Dozens of athletes and a handful of teams were honored at the Ocean City Music Pier Tuesday afternoon during the annual CAL Celebration, created by Prime Events.

The event concluded with the primary awards of the day.

Mainland edged Ocean City to win the Ed Byrnes Memorial All Sports Award for the ninth time in the 34 years since it was created. It was Mainland’s second win in the last three years. The Byrnes Award is based on how many championships each school wins in all varsity sports.

And seniors from Mainland and Ocean City were named winners of the Billy Schoppy Memorial Awards, given to the high school seniors with the most successful high school careers.

The winners were Cohen Cook of Mainland and Sophia Curtis of Ocean City.

Cook had more than 1,000 career rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, finishing his football career on an undefeated state champion. He set a new school record – more than 1,500 career points – in basketball while finishing on a South Jersey champion. And he was a .333 hitter on a baseball team that won the CAL Tournament. He will attend the University of New Hampshire to play football.

Curtis was named an All-American in both the 400 hurdles and triple jump, setting records for the events in numerous meets. She won five state championships and was a winner at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. In 2023 she had the longest triple jump by any American girl at the prestigious Penn Relays. She will continue her track career at Virginia Tech.

Cook was the first Mainland boy to win the award, though two MRHS girls were winners – Camryn Dirkes (2022) and Alyssa Aldridge (2018). Curtis is the fourth Ocean City girl to win – including Bridget Flynn (2014), Casey Beyel (2007) and Renee Tomlin (2006). Four OCHS boys have also won – Gannon Brady (2021), Miles Schoedler (2011), John Richardson (2003) and Chad Severs (2001). A complete list of winners and finalists is HERE.

The other finalists for the 2024 boys award were Macky Bonner, Isiah Carr-Wing and Hunter Ray of Lower Cape May; Pat Grimley, Nick Layton and Jon Moyer from Ocean City; Stephen Ordille and Jamie Tyson from Mainland; James Haney of Atlantic City; Noah Plenn of St. Augustine; and Mike Zarfati of Middle Township.

The other girls finalists this year were Mia McColl and Riley Lerner of Cedar Creek; Kendall Murphy and Ella Petrosh of Holy Spirit; McKenna Chisholm of Ocean City; Madelynn Bernhardt of Our lady of Mercy; Kasey Bretones of Mainland; Madison Dollard of Egg Harbor Township; Ava Fisher of St. Joseph; Brooke Joslin of Millville; and Brooke Nabb of Middle Township.

Two New Jersey sports legends were there to make presentations.

Retired Millville coach and athletics director Tony Surace was on hand to present The Tony Surace Award to Mainland for being the highest ranked CAL football team in South Jersey.

Hall of Fame coach Tom Feraco made an appearance to present The Ken Leary Memorial Award to Middle Township and Coach LaMarr Greer, for having the highest ranked boys basketball team.

And Mainland coach Scott Betson accepted The Joe Fussner Award for the third straight year, symbolic of having the highest ranked girls basketball team.

Mia Dougherty of Wildwood Catholic was awarded the Frank Campo Memorial Humanitarian Award for her work with the food pantry, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club and for the creation of EndDD.org, a movement to encourage an end to distracted driving.

The boys and girls who played in the basketball games on All Star Saturday back in March were also presented with gifts by Hall of Fame coach Pat Dougherty and Gatley.

More details about the Ed Byrnes All Sports Award will be announced early next week.