Other articles by Tyler Hansen:

Locals get chance to swim in fast lane Grevers at home in Tucson pool Opinion by Tyler Hansen: The winner is... High schools' best Pusch Ridge seniors treat their beat feet after another feat Weldon's intense focus leads to a big celebrationMiraculous comeback lifts Lancers Surprising Ironwood Ridge is 'prepared' for its opportunity to capture a state title Cienega overcomes ejections, late-game mistakes to advance Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Some fearless predictions as 2008 state titles go on the line Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Quiet Hawk makes noise with stick

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The fall sports season has all but bid adieu, sailing off into the sunset after producing 43 individual and team state champions from Southern Arizona.

As much as it was a season of triumphant success, we also said farewell to some accomplished athletes and coaches. Rio Rico cross country champion Hanna Henson and Salpointe Catholic golf phenom Robert Perrott went out in style, and Mountain View cross country coach Dennis Hansen announced his retirement after winning the 5A-II boys title.

The state tournaments have been completed for all fall sports except 2A-5A football. Before you pack it in for the winter season, we're here to recount some of the most memorable events of the first three months of the high school year.

● Herbie Behm became Superman. Behm, a Catalina Foothills swimmer, is just like that Slip 'N Slide kids toy — just add water, and let the fun begin. But Behm is so fast the fun only lasts for 20 seconds.

He won 4A-I state titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and quickly established himself as perhaps the best sprinter in Tucson high school history.

By the time he graduates in 2009, you can do away with "perhaps."

● Oro Valley reigned supreme. Neighboring rivals Canyon del Oro and Ironwood Ridge put aside any differences they have for one common goal this fall: Win. A lot.

Ironwood Ridge won the school's first-ever state championship in girls cross country, and each school also won region titles in boys golf and girls volleyball. Add to the mix an individual state golf title by CDO's T.J. Graves and a combined eight event victories at swimming regionals, and the Oro Valley schools were dyno-mite.

● Small schools earned their keep. Two 1A teams did not get their due this fall but captured state championships in the process.

The San Simon girls volleyball team won its first-ever 1A state crown in a five-game thriller over Heber Mogollon on the merits of seniors Tiffany Lewis, Luz Cuevas and Adriana Reza.

And Elfrida Valley Union's football team — anchored by backfield partners Kenny Brown and Luis Martinez — completed a 10-0 season and outscored foes by an average of 55-9 en route to the 1A title.

● Freshmen runners tossed growing pains aside. A batch of young, incredibly talented cross country girls waited for their time to shine for about, oh, five minutes, and then took control of the state.

I-Ridge freshman Sarah Miville spearheaded the youth movement by winning the 5A-II state title. She was one of six local freshmen to earn all-state honors in their prep debuts.

The others: Aeo Bristow (Rio Rico); Mary Bowen (Sabino); Kerri Lenihan (Mountain View); and Zahira Jimenez and Konnie Zuniga (both of Nogales).

● No volleyball championships? Who cares? It wasn't the best year for high-quality girls volleyball, but there was plenty to enjoy.

Rincon, with its losing record and happy-go-lucky demeanor, made an improbable run to the 5A-II state semifinals. Sahuarita won 32 matches and made the 4A-II semis in its first year up from 3A.

Best of all, the lovable Amphi team went 34-7 with a youth-laden roster, cementing its place as one of the state's best. Don't worry. The state titles will come soon enough.

● Even in losing, kids were on their best behavior. Confusion at the 4A Sonoran Region girls cross country meet caused seven disqualifications. Race officials did not know the names of all seven and said it was up to the runners and their coaches to "do the right thing." Everyone came forward, even though it meant forfeiting a bid to the state meet.

At the 4A-I boys golf tourney, CDO's Ryan Klump signed the wrong score on his final-round scorecard — grounds for immediate disqualification. But no officials noticed the error and posted it incorrectly. Klump could have let it slide, because not even his teammates knew. He turned himself in anyway. It was a first-class move.

● Nico made his way into the record books. Santa Rita junior Nico Montaño won the 4A-II state diving championship in October, becoming the third diver from Tucson to place first at state this decade.

● Sabino had a season for the ages. The Sabercats were so good in every sport it was almost unfair. Steven Gregg led the boys XC team to the 4A-I state title. Their swimmers accounted for seven state championships. The girls volleyball team won one of the school's four fall region titles. And that doesn't include the football team's 10-0 jaunt through the regular season.

Sunnyside softball pitcher Illiana Teran helped lead her team to its first state championship in school history last fall, and accepted a scholarship offer to play at powerhouse Pima College.

Teran is now fighting for her life after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease last week.

The Blue Devils senior complained of a nagging cough and fatigue, prompting her mother, Gina Espinoza, to take her to the ER. Doctors thought Teran was suffering from bronchitis, but did a chest X-ray to be safe.

It revealed a suspicious mass behind her sternum, one that was deemed to be malignant.

"It was like being run over by a Mack truck," said Espinoza, a single mother. "Your world turns upside down because you have this gifted athlete, and she's so strong, but our lives have changed now."

Teran was released from UMC on Sunday and will recuperate from home for the rest of this semester. She will soon have her first of four chemotherapy treatments and must also undergo radiation therapy.

The treatments will stretch into February, when Teran was scheduled to begin her senior season. Pima coach Armando Quiroz told her he will honor the scholarship offer whether she plays again or not.

"She keeps saying, 'I'm not going to let this beat me. I'll be back on the field in March,' " her mom said. "That is her driving force, and she plans on doing it."

A fund has been established to help with Teran's rising medical costs. Send donations to P.O. Box 22092, Tucson, AZ 85734-2092.