As the end of yet another year draws near, it's time to look back at the seasons that were in Bonner Springs High School sports.

From state championships and state placers to heartaches and heartbreakers, 2004 provided a little bit of everything for athletes, coaches and fans at BSHS.

It seems inevitable that anytime someone compiles a list, a few things get left off. However, that doesn't make those accomplishments any less impressive.

But after careful consideration The Bonner Springs Chieftain sports staff has come up with the following five items that we considered to be the top stories of 2004.

5 - Mike Pier homers at the K:

Although the Bonner Springs High School baseball team lost to arch-rival Basehor-Linwood for the second straight season in the annual Frank White Classic at Kauffman Stadium, one Brave provided a lifelong memory with one swing of the bat.

Midway through the game, with his team trailing, Braves slugger Mike Pier turned on a belt-high fastball and launched it out of the park. The blast, which was roped on a line about 10 feet higher than the outfield fence, traveled well over the wall and into the vacant seats in left field. Impact was made with Row S, eight rows up in the outfield stands. When it finally settled, the ball sat undisturbed in the third row. Of the memorable round-tripper, Braves coach Rick Moulin had this to say: "That was a bomb. I never imagined anyone would be hitting a ball out of Kauffman Stadium."

4 - Bonner Springs Metro Prep Tipoff basketball tournament:

In early December a vision that Bonner Springs athletic director Garold Baker has had for years finally came to fruition. Bonner Springs High School hosted a big time high school basketball tournament. For three straight days action unfolded in two gyms for eight boys and eight girls squads. The tournament featured a handful of aspects that made it unique, such as water and towel boys for the referees, a first-rate hospitality room for the teams and officials and traveling trophies for the winners.

For the most part, the tournament ran incredibly smoothly. The host teams did not fair too well at the event, as the BSHS boys took eighth and the girls took sixth. But both teams landed one representative on the all-tournament teams. Junction City defeated Lawrence Free State in a classic girls title game, and Topeka-Seaman ran away from Atchison in a high-paced boys final. At least one person from every team represented had something extremely positive to say about the event, and Baker said he's looking forward to watching the tourney grow into one of the finest -- not to mention toughest -- tournaments in the Kansas City metro area.

3 - Swimmers qualify for state:

In just the second season ever of Bonner Springs boys swimming, the Braves qualified for the state swimming tournament in two events in 2004. One relay team -- comprised of Jon McIntyre, Tyler Mills, Jeff Hern and Andrew Holder -- made the trip to Manhattan for two events, qualifying outright in the 200-yard freestyle relay and earning a spot in the 200-yard medley relay by hitting the consideration time.

After learning of her team's acceptance in the medley relay, Braves coach Wanda Simchuk had this to say: "Four times during the preliminaries they're going to announce the name Bonner Springs," she said. "In just our second season that is awesome." Although the Braves didn't bring home medals from the state meet, the experience was the perfect way to cap what will surely go down as one of the most successful seasons in BSHS swimming for years to come.

2 - Braves golf coach Bob Chatterton retires:

His impact on Bonner Springs High School as a teacher could barely be measured. His impact on the Bonner Springs golf program was off the charts. And last spring, long-time Bonner Springs golf coach Bob Chatterton announced that the 2004 season would be his last. Citing a desire to return to playing the game competitively, as well as the need for new challenges, Chatterton stepped away from the program he built in the wake of some of the most successful seasons in school history. Those who played for him said Chatterton's influence extended beyond his knowledge of the game of golf. He was a friend to most, a coach who pushed his players and often got the best out of them and a man who had extreme pride in his school, his team and his kids.

1 - Matt Middleton wins state wrestling title:

It was more than just the perfect ending to a memorable career. It was the culmination of a lifelong dream. And when former Bonner Springs wrestler Matt Middleton took his spot atop the medal stand in Wichita in February, everyone associated with Bonner Springs beamed with pride.

His teammates, some of whom had qualified for state and wrestled earlier that day, stood in the upper deck of the Kansas Coliseum with the word "Middleton" painted across their chests. His family sat nearby. And his dad Levi, who himself had been a grand state champion during his high school days at BSHS, could do nothing but smile.

It wasn't so much the championship match that made this moment complete for Matt, as it was the fond memories of the journey he took to get there. Memories of seeing Levi's picture hanging in the wrestling room as a wide-eyed freshman, endless hours of blood, sweat and tears, countless moments of jubilation and devastation. All of them seemed worth it on one magical night.

Middleton breezed into the finals by dominating all of his matches on Friday. He then had to wait until the evening hours on Saturday to fulfill his dream. Surprisingly, he said the wait wasn't so bad. He spent most of the day relaxing and focusing on the task at hand. But when he arrived at the arena, ready to take the step of a lifetime, time began to fly. He barely remembered participating in the parade of champions that preceded the championship bouts, and even his championship match, in which he rolled to a 6-1 victory over Levi Anstine of Arkansas City, flew by in a flash.

Immediately following the match, Middleton was overcome with emotion, however, a mere half hour later, a smile that stretched from ear to ear was permanently fixed on his face. "This is better than any feeling I've ever had," Middleton said. "This is like my destiny. Now I can be up there in the wrestling room with my dad."