Mt. Blue’s Joe Hayden and Bonny Eagle’s John Havu were announced Friday as winners of the 2025 Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Lineman Awards.

Hayden was chosen as the best senior offensive lineman in Maine, while Havu took the honors on defense. The awards come with a trophy and a $5,000 scholarship.

At 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, Hayden was a second-year team captain for Mt. Blue. He was a Sun Journal All-Region pick as well as an All-Class B North selection.

Havu was a linchpin for a Bonny Eagle defense that was one of the state’s best. A Varsity Maine All-State and three-time All-Class A South selection, he averaged five tackles per game while also registering seven tackles for loss and three sacks, impressive stats for a nose guard.

Hayden and Havu excel in the classroom as well. Hayden maintains a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, while Havu has a weighted 4.04 GPA. Both players were all-academic selections in their respective conferences.

Hayden is the first Mt. Blue player to win a Gaziano award. Havu is the third on defense for Bonny Eagle (Nate Martell, 2010; Arlo Pike, 2017) and the program’s sixth winner overall (offensive: Zach Klein, 2017; Aidan McGlone, 2018; Thomas Horton, 2021).

The four other Gaziano finalists, Collin Thompson (Thornton Academy) and Colin Haigh (Portland) on offense, and Thornton’s Jangmin Lee and Old Town’s Griffin Faulkner on defense, receive a smaller trophy as well as a $1,000 scholarship.