Ways to support injured Saint John Vianney player in Holmdel, NJ

HOLMDEL — Supporters have already raised thousands of dollars to help the family of a high school football player who suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a game last week.

Saint John Vianney senior, 18-year-old Aaron Van Trease, was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital after being hurt in the first quarter of Friday's game against Manasquan.

On Saturday, he underwent surgery to remove the fractured vertebrae and has begun his recovery, according to an online fundraiser.

"We all remain hopeful that he will regain the strength and mobility he once had," according to GoFundMe organizer, Lindsay Scollo, who continued in the effort's summary, "Anyone who knows Aaron can attest to his determination and incredible ambition."

Another effort to raise funds for the Van Trease family has been a special merchandise store opened by Asylum Sports Center based in Wall Township.

By early Wednesday, more than $26,500 had already been donated for Aaron and his parents, Richard and Deborah, as they incur "medical expenses, rehabilitation, modifications to home/vehicles, accommodation/travel and any other support required for Aaron’s ongoing recovery," according to the GoFundMe campaign.

Proceeds from all sales of the shirts and hats bearing "AV18" — the athlete's initials and jersey number — would also go straight to the family, according to Asylum's Director of Football Operations, Jason Wombough in a letter shared on Twitter.

"Football is a great game of competitive spirit but it's so much bigger than a game," Wombough said in a written response to New Jersey 101.5 on Wednesday.

Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com

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States with the most registered hunters

Stacker analyzed data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which states have the most registered hunters. Read on to see how your state ranks on Stacker’s list.

Gallery Credit: Meagan Drillinger

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.

Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman

LOOK: What are the odds that these 50 totally random events will happen to you?

Stacker took the guesswork out of 50 random events to determine just how likely they are to actually happen. They sourced their information from government statistics, scientific articles, and other primary documents. Keep reading to find out why expectant parents shouldn't count on due dates -- and why you should be more worried about dying on your birthday than living to 100 years old.

Gallery Credit: Isabel Sepulveda

These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey

A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.

From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.

Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the American Hiking Society.

If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.

Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.

You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.

Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.

If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.

Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.

I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:

Gallery Credit: Jordan Jansson

Here's a taste of the NJ pizza joints Dave Portnoy has reviewed

Dave Portnoy, commonly known as El Presidente, is the founder of Barstool Sports. Somewhere along the way, he decided to start reviewing local pizzerias, and the concept took off. This isn't the entire list, but it's a small sample to get you started.

Gallery Credit: Joe Votruba