CLEVELAND, OH -- Ohio Wesleyan sophomore midfielder Henry Ross (Snoqualmie, WA/Mount Si) and senior defenseman Wes Silver (Newton, MA/Newton North) along with Denison junior faceoff specialist Grant Larson (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte County Day School) were named the Players of the Year to highlight the 2025 All-North Coast Athletic Conference men's lacrosse team after balloting by the league coaches.
Ross, who earned his second-consecutive All-NCAC first-team certificate, is the fourth Ohio Wesleyan player to collect the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year award, and the first since Max Tennant was honored in 2019. In seven conference games, the midfielder netted 16 goals and dished 13 assists for 29 points. The sophomore also scooped up 11 ground balls and caused six turnovers in conference action. He recorded at least one point in all seven league games that he played in, including five games in which he tallied at least four points, highlighted by a season-high-tying seven-point performance in the 15-13 win over Denison that clinched the NCAC title for OWU. Across 17 games, he leads the NCAC with 75 points off 48 goals and 27 assists, to go along with 28 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.
Silver is the only four-time all-conference selection on the first team this season after collecting his second-consecutive first-team accolades, second-team laurels in 2023 and an honorable mention nod in 2022. He is the fourth overall Ohio Wesleyan player to earn the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year award, and the first since Zach Brasser claimed the honor in 2021. The senior helped lead a Battling Bishop defensive unit that allowed 7.50 goals-per-game in league play and 9.50 through 18 overall games. The senior gathered 14 ground balls and caused nine turnovers in NCAC action. In 18 overall games, he caused 21 turnovers and accumulated 51 ground balls, while also contributing in the offensive zone with one assist.
Larson was tabbed the NCAC Specialist of the Year for the second time in his career (2023) after dominating his opponents once again at the faceoff x this season. He earns the program’s seventh specialist nod in the awards eight year history. The 2023 Newcomer of the Year earned his second selection to the first team and third overall All-NCAC certificate after a nod to the top team this season and in 2023 and a third-team selection a season ago. The junior won 73-of-97 attempts for a .753 average through eight conference games. He posted six or more wins at the faceoff x in all eight league matchups, including four games in which he collected double-digit victories at the x. Larson also collected five or more ground balls in six NCAC games, highlighted by nine against Oberlin on March 23. In 19 games this season, he posted 162 faceoff victories in 274 attempts for a .591 average, while scooping up 106 ground balls.
Denison senior attackman Tommy Quinson (Rye Brook, NY/Brunswick School) and Ohio Wesleyan sophomore attackman Wade Beckstrom (Devon, PA/Conestoga) and senior long-stick midfielder Anthony Fresolone (Marblehead, MA/Kimball Union Academy (NH)) join Ross and Silver as repeat selections to the first team from a season ago, while Quinson also earned a nod to the third team in 2023. Ohio Wesleyan senior midfielder Joey Wiseman (Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty) collects his second top-team all-conference certificate this season after also being named to the first team in 2022, while Oberlin sophomore defenseman Colin Taylor (Baltimore, MD/Friends School of Baltimore) and Denison junior goalkeeper Andrew Albert (Weston, CT/The Hill School (PA)) made the jump to the top team from the second team a season ago.
Four Denison men’s lacrosse players made their All-NCAC debuts on the top team this year, including senior midfielders Jack Hines (Charlotte, NC/Episcopal) and Collin Murphy (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional), sophomore defenseman Charlie Haight (Portland, OR/Middlesex) and junior short-stick defensive midfielder AJ Boxler (Westport, MA/Tabor Academy).
Denison first-year long-stick midfielder Khari Freeman (Uniondale, NY/Poly Prep Country Day School) was named the 2025 NCAC Newcomer of the Year as the league's top player in his first year of collegiate competition. He is the 10th Big Red player to earn the NCAC's newcomer award, and first since Larson collected the award two seasons ago. In eight league games, the rookie gathered 10 ground balls, caused six turnovers, netted three goals and dished out one assist. Through 19 games this season, Freeman scooped up 32 ground balls, caused nine turnovers, recorded four goals and added two helpers.
Oberlin claimed the 2025 Coaching Staff of the Year honors, the second coaching award in program history and first since 2011. The Yeomen are led by head coach Ryan Polak and assistants Thomas Klosowski and Chris Klaiber. The Oberlin squad was guided to a 5-3 NCAC record and an overall mark of 11-5. In eight conference games, the Yeomen topped the league with 342 ground balls (42.75/game) and caused an NCAC-high 118 turnovers (14.75/game), while also ranking in the top four in offense with 108 goals (13.5/game), 61 assists (7.6/game) and 169 points (21.1/game). Overall, the squad tallied 229 goals, 121 assists, 350 points, 690 ground balls, 207 caused turnovers, and a league-high .690 faceoff winning percentage and save percentage, while posting a league-low 8.64 goals-against average.