The first year on a new beat is often full of surprises, high drama and a little low comedy. My experience covering sports at South Whidbey High School since September was no exception.

It isn’t easy for a new reporter starting from ground zero with no frame of reference and lacking institutional memory. But I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers and discovered as the year progressed and my learning curve improved that strangers can become sources, then friends.

My job is to observe and report as objectively as I can. So if you spot me next fall on the sidelines yelling myself hoarse when a South Whidbey athlete crosses the finish line, scores a touchdown or fires a soccer ball into the net, don’t tell anyone.

There were dozens of great moments for the year 2005-2006, but these stood out:

• For me, the absolute highlight came on Feb. 3 in Erickson Gym as the Lady Falcons battled Archbishop Murphy to a 53-53 tie.

In the final seconds, co-captain Jessi Eaton lofted a high, arched sinker — it seemed to linger airborne forever — that clinched the victory. Fans screamed their approval, the band went nuts and I just stood there with a big grin instead of taking a picture. Great memories, though.

• I’d never covered a big cross country meet before; rounding the curve on Maxwelton Road Oct. 17, I spotted a couple dozen yellow buses disgorging 850 runners from 26 schools onto Waterman Field, converted for the day into a mini-tent city as students sprawled amid backpacks, running shoes, water bottles and iPods.

Lots of parents and volunteers were on hand to help Falcon Coach Doug Fulton manage the huge undertaking — very impressive.

• A good example of Falcon true grit: Janelle Iversen grimaced her way through a volleyball game Sept. 22 against Cedarcrest; I couldn’t tell if she was in pain or just really mad at someone.

A few hours later she had her appendix removed at Whidbey General Hospital.

• Fully recovered and smiling constantly, Iversen was chosen queen for homecoming with Rita Jones and Kaylee Baldwin equally radiant as princesses. A loss on the football field couldn’t overcome the school spirit shown by students that night, past and present.

• Ah, the football team. It wasn’t their best year but they went down fighting for every inch right to the last. Coach Mark Hodson admitted as much. “I didn’t give you much to write about, Jeff,” he told me.

Thing is, my stories would have been a lot different if I covered the Seahawks. But these are high school kids and I gave them every benefit of the doubt.

• Frankly, I was unprepared for the sense of drama and wonder when the South Whidbey gym’s lights dimmed and the wrestlers took center stage under a specially designed spotlight over the mat; it was a totally cool experience. Hopefully next winter the team will have more than two home meets.

• It was hard watching senior Josh Gulvin go down with a season-ending ankle injury in a basketball shoot-out against Sultan Feb. 8.

But his mates rallied and won one for the Gulvin 46-42 in a fine display of come-from-behind heroics.

• The playoff run by the girls basketball team was a wild ride, sometimes painful (Marcella Litwiller’s crash on the court at Shorecrest) and funny (Caitie Newman borrowing my shoes before a playoff game ‘cause she forgot hers) but always exhilarating.

And I won’t soon forget Tom Arhontas yelling from the cheap seats as the girls beat Lynden 49-34: “Girls, do it for your bus driver!”

• Sometimes the lonely striving of those who would excel never fails to amaze me. Day after day, in their own obscure part of the practice field, the school’s only pole vaulters practice their craft for hours — Ashley Stonebridge and Matt Long vaulted higher each week, eventually exceeding nine and

11 feet, respectively.

• Courage comes in many forms.

On March 27 several members of the girls basketball team spoke before the school board and 150 onlookers in the audience, protesting the non-renewal of their coach’s contract. They were sincere and well-spoken; lots of adults I’ve known wouldn’t have had the guts to get up and speak their mind.

• The folks who run tournaments try to make them unique and memorable. In Anacortes on May 6 the baseball team lined up from home to second while the Ferndale Eagles stretched to third; they removed their caps and stood to attention for the National Anthem, then got down to business. The Falcons lost, but I suspect those kids won’t forget the experience any time soon.

• I’ve observed South Whidbey athletes practice long hours. Every so often all the training, skill and dedication comes together perfectly, as it did for Jason Fitz on March 16 as he hurdled his way to a personal best in the 110-meter race. I caught poetry in motion with my camera that day.

As of noon on Friday, we know that golfer Blake Blakey is headed to state finals in Spokane while doubles duo Newman and Iversen and single standout Lindsey Newman are headed to the University of Washington for tennis finals — I’ll post a track update on Wednesday.

I haven’t talked much about standings and win/loss records because in a way it’s irrelevant — every one of these students was a winner. They gave their best and our community can be proud of that.

GO FALCONS!