As we come to the end of the 2010-11 high school sports year here in the Metro area, it seems like a good time to look back at the top sports stories, at least to this broadcaster.

This list is not right or wrong, and it certainly is open to interpretation. But looking back, I really believe these were the most interesting and intriguing stories of the past year.

I hope you enjoy.

No. 3 Cedar Valley Christian

Do you remember what you were doing back in 1998?

It has been 13 years since the last time the landscape of the Metro sports scene has changed, but change it does this fall.

Cedar Valley Christian School announced last spring that it will be joining both the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in the 2011-12 school year. This will be the first change in the Metro high school scene since Regis and LaSalle merged to form Xavier High School in 1998.

What does this mean? Starting this school year the Huskies will compete for state championships in the sports they offer at the school. Those sports include boys basketball, girls basketball, volleyball and football. Other sports will be added in the next few years. Cedar Valley will compete in Class 1A and is exploring the possibility of joining an athletic conference. It will start as an independent.

Looking at football, Cedar Valley will be joining the 8-man football ranks. This fast-paced exciting game has been growing across the state since it was introduced several years ago. It is a perfect fit for small schools that want to keep their own sports teams and avoid consolidation, or, in this case, to have a team in a school without a huge enrollment. I'm personally looking forward to watching and possibly covering some 8-man football in the future!

Cedar Valley has had a great deal of success in the past with their old athletic affiliation, dominating the last several seasons. But the school felt that it was time to ramp up the competition as well as cut down on travel expenses. Their former conference entailed a great deal of travel to neighboring states.

I think Cedar Valley will have a great deal of fun and success down the line. Several similar schools have entered the IHSAA and IGHSAU over the past decade and have won various championships, such as Des Moines Christian and Ankeny Christian.

The road will be difficult, but in the end I think it will be very rewarding with many new relationships built by the coaches and athletes.

Welcome to the Huskies!

(Scott Unash is the sports and program director at KGYM-AM 1600. He is a six-time winner of the Iowa Broadcast News Association play-by-play Announcer of the Year Award. Scott and Mark Dukes co-host the Gym Class weekdays from 3-4 p.m. on KGYM)