It was another year of triumphs, milestones, retirements and buzzer-beaters, stories of life, death and redemption for the sports staffers at The Day, whose scope of events to cover grows larger as time passes. Here are The Day's Top 10 sports stories of the year, including only events The Day covered. The voters: Chuck Banning, Mike DiMauro, Vickie Fulkerson, Dave Davis, Ken Sorensen, Owen Poole, Ned Griffen, Gavin Keefe and John Macy.

Here are The Day's Top 10 sports stories of the year, including only events The Day covered. The voters: Chuck Banning, Mike DiMauro, Vickie Fulkerson, Dave Davis, Ken Sorensen, Owen Poole, Ned Griffen, Gavin Keefe and John Macy.

1. They are women, hear them roarOn a weekend when eastern Connecticut played host to a championship high school event, three girls' basketball teams from east of the river won state titles. Norwich Free Academy (Class LL), Bacon Academy (Class M) and Old Lyme (Class S) earned state championships at Mohegan Sun Arena, which drew nearly 16,000 fans for the state's eight championship games.

On a weekend when eastern Connecticut played host to a championship high school event, three girls' basketball teams from east of the river won state titles. Norwich Free Academy (Class LL), Bacon Academy (Class M) and Old Lyme (Class S) earned state championships at Mohegan Sun Arena, which drew nearly 16,000 fans for the state's eight championship games.

2. Out goes Jack, in comes JeffIt was a tumultuous, yet triumphant season for the Whalers, who endured the upheaval surrounding former coach Jack Cochran's dismissal and turned it into an undefeated regular season under new coach Jeff Larson. New London won the Large Division of the Eastern Connecticut Conference before losing in the Class M playoffs.

It was a tumultuous, yet triumphant season for the Whalers, who endured the upheaval surrounding former coach Jack Cochran's dismissal and turned it into an undefeated regular season under new coach Jeff Larson. New London won the Large Division of the Eastern Connecticut Conference before losing in the Class M playoffs.

3. They did it for JazzThe UConn football program, reeling from the death of defensive back Jasper Howard, rallied to win at Notre Dame in overtime, a victory coach Randy Edsall called the biggest in program history. Edsall, whose leadership and resolve in the time of Howard's death earned national recognition, also led the Huskies to their third straight bowl game, Saturday in Birmingham.

The UConn football program, reeling from the death of defensive back Jasper Howard, rallied to win at Notre Dame in overtime, a victory coach Randy Edsall called the biggest in program history. Edsall, whose leadership and resolve in the time of Howard's death earned national recognition, also led the Huskies to their third straight bowl game, Saturday in Birmingham.

4. PerfectionThe UConn women's basketball team won its sixth national championship and celebrated its third perfect season. UConn wasn't challenged, marching to St. Louis where the Huskies dispatched Stanford and Louisville. All-America guard Renee Montgomery closed out her career with a national title and a spot in the "Huskies of Honor" at Gampel Pavilion.

The UConn women's basketball team won its sixth national championship and celebrated its third perfect season. UConn wasn't challenged, marching to St. Louis where the Huskies dispatched Stanford and Louisville. All-America guard Renee Montgomery closed out her career with a national title and a spot in the "Huskies of Honor" at Gampel Pavilion.

5. 'Tranquilo'New London High's baseball team, introduced to coach Mike Wheeler a few days before the season opened, won the Class M championship. New London's Luis Sanchez, named The Day's Player of the Year, was the winning pitcher in the state finals at Palmer Field in Middletown. New London players embraced the Spanish word "tranquilo," a Spanish word for relaxed that was the unofficial team anthem.

New London High's baseball team, introduced to coach Mike Wheeler a few days before the season opened, won the Class M championship. New London's Luis Sanchez, named The Day's Player of the Year, was the winning pitcher in the state finals at Palmer Field in Middletown. New London players embraced the Spanish word "tranquilo," a Spanish word for relaxed that was the unofficial team anthem.

6. AdiosThe Connecticut Defenders played their last game at Dodd Stadium in September and darn near won the Eastern League title. Connecticut won the Northern Division title and moved into the finals, where it lost to Akron. The franchise moves to Richmond, while local officials try to secure a "short season" (June-August) Class A team for this summer.

The Connecticut Defenders played their last game at Dodd Stadium in September and darn near won the Eastern League title. Connecticut won the Northern Division title and moved into the finals, where it lost to Akron. The franchise moves to Richmond, while local officials try to secure a "short season" (June-August) Class A team for this summer.

7. Life's a Fitch for FicoThe Fitch High School softball team completed a memorable run through the Class LL tournament by defeating Masuk of Monroe in the state finals. Fitch snapped Masuk's 77-game winning streak and handed Louisiana State-bound pitching phenom Rachele Fico her first loss of the season. Fico amassed nearly 2,000 strikeouts in her career.

The Fitch High School softball team completed a memorable run through the Class LL tournament by defeating Masuk of Monroe in the state finals. Fitch snapped Masuk's 77-game winning streak and handed Louisiana State-bound pitching phenom Rachele Fico her first loss of the season. Fico amassed nearly 2,000 strikeouts in her career.

8. Welcome to DetroitThe UConn men's basketball team made the program's third Final Four before succumbing to Michigan State before more than 70,000 fans at Ford Field. The Huskies were in the middle of their tournament run when Yahoo Sports reported possible recruiting improprieties that left the program answering many non-basketball questions. The matter is still under NCAA review.

The UConn men's basketball team made the program's third Final Four before succumbing to Michigan State before more than 70,000 fans at Ford Field. The Huskies were in the middle of their tournament run when Yahoo Sports reported possible recruiting improprieties that left the program answering many non-basketball questions. The matter is still under NCAA review.

9. All stars, no playoffsMohegan Sun Arena played host to the 2009 WNBA All-Star game, but was dark at playoff time for the first time since the Connecticut Sun arrived here. The All-Star game drew a sellout crowd and many former UConn players. But one former UConn great, Sun All-Star Asjha Jones, got hurt early in the second half of the season and the Sun couldn't overcome her absence.

Mohegan Sun Arena played host to the 2009 WNBA All-Star game, but was dark at playoff time for the first time since the Connecticut Sun arrived here. The All-Star game drew a sellout crowd and many former UConn players. But one former UConn great, Sun All-Star Asjha Jones, got hurt early in the second half of the season and the Sun couldn't overcome her absence.

10. FinallyThe Old Lyme High School girls' soccer team won its first state championship under veteran coach Don Desautels, who announced his retirement shortly after. The Wildcats played one player short for most of the Class S finals vs. nemesis Immaculate of Danbury because a player was issued a red card. The Wildcats almost won the game outright, but settled for a 1-1 tie and a co-championship.

The Old Lyme High School girls' soccer team won its first state championship under veteran coach Don Desautels, who announced his retirement shortly after. The Wildcats played one player short for most of the Class S finals vs. nemesis Immaculate of Danbury because a player was issued a red card. The Wildcats almost won the game outright, but settled for a 1-1 tie and a co-championship.Also receiving votes (in no particular order): Waterford wrestling, a week after losing to Bacon and Ledyard in ECC tournament, beat both to win the Class M state title. ... Coast Guard's Pete Barry, the most successful coach in program history, retired as the men's basketball coach. ... Ron Yuhas Jr. won his first career title at the Waterford Speedbowl in the SK-Modified division, overtaking Keith Rocco on the track's final event. Bruce Thomas Jr. won his third straight Late Model title. ... Torin Childs-Harris hit a jumper with 5.9 seconds left to help New London defeat NFA 51-48 to win its second straight ECC tournament title in a thrilling victory. ... Waterford High softball won its first state title under coach Liz Sutman.

Also receiving votes (in no particular order): Waterford wrestling, a week after losing to Bacon and Ledyard in ECC tournament, beat both to win the Class M state title. ... Coast Guard's Pete Barry, the most successful coach in program history, retired as the men's basketball coach. ... Ron Yuhas Jr. won his first career title at the Waterford Speedbowl in the SK-Modified division, overtaking Keith Rocco on the track's final event. Bruce Thomas Jr. won his third straight Late Model title. ... Torin Childs-Harris hit a jumper with 5.9 seconds left to help New London defeat NFA 51-48 to win its second straight ECC tournament title in a thrilling victory. ... Waterford High softball won its first state title under coach Liz Sutman.