2021 sports highlights, we're happy to say, lead off with Tennessee football

If you have any goals left to accomplish in 2021, better get busy. Today, we look back at a year of renewal and salute successes.

As the world of sports regained a semblance of normalcy in the COVID-19 pandemic, a bunch of individuals and teams with connections to our area did good things this year. Here are some of them:

Josh Heupel’s first Tennessee football season gets a thumbs up. An eighth win in the Music City Bowl would be icing on the cake. The Vols don’t need to beat Purdue to validate the progress they made in 2021 or the optimism pointing forward.

Hendon Hooker’s quarterback efficiency was a pleasure to watch. Confirmation that he’ll be back in 2022 is an early Christmas gift for Vol fans.

Men’s basketball didn’t have the (2020-21) season everyone wanted. Nevertheless, congrats to Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer for becoming first-round NBA draft picks after one season at Tennessee. Rick Barnes’ recruiting pitch benefits.

As for the 2021-22 season, Kellie Harper deserves kudos for keeping the Lady Vols on track despite losing her best player, Rae Burrell. I, for one, am impressed with Tennessee’s determination to find ways to win.

Sticking with UT sports, congrats to Chris Woodruff and men’s tennis. The Vols went 28-4 last spring, won the SEC tournament and reached the NCAA semifinals. Pat Harper and Adam Walton teamed up for an NCAA doubles championship.

Tony Vitello put Tennessee baseball back on the map. The Vols won 50 games and returned to the College World Series for the first time since 2005. The National College Baseball Writers Association named Vitello the national coach of the year.

Soccer had a historic fall. Brian Penske’s team won a record 20 matches, won the SEC tournament and reached the NCAA round of 16.

Some former Vols and Lady Vols stood out in 2021.

Candace Parker, at 35, added a WNBA title in her first season with the Chicago Sky. Parker still has game.

One of Tennessee’s all-time favorites was recognized for a career that included the 1998 national title. Al Wilson is the newest Vol enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Trey Smith has killed it as a rookie with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tennessee always has an Olympic presence. Last summer in Tokyo, Kara Lawson coached the U.S. 3x3 women’s basketball squad to a gold medal in a new Olympic event. Swimmer Erika Brown won silver and bronze relay medals. Kelsey Robinson helped the U.S. win volleyball gold.

Randy Sanders, the former Vol quarterback and longtime UT assistant coach, guided ETSU to a historic football season. The Bucs opened with a win over Vanderbilt — the first of 11 wins — and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Enjoy retirement, Randy.

Our area high schools brought home too many state titles and honors to list. The least surprising one is Coach Gary Rankin and Alcoa winning a seventh consecutive 3A football title. Amazing dynasty and a Mr. Football in Caden Buckles.

Powell football won its first 5A championship. DeSean Bishop of Karns was 5A Mr. Football.

Gibbs won a baseball championship, Farragut a softball title.

Turns out we’re pretty good at soccer. Webb and Sevier County won boys state titles. So did Austin-East.

We’ll be hearing more about Knox Catholic point guard B.J. Edwards, the 2021 II-AA Mr. Basketball. He’ll be playing for the Vols next year.

Finally, cheers to the Knoxville City Council for voting to build the stadium that will bring Class AA baseball back downtown.

Merry Christmas to all.

Mike Strange is a former writer for the News Sentinel. He currently writes a weekly sports column for Shopper News.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 2021 Tennessee football basketball Lady Vols Alcoa Powell High School Mike Strange