Arnold Grabs Major Award, Highlights Six Dukes Named to All-State Team

NORFOLK, Va. – James Madison freshman Cameron Arnold was named 2022 Virginia Sports Information Directors Co-Rookie of the Year and led the way, as six Dukes were named to the University Division All-State Team, as announced by the organization Wednesday afternoon.

Arnold becomes the fourth VaSID Rookie of the Year recipient for the Dukes in program history, while the six All-State selections are the most since 2019. Arnold, redshirt senior Tyler Clegg and redshirt sophomore Alex Krakowiak were all named to the First Team, while redshirt senior Melker Anshelm, redshirt sophomore Josiah Blanton and freshman Sebastian Conlon were tabbed to the Second Team.

The Dukes' three First Teamers match last season's selections, the first time JMU has had at least three First Team selections in back-to-back seasons since 2000-01.

Arnold, who was selected as a forward, played in 20 matches with 10 starts in his first collegiate campaign. He led the Dukes in game-winning goals (three), assists (four), goals (six), points (16) and shots (34) while also being second in shots on goal (14). The 55th best freshman at the end of the season, as ranked by TopDrawerSoccer, strung together four straight matches of recording a point and notched a point in the first two rounds of the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Making his second consecutive appearance on the First Team, Clegg played in and started 19 matches to wrap up his five-year career. The defender earned All-Southeast Region Third Team honors from United Soccer Coaches while anchoring a defense that produced seven shutouts. He was later drafted 85th overall in the 2023 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers. Clegg helped on the offensive side of the ball as well, scoring five goals and adding an assist for a total of 11 points.

A Second Team All-Sun Belt selection, Krakowiak earned the first All-State selection of his career after playing in 18 matches in the midfield with 17 starts.

After earning First Team honors the past two seasons, Anshelm earned his third career All-State honor while captaining the backline with Clegg. The Stockholm, Sweden native started all 20 matches this season and earned one assist. On the backline, he helped the defense earn seven shutouts which included two in the Sun Belt quarterfinals and semifinals against fifth-ranked Marshall and Georgia State, respectively.

Joining Anshelm as a Second Team defender is Blanton, who earned his first All-State accolade. The Roswell, Ga. native started all 20 matches along the backline, aiding in the seven shutouts produced by the team. He also scored a goal for the Dukes, notching one against Binghamton in the season opener.

Conlon was tabbed as the Second Team goalkeeper, playing in and starting in 19 matches while spending 1698:39 in between the posts for the Dukes. The freshman recorded a goals against average of 1.22 while posting six shutouts and made 68 saves for a 0.747 save percentage. He was ranked 69th in TopDrawerSoccer's Postseason Freshman Top 100.

The Dukes had the second most First Team and overall selections, trailing Virginia in both categories. JMU finished 2022 with an 8-8-4 record but made a run in the latter part of the season that culminated with an appearance in the Sun Belt championship match.

Calendar