Ocean City High School student-athletes have received multiple accolades for the 2018-2019 school year for their athletic performance, as well as their sportsmanship.
This year the student-athletes and coaching staff have received the NJSIAA Sportsmanship Banner, the Ed Byrnes Award, and were ranked in the top 50 public schools for sports in New Jersey.
“Ocean City High School has a long history of illustrious athletic achievement. We are thrilled to be adding the NJSIAA Sportsmanship Banner to this history. The Ocean City School District takes great pride in our student-athletes abilities on the field, as well as their dynamic sportsmanship off the field,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor.
She added, “It will be a continued goal of our coaching staff, administrators, and student-athletes to keep sportsmanlike conduct at the forefront of our athletic aspirations.”
The high school gymnasium is full of banners acknowledging championship-winning teams and record-breaking athletes.
However, a new banner will be added to the walls this year, the NJSIAA Sportsmanship Banner.
Ocean City High School was one of three schools in the Cape-Atlantic League that received the 2018-2019 NJSIAA Sportsmanship Banner.
This banner highlights Ocean City’s commitment to outstanding sportsmanship on and off the field.
Ocean City has also received the Ed Byrnes Award for the 2018-2019 school year. Since the award’s inaugural year, 29 years ago, Ocean City has now received the award a total of 17 times.
The Ed Byrnes Award is an all-sport award created by Prime Events and William Schoppy Inc. in 1991. It was renamed in memory of Ed Byrnes, the longtime athletic director and football coach at Holy Spirit High School and president of the Cape-Atlantic League, after he died in February of 1996.
The award is given to the schools that demonstrate the most versatility among their championships. Points are awarded to a school based on how many different sports the school was able to win a championship for.
Ocean City was ranked in Niche’s Top 50 Public Schools For Sports in New Jersey, receiving the 20th spot on the list. A school’s ranking on the list is calculated based on its entire athletic environment, including boys athletic participation, girls athletic participation, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of interscholastic sports offered, and parent/student surveys on sports.
“One of my goals in becoming the K-12 athletic director was to bring our program up in the state rankings. Receiving these accolades is such exciting news. This ranking takes into consideration a lot of elements, not just wins and losses. It truly is a team effort from administration and the BOE, to the greater community, to our staff, coaches, and the student-athletes themselves,” said Geoffrey Haines, Ocean City School District K-12 athletic director.
He continued, “Our district provides so much support for the student-athletes. Another item that I have always stressed, and continue to stress, is sportsmanship. Our student-athletes represent our school, district, and community and their behavior on (and off) the field is so important. To be recognized by the NJSIAA is wonderful.”
