NATCHEZ — When Natchez High School concluded its competition in the MHSAA Class 6A state track meet on May 17, it marked the end of the 2009-2010 athletic year for area high schools.

And while the year is over, it won’t soon be forgotten because of the great success Miss-Lou teams had in a variety of sports.

There was at least one state championship team in every season, and many other teams went deep in the playoffs.

From the soggy, sloppy football fields in the fall to the basketball gyms in the winter and baseball and softball diamonds in the spring, it was a year of success in athletics for area schools.

It all began in the fall with football season. Several area schools had outstanding years including Natchez High, which advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, and Cathedral, which made the playoffs for the first time in three years.

But Trinity Episcopal was once again the standard-bearer for the area.

In their first season back in Class A since 2006, the Saints shook off a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season to cruise through the playoffs and win the state championship with a 37-7 rout of DeSoto in the championship game.

The Trinity football team wasn’t the only school team to claim a state title in the fall.

The girls cross country also boasted that honor with an impressive performance at the state meet.

The state championship momentum continued into basketball season in December and January, with the Vidalia boys and Trinity girls making runs at a state championship.

Vidalia, which lost in the state championship game in 2009, was on a mission to get back to Lafayette, La., and win the championship this year, and the Vikings didn’t disappoint.

Vidalia overcame a second half deficit in its quarterfinal game to win and advance to the Cajundome and then took two easy victories in the semifinals and finals, including a dominating 82-59 victory over Carroll in the state championship game.

It was Vidalia’s first basketball state championship in 31 years.

The Trinity Lady Saints came so close to duplicating that feat, as they advanced to the MAIS Class A title game.

However, the Lady Saints came up just short, falling to Delta Academy 38-33 in the championship game.

But Trinity does return every major contributor from the team, which should lead to great things next season.

As the weather warmed up, the success our local teams were having didn’t wane.

Cathedral, especially, had a great spring. The Green Wave baseball team won its district and advanced to the South State championship series while the softball team also won district and made it to the second round of the playoffs.

The girls track team also posted a strong fourth place finish at the state track meet.

The Beard sisters, Davis and Madeline, also won a state championship in girls doubles in tennis.

And the highlight of Cathedral’s spring was the state championship by the golf team, which bested rival St. Aloysius by six shots to win the championship at Beau Pré Country Club.

Another school that enjoyed a championship season was Jefferson County, which placed its boys team second in the state meet.

The 100-meter relay team won the state championship and tied a state record in the process.

So now we’ll take a break for a couple of months and then get ready for another great year starting in August.

And if it’s anything like the year that just concluded, it’s going to be great.