Well, what a year it has been. We’ve had the highest of highs and some of the lowest of lows in Western sports, but all in all it was another successful year.

As for me, it was my first chance to write columns for the Herald, and I had a great time doing it.

I talked about everything from religion and the Cubs to me becoming Western’s Athletic Director or even potentially the football team’s seventh-string quarterback.

By the way, Coach Elson, whenever you want to tweet about my status on the depth chart, you’re more than welcome. I’d love to hear where you see me in the offense.

And while the desk gig this year didn’t let me get out of the office as much, missing out on the trip to the NCAA tournament in Portland, Ore., and not being able to travel to Hot Springs, Ark., for the Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament, I still feel like I was able to accomplish things from my cluttered desk in the Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Center.

All in all, I had a good time with the sports staff – we tried new things out like the blog and tried to really expand our coverage when we felt it was necessary, as we did with both football’s national signing day and Western’s trip to the NCAA tournament.

Our goal was to allow the readers to get to know the student-athletes at Western as people in addition to what you already know about them as athletes.

Next fall, I’ll be editor-in-chief of the Herald, leaving not as much time as I’d like for fun things like columns.

My cluttered desk will be moved into an office. There will be added responsibilities.

But since the day former Herald sports editor Beth Wilberding hired me to a be a sports reporter, my time at the sports desk has been an enjoyable one.

I will walk away with plenty of memories from sports.

From covering a regional cross country meet in cold and sleet in Louisville, to covering the 2007-08 men’s basketball tournament, including being just a few feet away from Ty Rogers when he hit his game-winning three-pointer, I’ve loved every minute of it.

And there are plenty of people around here who have helped me to get where I am.

Folks like Alan George and former softball coach Rachel Lawson. There was also Chris Glowacki and Travis Hudson as well as Brian Fremund and Darrin Horn, in addition to Brad Fields, Todd Stewart and, of course, Ms. Ann Handy in Western’s athletic media relations office. I should also thank Wood Selig for the help he provided as well.

And while I won’t be around sports as much next year, I am still excited for the opportunities that await as editor-in-chief.

Maybe, if the circumstances are right, I’ll even make a cameo appearance back here and give you the banter you’ve come to know. I’m not sure if you’ve loved it since I rarely get feedback.

But to the banter fans out there, thanks.