-Sports Awards.

Four of the other six classifications featured repeat champs — Lone Peak (6A), Ridgeline (4A), Morgan (3A) and Panguitch (1A) — with Panguitch tying the overall record with its 11th-straight 1A crown.

Timpview ended a 15-year drought as it narrowly edged Olympus to claim the 5A title.

The Deseret News All-Sports award denotes the top overall athletic program in each of the six classifications. Schools earn All-Sports points for placing in the top eight at state. Ten points are awarded for first, eight for second, six for third, five for fourth, four for fifth, three for sixth, two for seventh and one for eighth. Points are divided when teams tie.

Schools earn points in football, cross-country, golf, basketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball, track, soccer, tennis, volleyball, softball, lacrosse, competitive cheer and drill. This is the first year the last two sports are calculated into the team total.

While South Sevier and Timpview enjoyed rare wins, for the other schools it was business as usual.

Lone Peak has been crowned 6A champ all seven years since the UHSAA added the sixth classification for the 2017-18 school year. Prior to that, it won two titles in 5A, bringing its active streak to nine straight. No All-Sports champs were named during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 school year.

Ridgeline repeated as 4A champ, winning three of the past four titles, while Morgan won for the seventh-straight time in 3A.

Panguitch’s dominance continues to be better than anyone else. The Bobcats won the 1A All-Sports title for the 11th-straight year this school year, tying the consecutive record of 11 straight set by Brighton from 1980 to 1991.

Desert Hills won 10 straight from 2010-21, but its record-tying attempt was halted two seasons ago by Ridgeline. No award was given during the 2019-20 season because of COVID-19, otherwise Desert Hills’ streak likely would’ve reached 11 — and Panguitch likely would already be at 12.

Every school but nine in the entire state received at least one All-Sports point.

Here’s a look at each classification.

Lone Peak’s Saydie Wagner, left, get hugs after winning the individual girls 6A state golf championship at Meadow Brook Golf Course in Taylorsville on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Lone Peak also won the team championship. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Class 6A

Lone Peak set a new All-Sports points record during the 2024-25 school year, racking up 131 points, including points in all but six sports.

Lone Peak’s previous points record of 129.5 was set during the 2022-23 school year.

Corner Canyon finished second in the 6A standings for the second-straight year with 98.5 points, with American Fork in third with 87.5 points.

Davis, Mountain Ridge and Bingham rounded out the top six.

For Lone Peak’s girls, with six state titles (volleyball, cross-country, soccer, basketball, swimming and golf), it finished with 78.5 All-Sports points. Lone Peak’s girls alone outscored every 6A, 5A and 4A school but five.

Lone Peak’s boys scored All-Sports points in 10 of 12 sports, but no state titles. The Knights finished runner-up in football, golf and tennis.

American Fork’s boys were the most dominant in 6A, tallying 63.5 points, including titles in swimming, track, soccer and tennis.

Corner Canyon’s overall runner-up finish was fueled by state titles in football, boys golf and boys lacrosse. The only other school to win multiple 6A titles was Farmington (drill and girls lacrosse).

Eleven different 6A schools won state titles.

Timpview’s Lily Alder and Jane Hedengren compete in the girls 3200-meter run during the 5A high school state track meet at the Clarence F. Robison Outdoor Track and Field in Provo on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Hedengren won and Alder placed second. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Class 5A

Timpview only scored four more All-Sports points this school year than the previous year, but that was barely enough to lead the T-Birds to their first title in 15 years.

Timpview racked up 74.5 points, edging Olympus by a half-point, for its first All-Sports title since the 2008-09 school year.

Timpview won state titles in boys tennis, girls track and girls cross-country.

A year after winning 5A with 101.5 points and a school record six state titles, Olympus dipped a bit in 2024-25 with only three state titles and 74 points to finish 5A runner-up. Bountiful finished third with 68 points.

Wasatch, Brighton and Skyline rounded out the top six in 5A.

For Timpview, in addition to its three state titles, it had two other runner-up finishes and two top-four finishes.

Olympus’ runner-up finish included three state championships (boys basketball, boys swimming and girls soccer).

Bountiful (football, girls volleyball and drill), Skyline (boys golf, girls volleyball and girls swimming), Spanish Fork (boys swimming and baseball) and Woods Cross (girls tennis and girls golf) were the only other 5A schools to win multiple state titles.

A total of 13 different 5A schools won a state title this year, with all 28 schools earning at least one All-Sports point.

Ridgeline Riverhawks players celebrate winning the 4A Girls Basketball State Championship, scoring 65-46 over the Snow Canyon Warriors, at America First Event Center in Cedar City on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Class 4A

Ridgeline High’s sports programs only captured one state title during the 2024-25 school year, but it collected All-Sports points in 18 sports to repeat as 4A state champs.

Ridgeline tallied 95.5 points, to edge runner-up Park City’s 90.5 points.

Orem finished third with 80, with Crimson Cliffs, Desert Hills and Snow Canyon rounding out the top six.

Ridgeline’s lone state title game was in girls basketball, as the Riverhawks three-peated. It finished in the top four in 10 other sports, with runner-up finishes in drill and girls golf.

Ridgeline’s girls teams accounted for 57.5 of the 95.5 team points. Last year, it won with only 81.5 points.

Park City finished second in 4A with 90.5 All-Sports points, highlighted by state championships in girls lacrosse, boys golf, and boys and girls swimming.

Orem (boys track, boys and girls volleyball), Crimson Cliffs (football, baseball, boys soccer, girls golf), Mountain View (boys and girls cross-country) and Bear River (softball, girls lacrosse and girls wrestling) were the other 4A schools to win multiple state championships.

All 26 schools earned at least one All-Sports point.

Scenes from the 3A state football championship between Morgan and Richfield at Eccles Coliseum on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Class 3A

Morgan was the class of 3A once again, racking up a school-record 129 All-Sports points on its way to a seventh-straight 3A title.

The Trojans won six state championships (football, boys basketball, boys track, boys volleyball, girls soccer and competitive cheer) and had five runner-up finishes to finish with 37 more All-Sports points than the year prior. Morgan’s boys accounted for 74.5 points.

Canyon View finished second with 100 points, with Richfield, Grantsville, Judge Memorial and Juab rounding out the top six.

Canyon View tied Morgan with six state championships (boys cross-country, baseball, girls volleyball, girls basketball, drill and girls wrestling).

Eight other 3A schools won at least one state championship, with Judge Memorial winning three (boys lacrosse, boys and girls swimming). Grantsville won two (girls tennis, softball)

The last school to win a 3A All-Sports title other than Morgan was Desert Hills in 2016-17, the last year before it jumped to 4A.

South Sevier players celebrate their win over Kanab during the 2A high school boys baseball championship at Miller Park Complex on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo on Saturday, May 10, 2025. South Sevier claimed victory in the championship by winning the first game 17-8 and finishing the “if necessary” game with a score of 10-1. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Class 2A

South Sevier finished 10th in the 2A All-Sports standings a year ago with 35.5 points.

A year later, the school soared past that total with 92.5 points, a shocking 57-point improvement that simply never happens to claim its first-ever All-Sports title.

South Sevier’s boys went from 20.5 points to 39 points, whereas the girls teams went from 15 points to a whopping 53.5 points. Combined, it was enough to top North Summit, which finished 2A runner-up with 80.5 points.

Last year’s champ Beaver finished third with 74.5 points, with Rowland Hall, Millard and Kanab rounding out the top six.

South Sevier won four state titles (boys golf, baseball, girls basketball and softball) and also had three runner-up finishes during the 2024-25 school year. It scored points in 15 of the 18 sports it participated in. A year ago, the Rams didn’t win a single state championship and only scored points in eight sports.

North Summit (girls cross-country, track, all-girls cheer) and Beaver (football, girls golf, coed cheer) each won three state titles to place in the top three of the All-Sports standings.

Rowland Hall (boys and girls swimming), Millard (boys cross-country, boys wrestling, boys track) and Duchesne (drill and girls wrestling) were the only other schools to capture multiple state titles.

A total of 10 2A schools celebrated at least one state championship.

Panguitch’s boys track team celebrates their victory in the 1A state track and field championship at the Clarence F. Robison Outdoor Track & Field at BYU in Provo on Saturday, May 17, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Class 1A

Death, taxes and Panguitch dominating 1A sports. For the 11th-straight school year, Panguitch was crowned the Deseret News All-Sports champ of 1A as the school racked up 92 points in the 14 sports it participated in.

Rich finished a distant second with 74 points, with Monticello in third with 63 points.

Milford, Valley and Altamont rounded out the top six.

Panguitch won seven state titles — two more than last school year — and also finished top four in two other sports. Two years ago, Panguitch tallied 73.5 points to win the 1A crown, which speaks to how dominant the school was this school year, tallying 92 points.

Panguitch won state titles in boys basketball, baseball, boys and girls track, girls volleyball and girls cross-country.

The last 1A school to win other than Panguitch was St. Joseph back in the 2012-13 school year.

Rich’s runner-up finish was buoyed by state championships in eight-player football, all-girl cheer and girls basketball. Monticello also won two state championships (boys cross-country, girls golf).

No other schools won multiple championships.

NJ Advance Media’s high school sports staff has selected finalists for the final six categories of the High School Game Changers Sports Awards. These categories, for overall Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year and Breakthrough Athlete of the Year – for both male and female athletes – are the only categories where finalists and winners will be selected by the high school sports staff.

Registration is open for the event here.

For the other 14 categories, nominations came in from the public, finalists were selected by the NJ.com staff and readers voted to select the winners in each of those categories.

Winners will be announced at the live event on Tuesday, June 24. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and the show starts promptly at 6:15 p.m. at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. The event is free to attend and open to finalists, as well as their coaches, teachers, parents, friends and family members.

For our staff, selecting sport-specific postseason honorees is difficult in any season, but this process – selecting finalists across all sports for an extremely small number of awards – was incredibly challenging. We know some tremendous athletes with remarkable character and determination couldn’t make this list.

Here are the finalists, listed alphabetically by school:

Note: Stats and team records shown below for spring sports are correct as of end of play on May 25.

OVERALL MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Benjamin Shue, Bergen Catholic – Football, Wrestling, Track and field: An All-Non-Public and four-time state champion interior offensive lineman, a three-time state-fourth-place heavyweight wrestler, and one of the best discus and shot put throwers in N.J. history, Shue is arguably the best male three-sport athlete in the state. The Carlstadt native and Texas commit is best in the throwing circle in the spring and holds personal records of 205-4 in the discus and 69-2 in the shot put. The discus mark is No. 4 in state history and the shot put throw ranks No. 3 all-time.

Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic competes in the shot put during the 2024 NJSIAA Track & Field Meet of Champions at Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken, NJ on 6/12/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Nate Bienstock, Hillsborough – Ice hockey: A First Team, All-State honoree and the 2025 Player of the Year, Bienstock had a year to remember. He committed to play at Quinnipiac University, one of the more prestigious college hockey programs in the country, and put together one of the best seasons by a defenseman in years. Bienstock had one of the most dynamic skillsets, which helped him score 48 goals and add 47 assists. He drew praise across the board, including from coaches of some of the top Non-Public schools in the state. Bienstock was also drafted in the 2024 USHL Phase I draft and could make a jump to the top junior hockey league in the country next season.

Nathan Bienstock (19) of Hillsborough skates with the puck during the boys ice hockey game between Hillsborough and Ridge at ProSkate Ice Arena in Monmouth Junction, NJ on 1/13/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Kenny Barnicle, Mendham – Swimming: One of the top swimmers in the country, Barnicle is a two-time NJ.com Boys Swimmer of the Year. The Cal-Berkeley commit is a five-time Meet of Champions gold medalist, doing so across four different individual events. He led Mendham to the program’s first sectional title in history with an appearance in the Group C state finals. He placed first in all 37 dual-meet races this past winter, proving that he is faster than anyone in the state, in any event.

Kenneth Barnicle of Mendham swims in the boys 100 yard butterfly during the NJSIAA Meet of Champions at Gloucester County Institute of Technology, in Sewell, NJ on Sunday, March 3, 2024.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

Lotzeir Brooks, Millville – Football: A game-changer in the truest sense of the word, Lotzier Brooks got better and better every season. The 2024 Football Player of the Year, this Millville standout was the top priority for every opponent yet made mind-boggling plays seemingly every week. Brooks set state records for career receiving yards (4,615) and touchdown catches (67), closing out a storied career with 56 catches for 1,260 yards and 16 TDs this past fall. Brooks enrolled at the University of Alabama in January and is expected to see playing time as a true freshman for one of the nation’s premier college football programs.

Lotzeir Brooks (1) of Millville during the Thanksgiving Day football game between Vineland and Millville at Gittone Stadium in Vineland, NJ on 11/28/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Charlie Wingfield, Ramapo – Baseball, Basketball, Football: Charlie Wingfield is one of, if not the most, decorated male athlete in recent public school memory. A two-time Group 3 state champion in basketball, Wingfield won two sectional titles in football and a sectional championship in baseball. Headed to Wake Forest as a tight end following a senior campaign that saw him land on the All-State First Team, Wingfield reached two rare milestones on the baseball field, too, eclipsing 200 career strikeouts and 100 career hits.

Charlie Wingfield of RamapoTom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

Johnny Jackson, Ridgewood – Basketball: Jackson was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma last summer. He inspired the state this winter, playing every game for Ridgewood despite undergoing chemotherapy during the season. The 5-foot-11 senior scored 30 points in a season-opening win over St. Joseph (Mont.) just three days after the 11th of 12 chemo treatments. That effort was a sign of things to come for the NJ.com Player of the Year, who averaged 24.1 points per game. He led Ridgewood to its third North 1, Group 4 championship in the last four years. Jackson also broke the school record for points and joined an elite list when he scored his 2,000th career point. In February, Jackson received his biggest win of the season, finding out that he was cancer free.

Johnny Jackson (4) of Ridgewood waits for his name to be called during introductions before the start of the NJSIAA, North 1, Group 4 Sectional Final boys basketball game against East Orange at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, NJ on Saturday, March 8, 2025,Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

OVERALL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Ella Poalillo, High Point – Wrestling: Poalillo was a state champion as a freshman, but she separated herself from the rest of N.J. during the 2024-25 campaign. The rising junior was 35-0 with 27 of the wins coming by pin. Poalillo didn’t get taken down a single time last winter and only surrendered a point when she intentionally cut her opponents loose. As part of her dominant season, she won her first Girls Beast of the East title and pinned DePaul two-time state champion Olivia Georges and 2024 state champion Thea Rowland of Middletown South. Poalillo finished the year as USA Wrestling’s No. 24 pound-for-pound wrestler nationally and No. 1 wrestler at 155 pounds.

Ella Poalillo of High Point wins the 152 pound final during the 2025 NJSIAA Girls Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ on 3/8/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Mia Pauldo, Morris Catholic – Basketball: A two-time New Jersey Player of the Year, Pauldo is coming off a senior season where she helped Morris Catholic to a 28-0 record and the state’s top ranking for the second consecutive season. The University of Tennessee signee averaged 18.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game as Morris Catholic finished as one of the top teams in the country. Pauldo also eclipsed the 2,000-point career mark this past winter and helped the Crusaders win their fourth consecutive Morris County Tournament title to go along with a third straight state championship.

Mia Pauldo (3) of Morris Catholic drives past Anzanah Campbell (15) of Paul VI in the fourth quarter during the 2025 NJSIAA Non-Public A girls basketball final between Morris Catholic and Paul VI at Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ on 3/14/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Emma McCarthy, Paul VI – Soccer, lacrosse: McCarthy is a 5-star prospect who is committed to play lacrosse at the University of North Carolina, which just won a national championship. She has more than 300 career points at Paul VI and is one of the best scorers in New Jersey. This past fall, McCarthy also left her mark on the soccer program in historic fashion. She was 1st Team All-State after scoring the game-winner in overtime to secure Paul VI’s first-ever Non-Public A state championship. McCarthy is one of the most dominant two-sport athletes in the state.

Emma McCarthy (2) of Paul VI moves the ball during a girls lacrosse game against Camden Catholic at Paul VI High School in Haddon Township, Thursday, April 11, 2024.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media

Addison Halpern, Rutgers Prep – Soccer: Halpern finished second all-time in state history with 180 career goals and was the first-ever back-to-back NJ.com Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The University of Virginia commit was away for the first month of the season playing for the U.S. U-17 National Team in the World Cup. Halpern came back and made up for lost time, scoring 44 goals and sending out 14 assists in just 15 games. Her team finished with a perfect 23-0 record and won a state title. Halpern’s ability to score in big games helped Rutgers Prep win three state championships in the last four seasons. The Argonauts also won a pair of Somerset County titles with Halpern leading the way. Rutgers Prep had never won a county championship before last season.

Addison Halpern (8) of Rutgers Prep moves the ball past Emma Hyland (11) of Gill St. Bernard’s during the girls soccer Prep B Tournament Final at Rutgers Preparatory School in Franklin Township, NJ on Saturday, November 2, 2024.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

Gabriella Shadek, Immaculate Heart – Ice hockey, softball: The IHA senior is one of the most feared hitters in all of New Jersey softball. A three-time All-State honoree and two-time first teamer, Shadek is closing in on state history as she seeks to become one of the best home run hitters in New Jersey history with 46 and counting. She’s also drawn 32 walks this year and 102 for her career as most pitchers would rather put her on base than have her clear the bases. A Duke commit, she has 145 career hits, 133 RBI, 46 career homers and is a career .509 hitter. Shadek also scored 10 goals for IHA’s girls hockey team that made the state final for the second year in a row and she was second on the team in goals. She was an Honorable Mention, All-State honoree by season’s end.

Immaculate Heart hitter Gabriella Shadek disagrees with the umpire’s strike call as she bats against Ramsey in the Bergen County high school softball tournament final on Saturday in Wood-Ridge. IHA claimed their 4th straight county title with an 8-1 win over the Rams. 05/24/2025Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance

Paige Sheppard, Union Catholic – Cross-country, track and field: The sophomore Hillsborough native was NJ.com’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year and her dominance translated to the indoor and outdoor seasons seamlessly. In her first 1,600 race over the winter, Sheppard broke the state record with a 4:44.77. Outdoors, she has thrown down even faster times, including a personal record 4:43.61 mile at April’s Arcadia Invitational. It’s the second-fastest mile time in state history. Sheppard ran a personal record 2:03.84 in the 800, which ranks No. 1 in the state this spring, No. 3 in the country, No. 4 all-time in N.J., and as a sophomore state record. Sheppard anchored Union Catholic’s Penn Relays-winning distance medley relay with a 4:41.65 split in the last 1,600. She also split 55.19 on the anchor leg of the team’s 4×400 to get the Vikings into the Championship of America race at Franklin Field.

Paige Sheppard of Union Catholic reacts as she crosses the finish line to win the High School Girls’ Distance Medley Championship of America at the Penn Relays, Friday, April 25, 2025 in Philadelphia. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR

Bergen Catholic football: The Crusaders won their fourth state title in a row via a 25-7 win over Don Bosco Prep to cap an 11-1 season. Four-consecutive Non-Public A championships is the most the state has seen since Greg Total’s national-title contending Don Bosco Prep teams rattled off six crowns in a row from 2006-11 in Non-Public, Group 4. Bergen Catholic’s lone loss came to national powerhouse IMG Academy (FL) in the first game of the season. Head coach Vito Campanile and company have amassed a record of 45-3 over the past four years with only one loss coming in-state.

Quincy Porter (0) of Bergen Catholic takes a screen pass and races down field for a touchdown during the Battle at the Beach football game between Bergen Catholic and IMG at Ocean City High School in Ocean City, NJ on 8/29/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Christian Brothers cross-country: Christian Brothers capped off a dominant season with their fourth consecutive Non-Public A and Meet of Champions titles. The squad held the No. 2 national ranking at one point and took down the state record course average with a 15:01 at Ocean County Park, securing their 17th straight Shore Conference title as well. In the postseason, they broke the Holmdel Park course record twice, first with a 15:50 in the Non-Public A title race and then with a 15:42 at the Meet of Champions. They also won their third consecutive Nike Northeast Regional title and finished fifth at the Nike Cross Nationals. CBA was spearheaded by senior and North Carolina commit Joe Barrett, who earned his third Non-Public A state title, repeated as the Meet of Champions winner, and was named Runner of the Year for the second year in a row. In addition to all their accomplishments, The Colts celebrated their 400th consecutive dual meet victory, the fifth-longest streak in U.S. high school sports history.

Christian Brothers Academy senior Joe Barrett (second from right) leads the pack of 5 Colts runners as they win the CBA’s 400th consecutive cross country dual meet against Point Pleasant Boro and Southern, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Lincroft, N.J. CBA beat Point Pleasant Boro and Southern Regional to extend the historic streak.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

St. Benedict’s soccer: The Gray Bees rejoined the NJSIAA this year for the first time since leaving in 1990 and immediately made their impact felt. They finished the year 20-0 and won the Non-Public A state title, which helped them secure the No. 1 ranking in both New Jersey and nationally by the United Soccer Coaches. They led New Jersey in goals scored (100), goals against (7), goal differential (+93), goals per game (5) and goals against per game (.35). They also had three first team All-State players, the most of any team in the state.

Bruno Nogareda (5) of St. Benedict’s celebrates after winning the NJSIAA Non-Public A boys soccer final between No. 1 St. Benedict’s and No. 6 Pingry at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ on Thursday, November 21, 2024.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media

St. Joseph (Met.) bowling: For the third year in a row, St. Joseph roared to a state championship on the lanes and was named our Boys Bowling Team of the Year. St. Joseph showed its resilience after losing in the finals of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament. The Falcons soared to five straight wins on the lanes to the NJSIAA Group 3 championship, which included rolling past an undefeated Jackson Memorial squad in two games during the Central Jersey, Group 3 final. Junior William Cunningham tallied a state-leading 239 average on the lanes and placed second for a second straight time at the state individual tournament. Junior Kai Strothers (235 average) and sophomores Josh Lamoreaux (218 average) and Joey Lamoreaux (204 average) all had strong seasons on the lanes to help St Joseph roar to a mark of 20-1. In the last three seasons, St. Joseph is 65-1 in dual matches.

St. Joseph (Met.) Group 2 Champion. Boys and Girls NJSIAA bowling group championships at Bowlero, in North Brunswick, NJ on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

St. Joseph (Mont.) wrestling: The Green Knights faced early adversity with season-ending injuries to 2024 state champion Zach Ballante and three-time state qualifier Jimmy Sloan before concluding the year on a high note both as a team and individually. As the No. 6 seed in the Non-Public A Tournament, SJR went on a tear to win its second state championship in the last three years with a 30-26 win over Delbarton. Just before the postseason, Delbarton defeated national prep school powerhouse Blair, so SJR can technically say it was No. 1 in the entire state. In Atlantic City, the Green Knights saw three wrestlers win titles in freshman JoJo Burke (106), senior Ryan Burton (175) and senior Anthony Harris (215). Three more grapplers made the finals and nine in total collected state medals.

St. Joseph (Mont.) celebrates after defeating Delbarton 30-26 to win the NJSIAA Non-Public A Championship at Jersey Mikes Arena in Piscataway, NJ on Sunday, February 16, 2025.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

Westfield swimming: With 29 state championship trophies, the Westfield boys team has the most titles in New Jersey swimming history. Of those 29 championship teams, the 2024-25 Westfield squad was the best. They held onto the No. 1 spot for three straight seasons in the NJ.com Top 20, winning 45 consecutive dual meets over this span. The senior class graduates with three state championships, four Union County titles, and four sectional titles. They racked up more power points than any other team in every round this past postseason. The 2024-25 Westfield squad has entered the conversation as the greatest swim team in N.J. history, winning two gold medals at the Meet of Champions in separate relay races, too.

Westfield celebrates the victory after the NJSIAA State Finals Boys Group A Swimming, Westfield vs. Hillsborough in New Brunswick, NJ on Sunday, February 23, 2025Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR

Morris Catholic basketball: Morris Catholic established itself as one of the top teams in the country once again this season and had a history-making campaign. The Crusaders became the first team in New Jersey to finish a full season undefeated since 2018-19, posting a 28-0 record, which was capped off with the Non-Public A title. Morris Catholic won its fourth straight Morris County Tournament championship and its third straight state title. Morris Catholic ended up finishing with wins over nine teams that ended the season ranked in the state’s final top 20 and were crowned national champions by MaxPreps and finished in the top 12 in the nation by ESPN.

Mia Pauldo (3) of Morris Catholic shows off the trophy in celebration after winning the 2025 NJSIAA Non-Public A girls basketball final between Morris Catholic and Paul VI at Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ on 3/14/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Pingry tennis: Pingry notched its third undefeated season in a row this past fall, going 17-0. Pingry returned all seven starters from 2023, but still found a way to insert two freshmen into the lineup. The Big Blue added plenty of hardware to their ever-growing trophy case. Pingry won its fourth consecutive Non-Public championship, their sixth-straight Somerset County Tournament and their fifth Prep A Tournament in a row. Pingry won 16 of their 17 dual matches by 5-0 scores, and the one it didn’t, was a 4-1 victory without its full lineup against another top-ranked team in Ridge. The senior class of Anika Paul, Leila Souayah, Isabelle Chen, Ava Grunstra and Greta Reinhardt went 59-1 in dual matches in their careers.

Pingry girls tennis wins 2024 Non-Public state title.Pingry athletics

Princeton volleyball: Princeton was not afraid to play the top teams in the state. Racking up 11 ranked wins this past fall, the Tigers landed at No. 1 in nine of the 12 NJ.com Top 20 polls for the 2024 season, including the final five. They finished 28-1 in the standings en route to their second consecutive Group 3 state title. Princeton had four players named to the All-State teams, a list that only includes 24 players statewide, and had five total named to the All-Group 3 team.

Princeton celebrates after defeating Ramapo 2-0 to win the girls volleyball NJSIAA Group 3 Final at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ on Saturday, November 16, 2024.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

Rutgers Prep soccer: Rutgers Prep was perfect in the fall and capped off a 23-0 season with a dominant 3-0 win over DePaul. The Argonauts were ranked No. 1 in the country in national polls and went wire to wire as the No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20. Over the last two seasons, Rutgers Prep has a 42-1-1 record. This program has won three straight Non-Public B titles and back-to-back Somerset County championships. Rutgers Prep is the premier girls soccer team in New Jersey. This year’s squad was the best in program history.

Alexa Lee (23) of Rutgers Prep celebrates with her team after scoring a goal against DePaul during the girls soccer NJSIAA Non-Public B Final at Franklin High school in Somerset, NJ on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

Union Catholic track and field: It’s the 10-year anniversary of the start of the Vikings’ run as N.J. girls track and field’s most dominant program. UC has won each of the last 10 indoor Non-Public A championships (2015-20, 2022-25) and the last nine outdoor Non-Public A titles (2015-19, 2021-24). This factory of talent has two of the best distance runners in the country in sophomores Paige Sheppard and Sophia Thompson, who helped team up for the program’s Penn Relays distance medley relay title and third-straight wheel-winning year at Franklin Field. Georgia-bound senior Taylor Cox is one of N.J.’s best short-distance hurdlers of all-time and headlines a long list of speedsters for the Vikings, who also have Duke commit Taylor Aska and sophomore Sydney Chadwick among others throwing down sizzling times whenever they take the track.

Union Catholic’s Jimmiea King, Taylor Aska, Paige Sheppard and Sophia Thompson hold up the Penn Relays Carnival championship wheel after they won the High School Girls’ Distance Medley Championship of America, Friday, April 25, 2025 in Philadelphia.. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

West Essex field hockey: The Knights were the No. 1-ranked team in New Jersey for 10 of 12 weeks during the 2025 season and went 19-1 against in-state opponents. They closed the year with five consecutive shutouts to win a sixth Group 2 state title in a row. All this team does is churn out win after win and restocks talent better than any other pubic program in New Jersey. After a 22-3 run, West Essex finished the season ranked fifth in the country, according to Max Field Hockey. Four players earned All-State honors as well.

West Essex celebrates after winning the NJSIAA Group 2 state field hockey final between West Essex and Point Pleasant Boro at Bordentown Regional High School in Bordentown, NJ on 11/16/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

BOYS BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Luke Tortorici, Barnegat – Lacrosse: Tortorici missed most of last season after finding out he had a softball-size pseudocyst in his abdomen that was caused by pancreatitis. Doctors inserted metal stents to drain that fluid-filled sac when the midfielder was rushed to the hospital after taking a hit during a game in 2024. Tortorici returned this year and put together the best season of his career. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound York College commit set program records for points, goals, assists and ground balls. The team set a single-season record for wins and won its first-ever divisional championship in the Shore Conference.

Luke Tortorici (22) of Barnegat after the boys lacrosse game against Ocean Township at Ocean Township High School in Oakhurst, NJ on Monday. April 28, 2025John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

NaJai Hines, Plainfield – Basketball: The 6-10, 255-pound Hines had been a major college football recruit as a tight end for South Garner High in North Carolina until a series of concussions shifted his focus for senior year to basketball. Specifically to basketball at Plainfield, where his mom and numerous other relatives had attended. The brawny but nimble center made his debut for the Cardinals Jan. 1 against Paterson Eastside, and his impact was profound with 17 points and five blocks in a 59-41 victory. Hines played 26 games and generated double-doubles for points and rebounds in every one on his way to averages of 18.8 points, 16.9 rebounds and also 3.5 blocks to earn All-State accolades. In his final game, Hines scored 18 points, took down 16 rebounds and blocked four shots to send Plainfield to its first state championship since 2012 with a 65-48 win over Montgomery in the Group 4 championship.

NaJai Hines (25) of Plainfield powers through contact after the rebound during the North Jersey 2, Group 4 boys basketball final between Colonia and Elizabeth at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, NJ on Saturday, March 8, 2025Nhemie Theodore | For NJ Advance Media

Blase Mele, Princeton – Wrestling: Mele made history in Boardwalk Hall when he became the first boys wrestling state champion in the history of Princeton High School. What makes Mele’s run so improbable is that he has never even won a district title and took a respectable sixth in the state last year. But he burst on the scene in a major way down in Atlantic City, when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the state tournament, beating RFH’s reigning state champ Sonny Amato, 3-2, in the 144 pound semifinals just days after Amato had Mele’s number twice in the postseason, beating Mele, 11-3, in the Region 5 final and 6-3 in the District 18 final. Mele finished the year with a 31-2 record and went 126-19 in his career. He’s wrestling Division I at Princeton.

Blase Mele of Princeton celebrates after winning the 144 pound final during the 2025 NJSIAA Boys Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ on 3/8/25.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Will LoSauro, Ridgewood – Ice hockey, lacrosse: Even before the 2024-25 ice hockey season began, it seemed like LoSauro’s name crept into every single conversation about who the best players in the state were. That was even before he got a chance to play his first-ever game at Ridgewood as well. There was no freshman more hyped up in New Jersey, and LoSauro has delivered under the pressure of ginormous expectations and the bright lights. He anchored the Maroons’ top line on the left wing and ended the season with 31 goals and 31 assists each. He was the driving force behind the Maroons’ run to the Public group state title game, and his heroic quarterfinal round performance of a hat trick and four points in a 4-3 comeback win over rival Ramapo highlighted his phenomenal season. He might just be as talented of a lacrosse player as well. In 17 games this spring he’s posted 18 goals and 27 points for a Maroons team that is a Group 4 title contender. LoSauro is a true two-sport talent that should be a shining star for years for Ridgewood.

.Will LoSauro (16) of Ridgewood skates past Shane Melly (22) of Randolph during the NJSIAA North Public Sectional Final boys hockey game at Codey Arena in West Orange, NJ on Thursday, March 6, 2025.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

Aidan Donnelly, Southern – Soccer: After scoring a previous season high of 9 goals in 2024, Donnelly burst on the scene for Southern with 30 goals this year as the Rams finished No. 5 in the state and won their first ever state title. He led the Shore Conference in goals and set the program record for goals in a season. Donnelly, who was NJ.com‘s Boys Soccer Player of the Year, scored 3 goals against eventual Group 3 champs Shawnee and scored the only goal against a Top 10 Princeton team in the Group 4 semis, a 1-0 win, and both of Southern’s goals in the state final, a 2-0 win over perennial power and then No. 2 ranked Scotch Plains-Fanwood. A first team All-Stater, after not even making an All-Group team last year, Donnelly is committed to play D1 soccer at St. Joe’s.

Aidan Donnelly (10) of Southern reacts after scoring the first goal of the game during the NJSIAA Group 4 boys soccer final between Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Southern at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ on 11/24/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Rory Asselta, St. Joseph (Mont.) – Golf: As a mere freshman, Asselta won his first tournament of the season, the 26-team Garden State Cup, and just kept on winning. He earned seven tournament titles in nine events, possibly a state record for most titles. He capped his season by winning the North Jersey sectional and the State Tournament of Champions, where his 8-under 64 was the lowest score relative to par in the 91-year history of the event. He was the best player on the state’s top-ranked team and will be the State Golfer of the Year.

Rory Asselta of St. Joseph (Mont.) hits up the fairway during the NJSIAA State Group Championships, Tournament of Champions at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater on May 12, 2025. Matt Kipp | For NJ Advance Media

GIRLS BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Gianna Gomez, Barnegat – Softball: The sophomore is leading the state with 280 strikeouts to go along with a 1.93 ERA in 138 innings and led Barnegat to a first-ever division title and the No. 5 seed in South Jersey Group 2. Gomez struck out 21 in an eight-inning win over Lacey and has 15 other games with double-digit strikeouts, including two with 19. She is also batting .392 with 16 RBI. Last season, Gomez pitched just 8 ⅔ innings with 16 strikeouts and a 4.85 ERA.

Gianna Gomez (7) of Barnegat pitches against Lacey at Barnegat High School in Barnegat, N.J. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

Natalie Dumas, Eastern – Track and field: Dumas quickly went from one of the state’s best active runners to one of the state’s best track and field stars ever. The standout junior tied Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s outdoor 400 dash record (51.87) and also holds this spring’s fastest 400 hurdles time (58.37), No. 4 time in the 200 dash (24.02), No. 7 time in the 1,600 (4:55.66), No. 13 time in the 800 (2:13.37) and No. 28 time in the 100 dash (12.23). Both her 400 dash and hurdles times rank Top 5 in the country. She’s the only girl in state history to go under 12.25 in the 100 dash and sub-five minutes in the 1,600. Over the winter, she ran a personal record 2:07.68 in the 800, which is a South Jersey record and ranks No. 9 in state history. In the fall, she ran her first season of cross-country and held her own against athletes who have been competing in the sport for years.

Natalie Dumas of Eastern Regional wins the Girls 400 meter Dash at the 2024 NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Pennsauken High School. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Samantha Kranzler, Old Tappan – Volleyball: On track to a solid season in 2023 as a junior, Kranzler went down with an injury that sidelined her for over a month, which ended her year early. This past season, Kranzler led Old Tappan to an undefeated 25-0 campaign, losing just one set all year. She was one of the top three players in the state, finishing with 291 kills, 133 digs, and 31 aces in 51 sets. She and Old Tappan won the Bergen County Tournament, N1G2 section title, and the Group 2 state championship, which landed her on the All-State First Team.

Samantha Kranzler (17) of Old Tappan goes for a kill during the NJSIAA Group 2 girls volleyball state final between Old Tappan and Gov. Livingston at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ on 11/17/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Gabby Mellett, Point Pleasant Boro – Soccer: Mellett was a coach on the field and the leader of a young defense that had 15 shutouts this season. Point Pleasant Boro won the program’s first-ever Group 2 state championship in the fall. It also made it to the Shore Conference final for the first time since 1990. Mellett booked her team’s ticket to that final with the game-winner in overtime of a 1-0 victory over Howell in the Shore semifinals. Mellett’s defense was special, but her ability to provide offense for the Panthers also stood out. The Rollins commit had three goals in the sectional playoffs, including a score in Central, Group 2 championship game. She also scored in the Group 2 state final.

Gabrielle Mellett (29) of Point Pleasant Boro kicks the ball downfield during the Shore Conference Championships at Summerfield Elementary School in Neptune City, NJ on October 26, 2024.Richard O’Donnell | For NJ Advan

Sofia Basto-Cabrera, Shawnee – Tennis: Basto-Cabrera took up tennis much later than most stars, but you wouldn’t know that from watching her on the courts. In her freshman season, Basto-Cabrera captured singles titles at the prestigious South Jersey Interscholastic Championships, the Burlington County Open and the Olympic Conference Tournament. The first singles rookie also helped guide Shawnee at the top of the lineup to its first-ever Group 3 state championship. Bastro-Cabrera also reached the semifinals of the state individual tournament.

Sofia Basto-Cabrera of Shawnee hits a return in first singles during the 2024 NJSIAA Girls Tennis finals at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, NJ on 10/17/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Marielle Montenegro, Shore – Field Hockey: Shore’s field hockey team faced an uphill battle when All-State midfielder Briella Elias went down for the season with an ACL injury. Montenegro, who had an impressive freshman season, took her game to an elite level as a sophomore. She helped fill the massive hole in the middle of the field and Shore stayed afloat as one of the top teams in Group 1 and New Jersey. Montenegro led Shore with 40 goals and 89 points, an uptick from the 24 she scored as a freshman. Montenegro scored the opening goal in her team’s win in the Group 1 state final against a West Deptford team it had lost to during her freshman season. The sophomore was an All-State honoree after her terrific season.

Marielle Montenegro (22) of Shore celebrates after scoring in the shootout during the NJSIAA Group 1 state field hockey final between Newton and Shore at Bordentown Regional High School in Bordentown, NJ on 11/16/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

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Community R-6 holds Spring Sports Awards Banquet

Mr. Trojan Drake Welch and Lady Trojan Jocelyn Curtis

Sandra Schutte Award winners Kate Robnett and Ean Johnson

George M. Dameron Award winners Rylee Rafferty and Lane Carter

The Community R6 Booster Club and school district honored district high school athletes last Friday night during the end-of-year athletic banquet.

Several all-school awards were given to athletes. The Sandra Schutte award is given to an athlete who competes in at least one sport, shows hard work throughout the season, has a good character and takes on leadership roles. The award went to seniors Kate Robnett and Ean Johnson.

The George M. Dameron award is given to two multi-sports athletes who give it their all, have excellent character and leadership skills. The award went to senior Rylee Rafferty and junior Lane Carter.

Each year, the Trojan award is given to a male and female athlete who competes in multiple sports. This year’s Lady Trojan award was given to junior Jocelyn Curtis who competes in softball and girls’ basketball. The Mr. Trojan award was given to senior Drake Welch who competes in baseball and track and field.

The team awards are as follows:

Cross Country:

· Mental Toughness Award: Layton Wright, freshman

· Most Improved: Gabby Knipfel, freshman and Nick Henke, sophomore

Softball:

· Offensive Player of the Year: Amy McCurdy, senior

· Defensive Player of the Year: Aaliyah Welch, senior

· MVP: Jocelyn Curtis, junior

· Most Improved: Lydia Hoyt, sophomore

· Leadership award: Chloe Johnson, junior

· Team Player: Peyton Schafer, junior

Girls Basketball:

· NFHS Award of Excellence: Sophie Fennewald, Gabby Knipfel, and Myla Carroll, all freshmen

· JV Player of the Year: Lydia Hoyt, sophomore

· Clark Jackson award: Chloe Johnson, junior

· Most Improved Player: Amy McCurdy, senior

· Highest Free-Throw Percentage: Jocelyn Curtis, junior at 61%

· Queen of the Boards: Joclyn Curtis, junior and Aaliyah Welch, senior who averaged 7 rebounds per game

· Most 3-point shots made: Peyton Beamer, junior at 31%

· Most Coachable: Kat Meyer, junior

· Winstinct award: Rylee Rafferty, senior

· Defensive Player of the Year: Aaliyah Welch, senior

· Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Beamer, junior with 14.3 points per game average

Boys Basketball:

· Defensive Player of the Year: Rhett Curtis, sophomore

· Offensive Player of the Year: Katavyn Wheeler, freshman

· Sixth-Man award: Brett Beamer, sophomore

· Hustle award: Matthew Utterback, junior

· Leadership: Clayton Jennings, senior

· Most Improved: Cooper Rohan, junior

· Team Leader: Katavyn Wheeler, freshman

· Most 3-point shots: Katavyn Wheeler, freshman

Cheerleading:

· Team Captain: Kate Robnett, senior

· Co-Captain: Ella Duenke, senior

· Rookie of the Year: Rosie Contreras Menedez, freshman

· Best Jumps: Peyton Schafer, junior

· Team Player: Kate Robnett, senior

· MVP: Peyton Schafer, junior

Baseball:

· Best Hitter: Nik Crider, sophomore

· Best Pitcher: Cooper Rohan, junior

· Best Defender: Kaiden Erdel, junior

· Wade Hester award: Drake Welch, senior

Track and Field:

· Girls Running MVP: Adrianna Woodson, junior

· Girls Field MVP: Chloe Johnson, junior

· Boys Running MVP: Nick Henke, sophomore

· Boys Field MVP: Drake Welch, senior

· Top Newcome: Katavyn Wheeler, freshman

· Team Leader: Kat Meyer, junior and Drake Welch, senior

· Most Coachable award: Layton Wright, freshman

· Miles B Cyrus award: Grace McCoskey, sophomore

· Comeback award: Lane Carter

· Record Setter award: Kat Meyer, junior, who set the 400m dash record

Golf:

· Happy Gilmore award: Ezra Johnson, freshman

· Lowest Scoring Avg: Cooper Rohan, junior