WATCH: Jersey Mike’s honors student-athletes with virtual banquet

Video replay of the banquet can be found at the end of the story

To recognize high school student-athletes who missed out on their spring sports season, Jersey Mike's hosted a virtual end-of-the-year banquet on Wednesday night.

The event offered motivational messages from top athletes and some of the best coaches in America. It was first made available to high school students, athletic directors, coaches, parents and family members throughout the nation who are a part of Jersey Mike’s existing high school athletic program in partnership with Huddle.

“Student-athletes all over the country have had their seasons abruptly ended due to the coronavirus, and with that the heartbreak of dashed hopes for championships and celebratory banquets,” said Jersey Mike’s Founder and CEO Peter Cancro. “Hardest hit are our high school seniors who will miss their last varsity seasons. We want to honor these student-athletes for their hard work and dedication.”

Student-athletes from 3,000 high schools across the nation were invited to virtually attend the event.

The event was hosted by NBC host and reporter Kathryn Tappen and featured several guest speakers including:

• Peter Cancro, Founder and CEO, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. A high school running back, Peter gave up plans to attend college to buy a sub shop. That one sub shop turned into jersey Mike’s Subs, which today operates nearly 2,000 restaurants coast-to-coast.

• Kevin Boyle, Head Basketball Coach, Monteverde Academy, Monteverde, Fla. Widely recognized as one of the premier high school basketball coaches in the U.S. Boyle was also formerly the head coach at The Patrick School in Elizabeth, NJ.

• Susan Phillips, Women’s Varsity Basketball Coach, Archbishop Mitty High School, San Jose, Calif., and 2018 Naismith Coach of the Year.

• Lopez Lomong, two-time Olympian in Track and Field. Lopez began his journey in Sudan, where he was kidnapped by rebel soldiers at just six-years-old.

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge also shared a personal message with the athletes.

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.