For the third time in five years and the fourth time overall, St. Augustine Prep has won the Ed Byrnes Memorial All Sports Award, which recognizes championship success among Cape-Atlantic League schools.

The Prep, which is handicapped by only having boys sports, won a state championship in swimming, a South Jersey title in tennis, additional conference championships in soccer, wrestling and golf, plus championships in baseball and lacrosse.

Holy Spirit, which has never won the award, finished second for the second time in the last four years.

The all-sports award was created by Prime Events and William Schoppy Inc. in 1991. It was renamed in memory of Byrnes, the longtime athletics director and football coach at Holy Spirit, after he died in February, 1996. Byrnes was president of the CAL for six years and had just won his 100th football game three months before his death.

The system used to determine a school’s final score in the competition awards points for championships won – both CAL and NJSIAA – with bonuses for the number of different sports in which they were won. Under this system, which rewards a sports program’s versatility, a school that wins one championship in each of two different sports will get a higher score than if it won two championships in the same sport.

Among 2007-08 highlights:
 Ocean City, the only school to win the award three straight years (1993-95) failed in an attempt to repeat that accomplishment. The Raiders tied Millville for fourth this year.
 Millville had its highest score (14) in the competition since 1996, the last year it led Cumberland County. Pleasantville (5) got its highest score since 1999 and Middle Township (5) its highest since 2000.
 Ocean City had the highest score in Cape May County for the 11th straight year, St. Augustine was tops in the National Conference for the 10th straight year.
 Middle Township was tops among the Coast-Big Five schools for the first time since 2000 but for the eighth time in 18 years. Middle’s win ended a seven-year streak by Wildwood Catholic.
 Ocean City was first in fall sports (tied with Holy Spirit) for the fifth straight year and 10th time in 11 years.

ED BYRNES MEMORIAL ALL-SPORTS RANKINGS

2007-08 OVERALL POINT LEADERS
1. St. Augustine 20
2. Holy Spirit 18
3. Mainland 17
4. Millville 14
4. Ocean City 14

PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS
2006-07 Ocean City
2005-06 Ocean City
2004-05 St. Augustine
2003-04 St. Augustine
2002-03 Mainland
2001-02 Mainland
2000-01 Ocean City/St. Augustine (tie)
99-2000 Absegami
1998-99 Ocean City
1997-98 Ocean City/Vineland (tie)
1996-97 Mainland
1995-96 Mainland
1994-95 Ocean City
1993-94 Ocean City
1992-93 Ocean City
1991-92 Mainland
1990-91 Mainland

OTHER 2007-08 LEADERS
American Conference - Mainland
National Conference - St. Augustine Prep
American One - Millville
American Two - Mainland
National One - St. Augustine Prep
National Two - Sacred Heart
Atlantic County - St. Augustine
Cape May County - Ocean City
Cumberland County - Millville
Coast Big Five - Middle Township
Boys Sports - St. Augustine Prep
Girls Sports - Millville/Holy Spirit(tie)
Fall Sports - Ocean City/Holy Spirit(tie)
Winter Sports - Atlantic City/Absegami/Holy Spirit/St. Augustine(tie)
Spring Sports - St. Augustine