Drew Wall never won any golf titles at Kennedy High School or made any dramatic shots to win a big meet, but his courageous and unflinching battle with cancer touched thousands of lives during his short time on earth.

His death in November gripped friends and strangers alike as they mourned the loss of a special young man, a young person filled with talent, great promise and hope.

Sadly, Drew Wall's passing is the top story for 2012, although we fervently wish the story would have been about his remarkable recovery instead of his tragic death.

We grieved, and then we celebrated his life as his family and friends created the "Just Drew It" shirts that have been proudly worn all over Cedar Rapids, by students and teachers at Kennedy as well as other schools in our community.

It began as a terribly sad story, but then transformed into an uplifting story about what people can accomplish despite steep odds and barriers thrown in their way.

At this holiday time, we remember Drew Wall and all he stood for.

The past year was filled with dozens of big stories, many of them celebrating individual and team achievements, but there also were stories about tragedy and controversy. Any list is highly subjective, but here's one Top 10 list that may stir a few memories and debate.

The Drew Wall story is No. 1. Here are the others:

2. JARROD UTHOFF LEAVES WISCONSIN: The Jefferson grad's decision to leave the Wisconsin basketball program after one year and transfer to Iowa became a national saga as Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan placed tight and inexplicable restrictions on where Uthoff could go. Ryan was generally portrayed as the villain and Uthoff was seen as an innocent victim of big-time athletics.

3. PAIGE SCORES 49 AGAINST KENNEDY: Marcus Paige cemented his status as one of the greatest basketball players in Metro history when he poured in 49 points and lifted Linn-Mar by Kennedy, 83-77, in double overtime in the Class 4A substate finals last March.

4. XAVIER'S MARCH TO FOOTBALL FINALS: The Saints won 13 straight games before being trimmed by Ankeny, 23-17, in the state finals in a classic "David vs. Goliath" battle that matched a private Catholic school with 800 students against a school almost three times as large.

5. TONY LOMBARDI INVESTIGATIONS: The flamboyant Cedar Rapids Washington football coach was involved in two controversies in 2012, first when Washington parents filed a complaint with the school district about alleged verbal abuse of their children and again when Lombardi directed a disparaging comment at a Cedar Rapids Prairie player after a game. He remains on the job.

6. TASHA ROUNDTREE MURDER: The 2012 Washington graduate and former basketball player was murdered this past September and a $5,000 reward has been offered in the case, but it's three months later and nobody has been charged with the crime. Cedar Rapids police will not comment.

7. XAVIER GIRLS SOCCER TEAM: The Saints won their seventh state soccer title in a row in 2012, becoming the first program in any sport to capture seven consecutive crowns in the 86-year history of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

8. STEPHANIE JENKS WINS TITLE: The Linn-Mar freshman dominated girls cross country this fall with a series of commanding victories, capped by an 18-second triumph at the state meet. She has a chance to finish her career as a four-time state champion.

9. LARRY NIEMEYER LEAVES J-HAWKS: Niemeyer accomplished great things during his coaching career at Jefferson in girls basketball and softball, but his tenure did not end smoothly when school officials decided it was time for a change. He will coach Waterloo West's softball team this summer.

10. JORDAN HOUDESHELL WINS WHEELCHAIR TITLES: Houdeshell cannot run or jump, but he's become one of the most celebrated and inspirational athletes in the Metro area with his state titles in cross country and track. He was born with spina bifida, but it hasn't stopped him from accomplishing great things and serving as an inspiration.

HONORABLE MENTION

1. Zach Witte (Prairie) and Matt Wempen (Linn-Mar) win state wrestling titles.
2. Prairie boys win races at Drake Relays and state meet.
3. Washington boys swim team wins 49th straight district title.
4. Kennedy girls win state soccer title.
5. Dennis Roloff dismissed as Kennedy girls basketball coach.
6. Kennedy baseball coach Bret Hoyer wins 600th game.
7. Jefferson snaps long football losing streak.
8. Metro baseball All-Stars top Japanese.
9. Scott Kibby resigns as Jefferson's athletic director.
10. Linn-Mar building new aquatics center.