Mainland’s John Franchini and Lauren Cella of Holy Spirit were the winners of the Billy Schoppy Memorial Awards for the Cape-Atlantic League’s Class of 2026. The awards are presented annually by Prime Events to the senior athletes with the most outstanding sports careers.

The presentations were made in the auditorium inside the Music Pier on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

Franchini was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Mustangs, leading them to a composite record of 41-11, including two NJSIAA sectional championships and the only 14-0 state championship ever by a CAL school. He threw for 5,882 passing yards, third most by a CAL quarterback, and 74 touchdown passes, an all-time CAL record. He also had 769 rushing yards and 10 more touchdowns. Franchini was also the starting point guard in basketball and a starting outfielder in baseball, where he hit .260 with 22 stolen bases. He will attend the University of Pennsylvania.

Cella was also a three-sport star. She scored 19 goals and added 22 assists in field hockey: scored 1,023 points in basketball, where she was an 83% free throw shooter and added 394 rebounds, and 219 assists; and in lacrosse she scored 81 goals, had 33 assists and added 57 ground balls. She will attend Thomas Jefferson University.

Franchini is the second Mainland male athlete to win the award, joining Cohen Cook in 2024. Three females from Mainland previously won the award – Sofia Day in 2025, Camryn Dirkes in 2022 and Alyssa Aldridge on 2018.

Cella is only the second athlete from Holy Spirit to win the award, joining Sarah Marakos in 2011.

The other 11 finalists for the male award, in alphabetical order, were Frenchmon Bethea of Cedar Creek, Jake Blum of Mainland, Ty Bonner of Lower Cape May, Ty Costabile of Holy Spirit, Jaylen Day of Atlantic City, John Fernandez of Lower Cape May, Chase Hansen of Lower Cape May, Chase Moore of Middle Township, Tamir Rex of Atlantic City, Damari Simeon of St. Augustine and Alex Weingartner of St. Augustine.

The other 11 female finalists, also listed alphabetically, were Gabby Childs of Hammonton, Stella Devlin of St. Joseph, Alaina Dorsey of St. Joseph, Gabby Henry of Ocean City, Taylor Lyons of Holy Spirit, Taison Parker of Atlantic City, Reagen Powell of Middle Township, Ainsley Reed of Lower Cape May, Janderlys Reyes-Mendez of Pleasantville, Mitra Sampson of Hammonton and Bella Scittina of Mainland.

In addition to individual winners, the Ed Byrnes All-Sports Award was won by Ocean City. The Raiders had two state championship teams and four South Jersey champs this year.

The Tony Surace Award, which goes to the highest-ranked CAL football team, was won by Cedar Creek. The Ken Leary Memorial Award for the highest-ranked boys basketball team went to Middle Township. And the Joe Fussner Award to the top-ranked girls basketball team also went to Middle Township.