2026 Shore Sports Insider Boys Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Cermele, Holmdel

Most long-stick midfielders are measured by the plays they prevent.

Marcus Cermele built his reputation by creating them.

Whether he was scooping up a ground ball, shutting down an opposing attackman, or igniting a transition opportunity, the Holmdel senior had a knack for impacting games in ways few defensive players can. By the end of the season, Cermele had established himself as one of the Shore Conference’s most complete players and the driving force behind one of the area’s biggest turnarounds.

That all-around excellence has earned Cermele Shore Sports Insider Defensive Player of the Year honors.

“It’s hard to quantify the impact Marcus has had on Holmdel Lacrosse,” Holmdel head coach Brendan Quinn said. “From a productivity standpoint, the numbers speak for themselves, and he certainly stands out when he’s on the field. Marcus is a special talent and a great lacrosse player, but his impact goes far beyond that. Marcus takes his craft very seriously and brings that focus to practice and games every single day. His approach sets the tone for our entire team.”

Cermele’s statistics reflected the unique role he played for the Hornets.

The Hobart & William Smith Colleges commit finished the season with 29 goals, 16 assists, 45 points, and 116 ground balls. While the offensive production would have been solid for an attackman or midfielder, it was nearly unheard of for a long-stick midfielder.

He wasn’t simply a defensive specialist tasked with limiting opponents. Once Holmdel gained possession, Cermele often became an offensive weapon, using his athleticism and instincts to push transition and create scoring opportunities.

His ability to impact both ends of the field didn’t happen overnight.

Cermele spent his freshman and sophomore seasons primarily as a defender, where he quickly established himself as one of Holmdel’s most reliable players. After the Hornets graduated a significant amount of offensive production following his sophomore year, Quinn and his staff looked for ways to generate more offense.

The answer was putting the ball in Cermele’s stick.

“Marcus spent his freshman and sophomore years as more of a close defenseman, excelling down there,” Quinn said. “When he had opportunities in transition, it usually ended well. After his sophomore year, we graduated a lot of offensive firepower and were searching for more offense. Marcus began pushing the ball in transition really well, and he would hang on offense from time to time, usually scoring or making a big play to help us score. From there he turned into a two-way player and hasn’t looked back.”

As Cermele’s offensive game expanded, his defensive responsibilities never diminished.

“His offensive game took a huge step forward, and his defense never wavered,” Quinn said. “He is a true two-way player at a very high level.”

Cermele’s versatility played a major role in Holmdel’s resurgence this spring.

One year after finishing 8-10, the Hornets doubled their win total and posted a 16-6 record. Along the way, they reached the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals and advanced to the North Jersey Group 2 semifinals.

One of Holmdel’s biggest victories came during the regular season when it knocked off perennial powerhouse Christian Brothers Academy, 9-8. Cermele contributed a goal and an assist in the upset victory, helping the Hornets announce themselves as one of the Shore Conference’s top contenders.

He delivered another standout performance in the postseason.

Facing Manasquan in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals, Cermele scored a hat trick in a 10-7 victory that sent Holmdel to the tournament semifinals.

While Cermele’s accomplishments on the field were impressive, Quinn said the qualities that separated him from other players were evident long before he became one of the Shore’s top defenders.

“I had Marcus in class as a seventh grader, and knew that he was very passionate about lacrosse,” Quinn said. “Getting to know what kind of kid Marcus was back then was really the first time I thought to myself that we could have something special here. He has started every game since his freshman year and was one of our better players from the beginning. There were very few growing pains with Marcus. He’s a student of the game and got better every time he stepped on the field.”

That steady growth transformed Cermele into one of the Shore Conference’s premier defensive players and one of the most valuable long-stick midfielders in New Jersey.

Now, he will take his talents to Hobart & William Smith, where Quinn believes his impact will continue.

“Hobart is getting a great lacrosse player and an even better person,” Quinn said. “He’s one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever been around, and I’m very confident that he will be successful in anything he chooses to do.”

Cermele arrived at Holmdel as a talented young defender with a passion for the game. Four years later, he leaves as one of the most complete players in program history, a cornerstone of the Hornets’ rise back into contention and a player whose influence extended far beyond the defensive end.