2015 was a big year for sports

Although it had its ups and downs, 2015 was a big year for sports, from the local high school level all the way up through collegiate and the professional level.

The Blackhawk football team was coming off an undefeated regular season in 2014, with most football writers predicting a fall back to earth jn 2015 though finally recognizing the 'Hawks were good and will likely stay good. Indeed, the locals dropped a pair of October contests, one predicted and one that wasn't. However, rather than just chalking up the 2015 to just be a good year, the 'Hawks redoubled their efforts and turned what could have been a step down from 2014 into their best season ever.

The season turned on a pair of games in which they were decided underdogs, first against Pulaski Robinson and then against Central Arkansas Christian. Both schools were having their best season in decades, but the Blackhawks defeated them both by sheer force of will. It was the same display of will they displayed in their come-from-behind win against Shiloh in the season finale.

Tony Travis' resurgent 'Hawks ended the season as the consensus third best team in the state in the 4A classification, an ending position which would have seemed nigh to impossible back in October. With so many of the same players back in 2016, I think you will see the Blackhawks recognized by prognosticators statewide as a state contender in their next campaign.

The Blackhawk women's track team has become a dominant force in northwest Arkansas under coach Heather Wade. From being pretty much a lower tier team since the 1990s, the program has picked up a bus load of trophies in the past few years under her leadership with more and girls entering the program.

As a matter of fact, the 'Hawks have gotten better in just about everything. The Lady 'Hawks basketball team has been steadily improving and have been playing 7A schools lately and playing them closely. Perhaps this will be the year the 'Hawks will make another run at state competition.

One thing that hasn't changed is the cheerleading program which continues to produce state award winning squads on a regular basis.

While it has been going on for a while, the Blackhawk broadcasting program is producing on a high level. Available on the school's website, fans can watch Blackhawk sports on their computers if they can't make the game. Myself, being confined to home much of the time, the channel has been a blessing to me as it was the only way I could have witnessed the Blackhawks' breakout football season. Besides having high production values, Mark Laster's team of commentators and broadcasters really put on a class act.

On the collegiate level in northwest Arkansas, the Razorback football team continues to get better, though it sometimes seems we are riding a roller coaster. Highly rated to begin the year, the Hogs stumbled early against teams that they should have beaten, but later on dominated teams they should have lost to. All in all, better than last year which was better than the year before. They play Kansas State this week in the Liberty Bowl and here's hoping they end the season like they did last year.

In a state that is generally a pro St. Louis Cardinal environs, fans had lots to cheer for as the Cards won over 100 games this year. They stumbled in the playoffs with a decimated pitching rotation, but won their fifth consecutive divisional title. 2015 was an odd year in that the best three teams in the whole National League were all in Central Division. Pittsburg and Chicago were also among the best four teams in all of baseball this season as well.

Of course, the other pro team that receives a lot of local support would be the Kansas City Royals, the team that won it all in '15. Composed of many players who played a few years ago for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals out of Springdale, the Royals are now the elite team of the American League.

Hoping to shake things up in 2016 will be the Chicago Cubs. Though third in their division, the generally young team made it to the National League Championship series against a team they had beaten seven times in a row this past season. Call if the curse or just bad luck, the Cubs were unexpectedly swept by the Mets to end their season.

Hoping to raise it up a notch, the Cubs persuaded the Cards starting left fielder Jason Heyward and their pitching staff anchor John Lackey to switch teams, also taking one of the Royals best hurlers to Chicago along with the former Cardinals. Heyward felt the future was in Chicago, but he just left the team that has the best record in baseball overall since 2000.

2016? It ought to be a fun year to watch.

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Editor's note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].

Sports on 12/30/2015