RICHMOND, Va. -- Stockpiling awards for their work during the spring, eight members of the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team hauled in All-State honors, while Mason Bellinger was hailed as the Virginia State Defensive Player of the Year and Mikey Thompson was named the commonwealth's top coach by the Virginia Sports Information Directors.

Adding another award to one of the most decorated campaigns in school history, Bellinger became just the third Captain to be named the Defensive Player of the Year in Virginia. In that club, he joined fellow All-Americans Max Wayne (2022) and Ryan Young (2023).

In addition to his individual honor, Bellinger was named to the first-team All-State squad alongside Brett Kelley and Kevin Miller. Meanwhile, Mark Davison, Jackson Platner, AJ Rosacker, Daniel Siaton, and Jamie Smith hauled in second-team accolades.

Overall, the eight honorees equaled the third-most in program history, trailing only the 2022 and 2023 squads.

Along with the players, Thompson was recognized as the Virginia State Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career. Previously, he received the award in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. His eight honors are the most awarded to any men's lacrosse coach in Virginia history.

Earning nearly every conceivable award during his senior campaign, Bellinger was previously named the IMLCA National Defensive Player of the Year and the USILA National Goalie of the Year. He was also recognized as the Coastal Lacrosse Conference and Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year while becoming just the third unanimous first-team All-American in program history.

During his final year with the Captains, Bellinger broke the single-season school record and ranked third in the NCAA with 286 saves. His .593 save percentage also established a new program standard. Dominant throughout the season, he had at least 10 stops on 16 occasions, including a 26-save masterpiece during a 12-9 win over No. 6 Salisbury on April 18. That established a new single-game school record.

In addition to his record-breaking performance, Bellinger also pocketed 20 saves in triumphs over No. 14 Amherst on March 21 and Stockton on March 28. With his work during the year, he became the first goalie in program history with multiple 20-save appearances. Stepping up against top-flight competition, he brushed aside at least 10 shots in nine games against nationally-ranked opponents, including 18 saves against No. 1 Tufts on March 14.

Punctuating his tenure with a remarkable run in the postseason, he had 16 saves against No. 5 Salisbury in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Championship before suffocating the competition in the national playoffs. Among his efforts in the NCAA Tournament, he had 12 saves, including two in the final seconds of regulation, to knock off No. 13 Washington and Lee on May 10, which catapulted the Captains into the NCAA Quarterfinals for the sixth straight year.

Along with his gaudy save totals, Bellinger notched 58 ground balls, which marked the second-highest total by a goalie in program history. Additionally, he pitched in with nine caused turnovers and three points. He scored the game-tying goal on a coast-to-coast clear against No. 6 Salisbury on April 18 before adding assists in battles with Roanoke on April 8 and No. 12 Wesleyan on May 16.

One of the nation's leading defensemen, Davison picked up USILA All-American honors for the second straight season after starring throughout his junior campaign. During the year, he ranked fourth in the league with 34 caused turnovers while collecting at least one strip in 19 of his appearances. He forced multiple miscues in six of the team's battles against nationally-ranked competition, including five takeaways during a 12-9 win over No. 6 Salisbury on April 18. He also picked up 31 ground balls during the season and snagged a season-high four rollers in a triumph over No. 14 Amherst on March 21.

Solidifying his spot as one of the top defensive standouts in the nation, Kelley collected first-team All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine and was a third-team USILA selection. A disruptive force, he led the Coastal Lacrosse Conference with 52 caused turnovers, which also placed him ninth on the national leaderboard and fifth on the program's all-time charts. He had at least one takeaway in 21 of his 22 appearances and notched multiple strips on 16 occasions. Meanwhile, the third-year star also secured 84 ground balls and scored six goals, which marked the most by a long pole in program history.

Named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List as one of the top lacrosse players in the country, Miller eventually earned second-team All-American accolades from USILA, IMLCA, and USA Lacrosse Magazine. One of the nation's top facilitators, he led the country with 78 assists, which equaled the 15th-most by any player in the history of collegiate lacrosse. Adding 35 goals as well, he also led the league and ranked eighth in the country with 113 points. Tormenting the opposition, he had an assist in all 22 games. Additionally, he found the back of the net in 15 of his appearances, including 12 multi-goal eruptions.

An offensive force on the midfield unit, Platner picked up All-American citations from both USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine for his work in the spring. During his sophomore season, he led all midfielders on the team with 26 goals, 11 assists, and 37 total points. Picking apart the competition, he had at least one point in 15 of his appearances and notched two or more on 12 occasions. Among his efforts, he posted a season-high six points, including three goals, during a 13-12 win over No. 13 Washington and Lee in the NCAA Tournament on May 10. That explosion was one of his nine multi-goal efforts and three hat-tricks during the year.

Capping off his career as a USILA All-American, Rosacker put the finishing touches on a tenure that saw him etch his name among the program's greatest long-stick midfielders. During his senior season, he had at least one takeaway in 16 of his appearances while ranking 10th in the conference with 23 total caused turnovers. He forced multiple miscues in six of his outings, including three strips in the league championship against No. 5 Salisbury on May 3. He also collected 38 ground balls during the year and pocketed a season-high seven rollers against No. 13 Washington and Lee in the NCAA Tournament on May 10.

A key kog on the defensive unit as one of the nation's leading short-stick specialists, Siaton was a second-team USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American and an honorable mention selection by USILA. Starring in all 22 games, he secured 40 ground balls, which ranked first among all SSDMs in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference. He also pocketed 14 caused turnovers and pitched in with seven points, including six assists. Along with his work on both ends of the field, he was equally exceptional in transition and helped the Captains rank fifth in the NCAA with a stellar .904 clearing percentage during the year.

Nearly unstoppable on the offensive end, Smith tied his own school record and led the entire country with 84 goals. That total also equaled the 20th-most by any player in collegiate lacrosse history. A USA Lacrosse Magazine and USILA All-American, he also ranked fourth in the NCAA with 12 man-up goals while finishing with 96 total points during the season. Lighting up the opposition, he scored at least once in all 22 games, including 16 hat-tricks. Among his most lethal eruptions, he had a pair of seven-goal outbursts in victories over Elizabethtown on January 30 and Ohio Northern on March 8.

Building one of the nation's most consistent programs, Thompson led Christopher Newport to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season. Along the way, the Captains compiled an 18-4 record while notching five wins against teams that finished the spring in the USILA National Coaches Poll. Eventually, CNU wrapped up the year slotted fifth in the last national poll of the season. Equally impressive off the field, the Captains received the USILA National Academic Team Award while boasting a cumulative GPA above 3.0.

2026 VaSID All-State Men's Lacrosse Honorees

Individual Award Winners
Coach of the Year:	Mikey Thompson	Christopher Newport
Player of the Year:	Riley Hastings	Lynchburg
Defensive Player of the Year:	Mason Bellinger	Christopher Newport
Rookie of the Year:	Luke Caldwell	Washington and Lee
First Team
Attack:	Riley Hastings	Lynchburg
Attack:	Kevin Miller	Christopher Newport
Attack:	James Haley	Washington and Lee
Midfield:	Liam Holman	Lynchburg
Midfield:	Will Rubley	Lynchburg
Midfield:	Noah Bell	Roanoke
Defense:	Mike Allen	Randolph-Macon
Defense:	Brett Kelley	Christopher Newport
Defense:	Jay O'Keefe	Washington and Lee
Faceoffs:	Riley Frankel	Lynchburg
Goalkeeper:	Mason Bellinger	Christopher Newport
LSM:	Cameron Van Lunen	Hampden-Sydney
SSDM:	Elliott Cohen	Washington and Lee
SSDM:	Parker Sealey	Lynchburg
Second Team
Attack:	Jamie Smith	Christopher Newport
Attack:	Julian Kammerman	Roanoke
Attack:	Luke Caldwell	Washington and Lee
Midfield:	James Meyer	Washington and Lee
Midfield:	Clay Haacke	Southern Virginia
Midfield:	Jackson Platner	Christopher Newport
Defense:	Brodie Kent	Randolph-Macon
Defense:	Kylar Mahoney	Lynchburg
Defense:	Mark Davison	Christopher Newport
Faceoffs:	Winston Horshaw II	Marymount
Goalkeeper:	Will Palmer	Hampden-Sydney
LSM:	AJ Rosacker	Christopher Newport
SSDM:	Daniel Siaton	Christopher Newport
SSDM:	Colin Beatty	Washington and Lee

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