by SEAN KERNAN - STAFF WRITER , News-Journal

1. Wildcats' Ash Burns Competition

Bethune-Cookman's Ronnie Ash finished third in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in June to become the first freshman All-American in school history. Ash ran a personal-best 13.44 seconds to finish second in the NCAA East Regional in Tallahassee and earn a trip to the nationals in Des Moines, Iowa. His time at nationals (13.59 seconds) put him third behind Auburn's Ty Akins (13.46) and South Carolina's Jason Richardson (13.40).

2. Wyatt Passes B-CU legend

Alvin Wyatt passed legendary coach Rudolph "Bunky" Matthews on Bethune-Cookman's all-time wins list when the Wildcats beat Hampton 17-6 in November. The Wildcats went 8-3, putting Wyatt's 12-year record at 85-48. Matthews was 83-46-6 from 1946-1960.

3. Ridder Makes NAIA Hall of Fame

Embry-Riddle basketball coach and athletics director Steve Ridder was selected for induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame in September. The 20-year ERAU coach, who counts the 2000 NAIA Division II men's basketball national championship among his accomplishments, will be enshrined at the 2009 national tourney in March.

4. Stetson Basketball is Back

Stetson's men's basketball team proved prognosticators wrong. The Hatters finish third -- six spots higher than preseason projections by coaches and media -- while going 11-5 in league play. An 11-2 home record helped Stetson finish 16-15 for its first winning record in the regular season since the 2000-01 campaign, but the Hatters were knocked out of Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in the first round in March. Head coach Derek Waugh, on the hot seat earlier in the season, is rewarded with a two-year contract extension.

5. Six Locals Drafted in Baseball

Justin Bass, Brian Pruitt and Nick Pugliese became the latest Stetson Hatters to join baseball's professional ranks. Bass, a former standout outfielder for DeLand, was drafted in the 19th round by the Florida Marlins in June after the outfielder finished second in the A-Sun batting race. The Washington Nationals took Pruitt, another Hatters outfielder, in the 33rd round. Pugliese, a former Deltona standout who went through the DeLand American Legion program as Bass did, inked a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

Bethune-Cookman shortstop Jose Lozada was a 17th-round selection of the Washington Nationals, and Wildcats southpaw Joseph Gautier went to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 19th round. ERAU left- hander Jordan Roberts was picked by the L.A. Dodgers in the 28th round.

6. Women's Hoops Coaching Carousel

All three women's college basketball programs in Volusia County got new coaches.

Stetson's Dee Romine -- the only basketball coach in school history to take a team to the NCAAs -- retired in March after a 24- year head-coaching career. Romine's 15 years at Stetson were highlighted by a 22-7 campaign in 2000-01 and a 2005 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament championship that sent the Hatters to the 2005 NCAA tourney. Bethune-Cookman's Francis Simmons resigned in April after going 22-92 in four seasons. Daytona State's Stephanie Smith resigned in April and was later named head coach of NCAA Division II Lincoln Memorial.

Lynn Bria (Stetson), Vanessa Inge (B-CU) and Cal Cochran (DSC) were hired as head coaches.

7. ERAU Hoops Back at Nationals

Embry-Riddle's basketball team earned an at-large bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament in March. It was the 10th trip to the NAIA's Big Dance in head coach Steve Ridder's 19-year tenure. But the Eagles finished 27-7 after a first-round defeat.

8. ERAU Baseball in NAIA Super Six

Embry-Riddle baseball, under the guidance of first-year coach Randy Stegall, advanced to the fourth round of the NAIA World Series in May before losing. The Eagles finished No. 6 in the final national rankings and were eliminated after the national tournament was down to six teams. ERAU went 44-18.

9. Wildcats Continue Diamond Success

Bethune-Cookman's baseball team continued its Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference dominance with another conference championship, but again was quickly eliminated from the NCAA Regionals in June with back-to-back losses.

Head coach Mervyl Melendez signed a school-record 13 athletes during the early signing period. Pitcher Raul David Rivera -- the No. 100-ranked high school prospect, according to Baseball America - - headed the list.

10. Vazquez Returns to College

Sam Vazquez, a former Flagler Palm Coast standout and All- American at Arkansas, returned to college athletics and led Embry- Riddle's men's cross country team to the NAIA national championships in November. Vazquez followed a Sun Conference championship victory with a 33rd place at nationals.

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