The NJ.com 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 NJ.com high school sports staff.
Nominations were made for the other 18 categories, 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 Sunday, June 25 at 3 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. Learn how to register for free tickets here.
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:
OVERALL MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Drew Roskos, Delran, soccer and wrestling: It seems the more teams know about Roskos, the harder it is to defend him. The shifty Delran striker was named the state’s boys soccer Player of the Year for the second straight season this fall after tallying 25 goals to lead Delran to its second straight Group 2 state title. Roskos got better as the games got bigger, scoring nine goals in six state tournament games, including the game-winning goal in the Group 2 final against Ramsey. Roskos was also outstanding on the wrestling mat this winter, finishing seventh on the podium at 150 pounds in Atlantic City, after winning a district title and taking second in the regions.
Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep, basketball: In a sport headlined with star players, Harper proved to be a cut above the rest this season at Don Bosco Prep. He earned First Team All-State and Player of the Year honors, averaging 24.9 points per game, sliding from a fringe All-Group player last season to one of the top prospects in the country this winter. Harper was at his best in Don Bosco’s biggest games, proven by his 36-point effort in a head-to-head showdown with Kentucky commit D.J. Wagner.
Roman Jones, Pingry, swimming: Jones finished his career at Pingry as one of the most decorated swimmers in state history, winning two events at the Meet of Champions (50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke). He now owns two Meet of Champions records, after setting the pace in the 50 free this year and the 100 backstroke last season. He was versatile, too, competing in seven different events during the dual meet season for the Big Blue. All told, Jones went 45-0 in individual events for his career.
A.J. Gracia, Ranney, baseball: Gracia was a force in the heart of Ranney’s order this season and was one of the best offensive players in the state. He batted .500, with a whopping 1.191 slugging percentage, while socking 12 home runs for the second year in a row and driving in 32 runs. The outfielder/pitcher helped Ranney to a 27-3 season and an appearance in the Non-Public B title game.
Jimmy Mullen, St. Joseph (Mont.), football and wrestling: Mullen was an elite performer in two different sports this season for St. Joseph (Mont.), earning All-State honors in both football and wrestling. On the gridiron, he had 76 total tackles and eight sacks on the defensive line, earning Third Team All-State marks. But that paled in comparison to what the Virginia Tech commit did this past winter, when Mullen capped off a legendary wrestling career with his third state title in Atlantic City. His come-from-behind 285-pound championship bout with Paramus Catholic’s Max Acciardi was the main attraction of the historic event and the way it ended — with Mullen raising Acciardi’s arm for the Boardwalk Hall crowd — was the perfect finish for a one-of-a-kind athlete.
Micah Ford, Toms River North, football: Ford was the best offensive player in New Jersey this season, earning NJ.com’s Player of the Year honors in football. He was the complete package behind center for Toms River North, proving to be just as dangerous with his arm as he was with his legs. He led the state in touchdowns with 34 and finished second in rushing yards (2,360). Through the air, he completed 64% of his throws and connected for 17 touchdowns, including three in the Group 5 title game against Passaic Tech. Toms River North went 14-0 behind Ford’s leadership.
OVERALL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kira Pipkins, Bloomfield, wrestling: Pipkins’ name will forever be etched in the record books, as the Bloomfield star became New Jersey’s first-ever four-time state champion in girls wrestling this winter. Pipkins, NJ.com’s girls Wrestler of the Year, was unbeatable, finishing her senior season with a 23-0 record, capped off with an 11-1 major decision over Newton/Kittatinny’s Lilian Zaku-Ramos in the 126-pound final in Atlantic City. Pipkins ended her career with 106 victories.
Olivia Bent-Cole, Camden Catholic, field hockey: Bent-Cole was the best field hockey player in New Jersey this season, earning First Team All-State honors, and was named NJ.com’s Player of the Year. She led Camden Catholic with 38 goals and 16 assists and elevated her game as the pressure intensified late in the season. She capped her legendary career with an eye-popping 128 goals for the Irish and scored in the Non-Public A final against Oak Knoll in her final high school game.
Stephanie Yakoff, Fort Lee, tennis: Yakoff capped her legendary career, where she went four years without a loss, with another perfect season in the fall. She became the third player in state history to win three singles titles and finished her career record at 63-0. Yakoff was named NJ.com’s Player of the Year for the third time after defeating Erin Ha of Holy Angels in an epic three-set finale in the singles championship match. That match was the only time she lost a single set all season.
Sophia Bordi, Haddon Heights, softball: Bordi was unhittable — literally — this postseason as she hurled four perfect games to lead Haddon Heights to a Group 2 state championship. The sophomore was one of the state’s top pitchers from Opening Day to the state finals, allowing just seven earnrd runs in 121-plus innings pitched. She struck out 274 batters and finished her season with a mind-boggling ERA of 0.40. In those four playoff games, she had 66 strikeouts, including 16 against Jefferson in the Group 2 final, and, of course, gave up no hits.
Melina Rebimbas, Rutgers Prep, soccer: Missing half the season to compete at the U17 World Cup for the United States wasn’t enough to knock Rebimbas from the top of the girls soccer ranks in New Jersey. Even in that limited time, she knocked in 24 goals and 16 assists for Rutgers Prep, proving to be a box-to-box midfielder who simply could not be defended. She scored two goals for Rutgers Prep in the Non-Public B title game, a 3-1 victory over DePaul. The North Carolina recruit finished her high school career with 98 goals.
Zoe Brooks, St. John Vianney, basketball: Brooks, a North Carolina State recruit, lived up to the hype as the best girls basketball player in New Jersey this season. After transferring to St. John Vianney from Trenton Catholic two years ago and playing alongside three-time Player of the Year Madison St. Rose, it was Brooks’ turn to be the star this winter and she delivered. Brooks averaged 22.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 5.4 steals per game for the Lancers and had her signature moment with a buzzer-beating basket that sent SJV to the South Jersey, Non-Public A sectional title in March. Brooks capped her career as a four-time All-State selection, three times landing on the First Team.
MALE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Bergen Catholic football: Bergen Catholic finished atop the coveted football rankings this season, indisputable after a 45-0 drubbing of rival Don Bosco Prep in the Non-Public A championship game. The only blemish on Bergen Catholic’s resume was a 31-7 loss to that same Don Bosco Prep team in the regular season. This BC senior class went 23-1 over the past two seasons. Quarterback Dominic Campanile threw for 1,148 yards and running back Saeed St. Fleur rushed for 1,436. Both players led the team with 14 touchdowns apiece.
Delbarton boys lacrosse: Delbarton proved to be in a league of its own in New Jersey boys lacrosse this spring, finishing as the state’s No. 1-ranked team after a thrilling 10-9 win in triple-overtime over rival Seton Hall Prep in the Non-Public A final. Delbarton’s final record was 20-5, but the Green Wave lost just once to a New Jersey team, which, ironically, was Seton Hall Prep on May 11. Balance was Delbarton’s greatest weapon this season, with five different players scoring 20 or more goals. In its most impressive game of the season, Delbarton crushed Don Bosco Prep, 12-1, in the Non-Public A semifinals, when the teams were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the state, respectively.
Millburn boys tennis: Millburn was in an elite class this tennis season, finishing 28-1 with a Group 3 title. Millburn’s only loss of the season came against rival Newark Academy in the Essex County Tournament. The Millers closed out the season with 18 straight victories and during that run, only two of those games went to a decisive fifth match.
Southern boys volleyball: Already one of the iconic boys volleyball programs in the state, Southern returned to the top of the sport this spring. The Rams capped a 31-1 season with an impressive sweep of Bridgewater-Raritan in the Group 4 final. Southern’s only blemish was an early-season loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood, as the Rams closed out the season on a 26 game-winning streak. During that run, only five matches went three sets. Lucas Kean was again one of the top offensive players in the state, amassing 369 kills for Southern.
St. Joseph (Met.) bowling: Just how good was St. Joseph (Met.)’s bowling team this season?
The Falcons went 20-0 and finished the state’s No. 1-ranked team in a landslide, capturing the program’s first-ever Group 1 title before winning an unofficial Tournament of Champions, too. They won regular season tournament championships in the Baker Challenge, the Central Jersey Winter Classic and the Romer Invitational Tournament. They had two of the best bowlers in Kai Strothers and William Cunningham, both freshmen, who earned First-Team, All-State honors.
But even more impressive than all of that? St. Joe’s didn’t lose a single game in any match this season. With a regular season scoring average of 3,309 per three-game match, they led the state by a whopping 222 pins over the next best team. The level of dominance St. Joe’s had within their sport can only be considered historic and the bar will only be raised for coach Rusty Thomsen and his crew.
St. Joseph (Mont.) wrestling: St. Joseph (Mont.)’s wrestling season finished in storybook fashion, as it defeated longtime rival Delbarton, 28-24, in the Non-Public A final at Rutgers. That win capped an unforgettable season, as St. Joe’s went unbeaten against New Jersey teams, losing only to Stillwater (Okla.) and Lake Highland (Fla.) early in the season. St. Joe’s also cruised to District 2 and Region 1 team titles.
FEMALE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Brick Memorial girls bowling: Brick Memorial went wire-to-wire as the state’s best girls bowling team, finishing 18-0 in 2022-23, with a Group 2 title. The Mustangs also won the Shore Conference Tournament, landed all five bowlers in the Top 18 in the individual tournament and lost just one game within a match all season.
Camden Catholic field hockey: Camden Catholic ended a 37-year title drought last fall, rolling to a 21-1 record, which included a 19-0 mark against New Jersey teams. The Irish’s dominance cannot be overstated, as they outscored opponents 5.27 goals per game to 0.86. Camden Catholic ended the season on a 15-game winning streak, capped with a 2-1 win over Oak Knoll in the Non-Public A final.
Freehold Township girls soccer: Revenge was served up in the sweetest way for Freehold Township this season, as the Patriots finished as N.J.’s No. 1-ranked team, after claiming the Group 4 title. Freehold Township, which lost in stunning fashion in the Group 4 title game a year ago, posted a nearly flawless resume — and was good enough to frequently appear in the national rankings. The Patriots went 21-1, losing only to national powerhouse Archbishop Spaulding of Maryland early in the season. Freehold Township’s postseason run included another Shore Conference Tournament title and was capped off with a 1-0 win over Ridgewood in the state final game, at last cementing the Patriots as the best girls soccer team in New Jersey.
Immaculate Heart girls volleyball: Immaculate Heart sent legendary coach Maria Nolan out in style, winning yet another state title for the program that is, without question, the gold standard for the sport in New Jersey. Immaculate Heart went 29-1 in 2022, going unbeaten against New Jersey opponents along the way. The Eagles went wire-to-wire as N.J.’s top-ranked team and logged nine wins against ranked opponents along the way.
St. John Vianney softball: St. John Vianney’s softball team was dominant across the board this spring, capping a 27-1 season with a Non-Public A state championship. St. John Vianney didn’t win the Shore Conference Tournament, but that was the only thing that didn’t go right for the Lancers on the diamond. Vianney won its first 22 games of the season and rode the play of freshman ace Madison McDougall, who struck out 219 batters, earned a 1.04 ERA and hurled a shutout in the state championship game, a 2-0 win over Mount St. Dominic.
Summit girls lacrosse: The numbers surrounding Summit suggest that this wasn’t just the best girls lacrosse team in New Jersey this season, but one of the best teams the sport has ever seen. The Hilltoppers, rolling to yet another Group 2 title, finished 20-2, winning 10 games by 10 or more goals — a wild stat, considering Summit plays in the toughest league in the state and has a schedule flush with ranked opponents. Summit’s only in-state loss came against rival Oak Knoll in the Union County Tournament final (Summit beat Oak Knoll, 11-4, in the regular season). But the Hilltoppers rallied under veteran coach Mike Walsh to win its final 11 games of the season, ending with a 13-4 win over Haddonfield in the state championship game.
MALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Quincy Porter, Bergen Catholic, football: Porter emerged as one of the state’s top wide receivers last fall for Bergen Catholic, earning Second-Team, All-State honors. In his debut season, the sophomore hauled in 35 passes for 662 yards and 11 touchdowns, playing a monumental role in the Crusaders’ run to a Non-Public A title. He’s received offers from numerous Power 5 schools, such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep, basketball: Harper made an enormous leap from his sophomore year, where he was a Third Team All-Non-Public pick, to his junior year this past winter, when he was named NJ.com’s Player of the Year and turned into one of the nation’s top recruits. The combo guard, averaging 24.9 points per game, elevated his game in the biggest moments of the season for Don Bosco Prep. Harper posted 30 or more points four different times this season, including 38 points in a season-ending loss to Bergen Catholic in the Non-Public A state tournament.
Steven Echavarria, Millburn, baseball: After a disappointing finish to his junior season, Echavarria turned into one of the state’s best pitchers this season, earning New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Echavarria is projected to be drafted within the top three rounds of the MLB draft this summer and has developed a fastball that has topped out at 97 MPH. He went 6-1 on the mound for Millburn.
Nathaniel Rayan, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, track: Rayan went from not even qualifying for the group meet a year ago to one of the top hurdlers in the country this spring. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood runner owns the No. 6 time in the nation in the 110-meter hurdles this season and also has the top time in the state for the event.
Bobby Kennedy, St. Augustine, ice hockey: After splitting time in goal for most of the season, Kennedy took over between the pipes in the playoffs and ran with it for St. Augustine. He started 11 games for the Hermits, compiling four shutouts and a .952 save percentage. In the playoffs, he allowed just three goals and had a shutout streak of 149 minutes. Over the final five games of the season, including a loss to CBA in the Gordon Cup final, Kennedy had a save percentage of .971.
Kai Strothers, St. Joseph (Met.), bowling: Strothers exploded on the bowling scene this winter, wasting no time in announcing himself as New Jersey’s best male bowler. Just a freshman, Strothers won the state individual tournament for St. Joseph (Met.) and led the Falcons to a historic season as the state’s No. 1-ranked team. He rolled a 300 in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and an 802 during a regular season match, finishing with a 229.9 average.
FEMALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Olivia Georges, DePaul, wrestling: Georges exploded on the wrestling scene for DePaul this season, winning the 145-pound title at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall in March by a decisive 9-0 major decision. Georges wrestled with poise, strategy and tenacity all season, winning the Region 1 title before upping her game in Atlantic City. Georges was also a linebacker on DePaul’s freshman football team in the fall.
Ava Clark, Eastern, girls soccer: After backing up her sister, Alexa, for the past three seasons, Clark made the most of her opportunity this fall. She was one of the top goalkeepers in the state for Eastern, compiling 19 shutouts in 26 games. She finished with 113 saves and backstopped a young Eastern team to a South Jersey, Group 4 sectional championship.
Annabelle Carter, Gloucester Tech, bowling: Even as a freshman this season, Carter was the best girls bowler in New Jersey. She averaged 200.9 during the regular season with three 700+ series, including a 753, and won the state individual tournament, where she bowled a perfect 300.
Madison McDougall, St. John Vianney, softball: McDougall, a freshman, led St. John Vianney to the state’s No. 1 ranking and a Non-Public A title this season. On the mound, she allowed just 21 earned runs in 141 innings pitched, striking out 219 batters to the tune of a 1.04 ERA. She was at her best in Vianney’s biggest moments, too, tossing a one-hit shutout in the Non-Public A championship game against Mount St. Dominic. At the plate, McDougall batted .563 with five home runs and 32 RBI this spring.
Supriyha Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas, gymnastics: The moment was never too big for Moore this season, as she earned First Team-All-State honors for St. Thomas Aquinas. She finished as the all-around champion at the Greater Middlesex Conference Championships with a 38.025 and was second at the North Jersey, Section 2 meet, where she logged a 9.9 on the floor, tied for the best in the state this season.
Taylor Cox, Union Catholic, track: Cox has emerged as one of New Jersey’s top hurdlers this year in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. As a sophomore, she won the 55 hurdles at the indoor Meet of Champions (7.88), which was the fourth fastest time in the country. In the outdoor season this spring, she clocked a 13.56 in the 100 hurdles prelims at the Union County Championships — a time that would have broken Olympian Sydney McLaughlin’s meet record had it been in the finals. She won group titles in the 100 dash and 100 hurdles June 10.
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