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I've been considering my choice for 2013's top stories for several weeks now. Rather than narrowing it down to just one or two stories as I typically do, I have selected a singular tragic moment and a combined year long effort by hundereds of CHS student athletes as my co-top stories.

The April 2013 crash of a small plane within a stone's throw of downtown Collinsville homes and businesses was a tragedy with the loss of two lives, but the larger story to me was the near miss of a potentially larger tragedy if the accompanying fireball had struck an occupied structure rather than in a narrow empty patch of ground.

As CHS Athletic Director Jim Riley always says "It's Good To Be a Cardinal". I can't recall a year when the Cardinal success has been spread across so many sports and activities.
* The CHS wrestlers added their 3rd set of state titles as the top team in 5A.
* The CHS cross country ladies finished as the 3rd place 5A team. (They have finished in the top 10 every year since the program started in 2007)
* The CHS football team earned their way to the state semi-finals (first in 20 years) and a top 4 finish with heart-stopping finishes week after week.
* The CHS basketball ladies made their first trip to the state tournament in 28 years (finishing in the top 8).
* The CHS softball ladies finished in the top 8 at the state tournament.
* The CHS band's winter guard had a 4th place state finish.
* The CHS track teams had several individuals in the top 10 at state.
* The CHS cheerleaders made it to the state tournament for the first time in many years.
* The CHS academic team has had early success and their season is still in progress.
* I've probably overlooked several more note worthy accomplishments in my quick scan of 2013 ... but offer my congratulations to every CHS (&JrHi) student athlete for their outstanding efforts this past year.

-- Ted Wright -- Dec. 29, 2013 (& Jan. 10th update)

You can also click the calandar month logos above for the archived news index for that month (as well as the individual stories).