After a school year filled with blood, sweat, tears... and loads of homework, some of Wareham's top student-athletes took a night off from working to acknowledge the fruits of their labors.

Wareham High School's top athletes and leaders were honored Tuesday at the annual Captain and Senior Athletic Awards.

According to interim Athletic Director Steve Rumbolt, the biggest star on the team isn't always the one who displays the characteristics that make a good captain.

"It's leadership qualities. They don't always have to be verbal. They can lead by example," he explained.

Of course, sometimes the star player is also the captain, like Darien Fernandez, who captained the basketball team.

"I think, overall, it's someone who has the respect of their teammates," said basketball coach Kevin Brogioli, adding that toughness and competitiveness are two of the main thing he looks for when choosing a captain.

Fernandez won the award for outstanding male athlete, while Aliyah Alley took the award for outstanding female athlete.

School Committee Chair Rhonda Veugen addressed the crowd assembled in the school cafeteria, saying: "You are Wareham's pride."

Veugen noted that she was an athlete in school and said that the skills the students learned over the course of their high school careers will help them in adulthood.

"What did sports teach me in high school?" she asked. "Basically, to never give up."

Awards for sportsmanship, outstanding male and female athlete and leadership awards were doled out, among others. Check back later for a full list of the award winners.