Now that we're ready to turn the page to 2008, it's fun to look back on the Butler County sports year of 2007.

We do that extensively on the Page C4.

But trying to select a high-school coach of the year is a daunting task on most occasions. Teams win championships in different sports, which give coaches instant credibility toward such recognition.

For example, in 2007:

• Eric Semega led his Seneca Valley baseball team to a state championship.

• Ed Conto reached 100 wins in his career while guiding Karns City's football team to an undefeated regular season and a District 9 championship.

• Dave Hepler led his Freeport hockey team to the Penguins Cup Class A championship, ending an opponent's 35-game unbeaten streak while doing so.

• Chris Knauff, in his first year at the helm, led the Mars boys soccer team to the state finals.

• Dan Hindman helped the Moniteau girls softball team break through and win the program's first District 9 championship.

• Ron Butschle ended Seneca Valley football's 26-game section losing streak and guided the Raiders to a second-place finish in section play and a WPIALplayoff berth.

All of the above would be viable candidates for the county's coach of the year honor in any given year.

Just not this year.

One man experienced ample coaching success in two sports — at two different schools, no less — and no one else has done that.

Dave Sylvester.

Earlier in 2007, he guided the Mars girls basketball team to a 24-4 record and a second consecutive section championship. The Planets had six seniors and six juniors on that roster, but sophomore Lily Grenci wound up earning a first team Butler Eagle girls basketball all-star berth.

In two years as Mars coach, Sylvester was 46-11, maintaining and expanding the quality program he inherited from Dana Petruska.

This fall, Sylvester led Seneca Valley's girls soccer team to a 17-3-1 record and into the WPIALplayoffs, where the Raiders had never advanced beyond the first round under his watch.

Despite coaching a team that had only a couple of seniors, Sylvester led Seneca Valley to upsets over top-seeded teams in the playoffs. His team, seeded ninth, won the WPIALClass AAAtitle by shutting out Upper St. Clair, 2-0.

The Raiders used a freshman goalkeeper, and one of their biggest scoring threats was a sophomore.

Sylvester's success reminded me of another coach I covered 14 years ago: Craig Farrar of Steubenville (Ohio)Catholic Central. During the 1993-94 school year, Farrar was defensive coordinator for a state championship football team, coached a wrestler to a state crown and a baseball team to a state title.

When you can find success in multisports — and in Sylvester's case, at multi-schools — you've had a year for the ages.

Dave Sylvester reached that category in 2007.