A senior who finally won her coveted first state championship.

More top finishes at state.

It was all a part of another special sports year at Wilsonville High School for the 2008-09 season.

What I want to do with this column is honor those athletes who made this school year special.

The intent, however, is not to slight any one individual or team. This is meant to again remember the accomplishments of the 2008-09 school year.

Every athlete should be commended for their hard work and dedication to athletics.

So here we go, as I hand out my awards for this past year.

Most Outstanding Male Athlete

ISAAC WILSON

(boys basketball, tennis)

Wilson was the undisputed leader for the Wilsonville boys basketball team as its point guard.

He provided the senior leadership for a team that started a freshman, a sophomore and an up-and-coming junior, helping the Wildcats to third at the OSAA Class 5A state tournament.

Wilson was named to the Class 5A all-tournament second team, was an all-state honorable mention and was an All-Northwest Oregon Conference first team selection.

During tennis season, the graduating senior made the move from singles to doubles. And it paid off with teammate Taylor Evans as the duo advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals before falling to the state runner-ups.

Other nominations: Jon Adrian, Jake Jones, K.J. Larsen, Travis Johnsen, Zak Cooper, Michael MacKelvie, Taylor Bullock, Gray Hubel, Mark Guyler

Most Outstanding Female Athlete

Kelsey Starr

(girls soccer, track and field)

For four years, Starr has been one of the state's elite sprinters.

However, Summit's high-class sprinter Kellie Schueler has always been in her way.

So there was no doubt when Starr helped anchor the 4x100-meter relay to a first-place finish at the Class 5A state track and field meet this spring, it was moment she desired for a long time.

Off the track, Starr has also been instrumental in the success of the team's young sprinters with Nicole Gearhart, Allie Church and Lizzy Bullock.

During soccer season, Starr helped the Wildcats to another Class 5A state-playoff appearance.

Other nominations: Laura Hanson, Kristen Chester, Kristine Olson, Alex Thomas, Megan Arnoldy, Ashley Walters, Nicole Gearhart, Juhee Lee, Abby Farrell, Alisha Hansen

Coach of the year

Chris Roche, boys basketball

In a season that began with a 17-game winning streak and rise to the top of the state's rankings, Roche guided Wilsonville to one of its finest seasons in school history.

The season rivaled the Wildcats' Class 3A state championship season in 2005. Wilsonville finished 26-3 overall, knocking out North Eugene 44-41 in the third-place game. If not for a heartbreaking shot by Century's Cameron McCaffrey in the Class 5A semifinals, Wilsonville could be hanging its second state title banner in basketball.

Roche was recognized statewide for the year his team had, being honored as the Class 5A coach of the year.

TOP accomplishment

Wilsonville girls tennis team

undefeated in league play

Since the inception of the Northwest Oregon Conference in the 2007 season, the Wisonville girls tennis team has remained the class of the league under coach Mike Farrell.

The Wildcats won their third straight NWOC dual-match title this spring, going 18-0 overall and 14-0 in league play.

More impressively, Wilsonville has continued to have talent roll into the program year after year.