As the 2005-06 high school athletic year begins to wind down, there is a good number of Shelby County teams still with a chance at a winning a state title.

Prior to the Reporter&8217;s Tuesday press deadline, there were six county softball teams, three county baseball teams and four soccer teams.

Thirteen sports teams from our 14 public and private high schools still, vying for a state title is a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

And that goes without considering those teams and individuals that have already claimed a state title this year.

Oak Mountain&8217;s Steven West won a Class 6A state wrestling title during the fall sports season.

Indian Springs just won the Class 1A-3A boys&8217; state tennis team title while county tennis players Arie Hefter (Indian Springs), Bryan Song (Indian Springs), Aljosha Barath (Indian Springs), Pat McGowan (Indian Springs), John Flaniken (Pelham), Julia Gogoll (Indian Springs), Cathryn Marie Albright (Briarwood), Renee Nicholas (Briarwood), Alli Nolen (Oak Mountain), Mallory Waites (Oak Mountain) and Danielle Brown (Oak Mountain) all clinched singles and doubles title in their respective classes.

Spain Park&8217;s Chris Spear, Oak Mountain&8217;s Taylor Crane and Calera&8217;s Nick Cannady all won state titles at the track and field championships this past week, with Crane taking home two titles.

There have been a number of close calls this season, with the Kingwood Lady Lions, Cornerstone Christian Chargers, Calera Lady Eagles and Oak Mountain Eagles all making long runs into the basketball playoffs.

We should feel proud of the fact that our local schools are overflowing with intelligent and talented young men and women who work to excel both on and off the field.

As teams from Thompson, Briarwood, Oak Mountain, Indian Springs, Chelsea, Calera, Shelby County,

Pelham and Briarwood compete this week with state title hops on the line, lets wish them the best of luck and thank them for working hard to represent our county with pride