Classic re-matches: In boys soccer, volleyball and football, the Tri-Nine's top teams met more than the minimum amount of times - and great games ensued.

Green Hope and Apex volleyball played three times this year to determine which would be the conference's No. 1 seed. Twice, those matches went the full five games.

Fuquay-Varina and Green Hope met three times in boys soccer. The first game was a Green Hope blowout. The next was a Fuquay win - the Falcons' only loss of the year - and the third was in the fourth round of the playoffs where Green Hope rallied from three goals down to win.

Middle Creek and Fuquay's football teams met in the first week of the conference season and played a two-overtime game in which the Mustangs won. They met again in the second round of the playoffs.

The retirements: We saw two young coaches leave this year, but it's hard to say that they didn't go out on top - they were always there.

First, it was Apex volleyball coach Nikki O'Connell. Then it was Green Hope soccer coach Andrew Chadwick.

Both left with multiple conference championships and one state title apiece.

The common thread? Both were volunteer coaches who wanted to spend more time with their young families.

Sad? To me, maybe. But probably not to their loved ones, who will appreciate having them around more.

The champions: Athens Drive girls golf, Green Hope girls cross country and Green Hope boys soccer all won NCHSAA state titles.

Cary Christian girls cross country and Grace Christian boys cross country did the same in the NCISAA.

While Green Hope soccer's postseason run was memorable, the push Athens Drive made to win a third girls golf title in four years was remarkable. The Jaguars finished third in the Tri-Nine, second in the East regional, then beat the statewide field - again.

The sad goodbye: It wasn't that long ago that Jim Hynus was on the sideline coaching Holly Springs football.

His passing in early October was a blow to the entire community, showing how much impact the right person can make for a school, and the people outside of it.