Top 10 Spartan Moments of 2010

10. Boys Volleyball: Spartans go undefeated in conference play in all levels

The GBN boys' volleyball team has had its fair share of success in the Central Suburban League (CSL) North over the years, but to go 10-0 at all four levels of play is an impressive feat. The varsity squad also took a regional title and advanced to the sectional final before losing to Maine South, who went undefeated in the regular season.

9. Baseball: Alex Hermeling's one-hitter against Niles West

Hermeling took a no-hitter into the sixth against the Wolves before surrendering a hit with two outs. The Spartans won 8-1, the lone run against Hermeling was unearned, and Hermeling pitched a complete game. Hermeling recently signed to play for The University of Louisiana at Monroe.

8. Hockey:

The two district rivals play a few times every year, but the game on the day before Thanksgiving has a special feel. It's usually the teams' first meeting of the season, the recent alumni are back home on break and many attend, and the students show up in full force. It's one of the hidden gems of the local sports scene. This year's version lived up to the atmosphere. The game was tied three times before GBN pulled away in the third period to win 6-3.

7. Football:

Winning conference was one of the team's goals at the beginning of the season. The Spartans hadn't done it since 2007 and did it with style. GBN beat two-time reigning conference champ Highland Park week seven to take charge of the CSL North and finished the conference slate with a 26-20 win over Deerfield.

The girls' cross-country squad took on another local rival in the conference meet. Because both the Spartans and the New Trier Trevians had the same score from their top five runners (which is how most cross-country races are determined) the title was settled by comparing the places of the No. 6 runner on each team, and GBN's Cassie Bobart finished ahead of New Trier's Ellie Pearlman by 27 seconds and six overall places. The team , then placed seventh at the state meet.

6. Boys Golf:

After as a team for the first time since 2006, the Spartans kept the momentum going by finishing fourth place. Freshman Nick Hardy shot a second-round 75 to finish 14th overall and sophomore Nick Jan finished tied for 31st behind a first-round 72. With freshman Brian Ohr also being a major contributor this season, the team should be a force again in 2011.

5. Boys Basketball: Win over Deerfield clinches share of ninth straight conference crown

On the last conference game of the season, the Spartans defeated the Warriors 54-34 to avenge an earlier loss and claim at least a share of the CSL North for an astonishing nine straight seasons. The atmosphere for this game was top notch and people were no longer allowed in a half hour before the game.

4. Softball: Sammy Roth no-hitter against Maine West

Roth dominated Warriors' batters to the tune of 17 strikeouts and nearly picked up a perfect game. She walked the leadoff batter in the seventh to end the bid for a perfect game. The 3-0 win also capped off a perfect 10-0 conference record for the Spartans.

3. Girls Tennis: Hanna Yu finishes third in state, team takes fourth

Yu closed out her career with her best ever finish at state. The four-time state qualifier took the first set against eventual state champ Jasmine Minor of Carmel in the semifinals, but couldn't close her out. Yu, who will play for Yale, rebounded to win the third place match. Her terrific tournament helped the team finished fourth.

2. Boys Swimming & Diving: Jonathan Roby second for second straight year

The diver completed the rare feet of placing second at state two years in a row. Roby finished behind Hinsdale South's Jordan Dyson to close out an outstanding career. He placed in the top 12 three years in a row and is currently diving at the University of Minnesota.

1. Boys Basketball:

This game had everything: a big comeback, a top college prospect with his future coach watching, a record breaking scoring binge and a game-winning buzzer beater. The only shame is that it was a midweek game and a bigger crowd did not see this amazing contest.

Niles North was intent on knocking the Spartans off their annual perch atop the CSL North and had a star, New Mexico-bound Abdel Nadar, to help them do it. However, Nader and the Vikings got off to a slow start. GBN led by as many as 19 in the first half and held a 13 point lead with less than five minutes to go.

Then Nader simply stopped missing. He scored 21 in the fourth quarter alone to finish with a school-record 49 points. Nader tied the game on a three with less than nine seconds to go, but Prince caught the inbound pass, dribbled down the court and drained an open three as time expired.

"I was like, oh God, go find somebody, do something," Prince said of the last play. "I was surprised I was open. I saw an open opportunity and I just took it."

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