By Matt O'Hern
Sports writer
The sports year of 2007 was defined by daring and record-breaking feats
Local watermen tested their limits on the open water and high school teams came within inches of reaching the glory that comes with winning a state championship.
10. Dan Diesel named Florida Athletic Director of the Year
The National Association of Sports and Physical Education and the National Council for Secondary School Athletic Directors named Titusville's athletic director and former football coach Dan Diesel the Florida Athletic Director of the year, Aug. 21.
Diesel began his coaching career at Titusville in 1983 as an assistant to football coach Al Werneke and has served as Titusville's athletic director since 1997.
9. MICS volleyball team advances to state final four
For the second time since 2004, Merritt Island Christian School's volleyball team advanced to the state final four. In November, they lost to the Bayshore Faith Warriors (Tampa) in the state semifinal in three games (25-11, 27-25 and 25-11)
Bayshore was the same team that knocked MICS out of the 2004 final four.
8. Astronaut and Titusville open new football stadiums
After sharing use of Draa Field for 40 years, Astronaut and Titusville high schools each opened their own, on-campus football stadiums in August.
Titusville's new home was named Al Werneke Field and Astronaut's was named Jay Donelly Field.
7. Rockledge girls soccer team advances to state final four
Most soccer fans expected the Merritt Island Mustangs to reach the state final four, but the Rockledge Raiders were the Cinderella story of the 2006 soccer season.
Rockledge's memorable run through the month of February included a win over arch rival Merritt Island and ended with a 2-0 loss to Bishop Moore in the state semifinal. The Raiders finished with a final record of 19-6-1.
6. Local ESPN radio broadcaster dies prior to football game
Keith Lippert, who called the play-by-play for local high school games on the WIXC-AM 1060 ESPN Radio Friday Night Locker Room, died Friday, Oct. 12 in the press box at Melbourne High School.
A foundation bearing his name was established at the Brevard School Foundation. The scholarship will go to a high school athlete or an aspiring sports broadcaster. To donate, send checks to the Keith Lippert Scholarship Fund at 2700 Judge Fran Jamison Way, Viera, FL, 32940.
5. Washington Nationals manager visits Viera High School
In March, during the Washington Nationals' spring training in Viera, first-year manager Manny Acta visited Viera High School to advise the Hawks' inaugural baseball team.
4. Clint Hurdle leads Rockies to MLB World Series
Merritt Island High School graduate Clint Hurdle led his team to one of the most memorable winning streaks in baseball history.
Hurdle managed a red-hot Rockies team that swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs in October and met the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.
3. Cocoa football advances to state semifinal game
The Cocoa Tigers completed the most successful season in team history by advancing to the state semifinal game against Naples Dec. 7.
A standing-room only crowd of 4,000 fans watched the Tigers rally from a 14-point deficit. Just as Cocoa appeared to be headed into overtime, Naples responded with a five-minute scoring drive that ended with a 32-yard touchdown run by running back Greg Pratt.
The dramatic finish ended Cocoa's amazing run through the playoffs, which included wins at Kathleen (Lakeland), Lake Wales and Sarasota Booker. It also marked the final game for veteran seniors such as Steve Tagye, David Rowe, Nicko McNeil, Ghauquan Clark and Mike Wade.
2. Lifeguard chief breaks three paddleboard world records.
Brevard Ocean Rescue Chief Wyatt Werneth finished his paddleboard journey from Miami to Jacksonville Beach May 27.
The World Records Academy certified him for the records, including longest paddleboard distance in 24 hours for paddling 103 miles from 8 a.m. May 19 to 8 a.m. May 20; the longest paddleboard journey on the coast of Florida, spanning 345 miles; and the greatest distance covered in nine days on a paddleboard, also 345 miles.
1. Brothers set world record during flats boat voyage to Bermuda
Ralph Brown convinced his brother Bob to join him on the 1,547-mile journey through open waters on a 21-foot flats boat from Atlantic Beach, N.C., to Bermuda and ultimately New York Harbor, where they landed May 11.
The Cocoa Beach natives earned a Guinness World Record for the longest voyage on a flats boat.
Family and friends jokingly referred to their courageous pilgrimage as the "Bermuda Suicide Challenge," but after completing a voyage that included 104 hours at sea, the Browns had the last laugh.
Contact Matt O'Hern at (321) 751-5960 or at ohern@hometownnewsol.com.