EDITOR'S NOTE: Plenty of big stories broke between the lines and on the playing fields, courts and tracks of the Heartland in 2009. Wins and losses aside, certain moments transcended the game themselves and stuck out as the top stories of the year. ...more

December 31, 2009

Sebring's Connor Bauer is one of those rare athletes that comes through when it matters most. ...more

December 30, 2009

Linked since childhood, it took Devin Clarke and Caleb Jones a few more years to get back on the same team. ...more

December 25, 2009

When a host school puts together a major wrestling meet, the idea generally is to have a strong field of teams - but not so strong that winning the event is unlikely. ...more

December 16, 2009

SCOREBOARD Today's Schedule Boys Basketball: Bloomingdale at Brandon; Lennard at East Bay; Tampa Bay Tech at Newsome; Plant City at Durant; Riverview at Armwood; Leto at Hillsborough; Plant at Alonso; Chamberlain at King; Middleton at Wharton; Sickles at Gaither; Freedom at Steinbrenner ...more

December 16, 2009

Not long after his final match at last year's state wrestling tournament, Durant's T.J. Davis began hearing the same message from everyone with whom he crossed paths. ...more

December 16, 2009

After leading almost the entire game, Lake Placid went ice cold from the floor and the foul line in the closing minutes, and Frostproof took advantage to pull out an improbable 37-36 win in boys basketball on Friday night in the Jim Boyd gymnasium. ...more

December 13, 2009

GIRLS First team Erin Bailey, Wharton, Sr.: Veteran runner earns first-team honors for the fourth straight year after cracking the top 10 at district, top 15 in the regional and top 30 at the 4A final. ...more

December 13, 2009

Just like it always does at Lakeland's Bryant Stadium, Friday night's Class 5A semifinal game began with the Dreadnaughts taking the field to great fanfare, including a clanging bell and loud cannon. ...more

December 11, 2009

If Quentin Williams is nervous entering tonight's Class 3A state semifinal matchup at Pensacola, chances are you won't notice. ...more

December 11, 2009