Top local sports story of 2009: The season of the Bradford High School football team.

For their accomplishments, their popularity and the sheer buzz they created, I give the nod in this category to the Red Devils over the state championship of the St. Joseph High School baseball team.

When Bradford played, particularly at the end of its season, the games were happenings that attracted thousands of fans.

Coach Jed Kennedy’s team created the atmosphere by winning 11 games and the Southeast Conference and advancing to the WIAA Division-1 State quarterfinals in dominating fashion.

Top state sports story of 2009: The emergence of Aaron Rodgers.

If Rodgers hasn’t made Packer fans forget Brett Favre, he is certainly on his way to doing so.

My disdain for Favre may have something to do with this but there is no arguing that Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

In addition, Rodgers is more polished than Favre was at this stage of their careers.

The biggest local joke of 2009: The voting for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

I still don’t know how league coaches could not have voted colleague Jenny Kenesie of UW-Parkside this award.

In and around the birth of her second child, Kenesie missed one practice and one game while leading her young team to an 18-10 record.

The biggest local surprise of 2009: The St. Joseph High School baseball team receiving a forfeit win in the playoffs and going on to win the State title.

The best game I saw in 2009: Mark Buehrle’s perfect game for the White Sox July 23.

Review of 2009 predictions: I was awful.

The Blackhawks did not win the Stanley Cup, Kenoshan Dick Bosman inexplicably was not inducted into the State Hall of Fame and no plans were announced to make games at Miller Park part of the Wrigley Field renovation plan.

A prediction for 2010: The Carthage men’s basketball team will win three games in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Contact Sports Editor David Marran at dmarran@kenoshanews.com