The year in sports 2012

Nature's wonders abounded through 2012 in the Greater New Milford area and none more beautiful than the image of a butterfly lighting on a dandelion in May. Photo: Trish Haldin

Fireworks set off from Fort Hill light up the sky above Veterans Memorial Bridge in New Milford as motorists cruise by during the town's July celebration of our nation's 236th birthday. A downtown festival and fireworks are sponsored by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce, while a carnival at Young's Field is sponsored by the New Milford Lions Club. Photo: Trish Haldin

James and Clara D'Amico of New Milford are helped feeding a carrot to their horse, Chip, by trainer Michele Lomba of Roxbury during the Bridgewater Country Fair in August. Photo: Trish Haldin

Katrina Premo, left, and Julie Elwood of New Preston share an excellent vantage point from which to watch the high-flying antics of Ben Veyna of Las Vegas, Nev. during the performance by MOB Freestyle Motorcross at the Bridgewater Country Fair in August, 2012. Photo: Trish Haldin

A young friend teams with registered nurse Linda Lewis to light candles for the "Time of Remembrance," a reading of names by Kathy Leier, R.N., Robert O'Keefe, LCSW, and Mary Peitler, M.A., during New Milford VNA Hospice's annual interfaith remembrance service at St. John's Episcopal Church in November, 2012. Photo: Trish Haldin

Bonding with their baton at the outdoor South-West Conference meet in May 2012 following yet another record-breaking effort in the 4 x 400-meter relay are Green Wave teammates, from left to right, Lindsay Guptill, Helen Bayers, Sierra Grazia and Meghan Dietter. The New Milford High School girls' track quartet thus echoed success they'd enjoyed in the SWC, the state and regionally during the wintertime indoor season. Photo: Norm Cummings

The New Milford Renegades' Tyler Hansen delivers a pitch during his mound stint in the Cal Ripken youth baseball state championship game as he and his teammates cruise to state and regional laurels in July 2012 Courtesy of Joe Vaughey Photo: Contributed Photo

Relaxed and confident as they head with their teammates to national competition are New Milford Bulls' Pop Warner Junior Midget cheerleaders, from left to right, Hannah Seigel, Olivia Thalissinos and Emily McGuire. THe New Milford girls rose to the occasion in early December to claim national honors for their division. Courtesy of the New Milford Bulls Photo: Contributed Photo

Mia Landegren of Shepaug Valley High School follows up her superb high school golf season by winning the state women's amateur title in August. Mia later signs to play collegiate golf with the NCAA champion University of Alabama women's team in 2013-14. Photo: Norm Cummings

A brilliant senior campaign for Conor Kirkegard of the South-West Conference champion and state class 'LL' runnerup New Milford High School wrestling team climaxes with competiton in the national high school tournament. Photo: Norm Cummings

Lighthearted here while being photographed in pre-season as captains for New Milford High School boys' cross country, Ryan Clarke, left, and John Hansell are all business during a fall campaign that reaches its peak with a state open championship in November, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Brianna Reda proves to be a mainstay for New Milford High School field hockey as it shares the South-West Conference championship with Lauralton Hall and later advances to the state class 'L' tournament semifinals in November, 2012. Photo: Norm Cummings

Devon Dobson, left, of the University of Notre Dame and his brother, Phil Dobson, of Loyola of Maryland, compete against each other in the NCAA lacrosse semifinals in May. The brothers are former lacrosse standouts for New Milford High School. Photo: Contributed Photo

Devon Dobson, left, of the University of Notre Dame and his brother, Phil Dobson, of Loyola of Maryland, compete against each other in the NCAA lacrosse semifinals in May. The brothers are former lacrosse standouts for New Milford High School. Photo: Contributed Photo

Bonding with their baton at the outdoor South-West Conference meet in May 2012 following yet another record-breaking effort in the 4 x 400-meter relay are Green Wave teammates, from left to right, Lindsay Guptill, Helen Bayers, Sierra Grazia and Meghan Dietter. The New Milford High School girls' track quartet thus echoed success they'd enjoyed in the SWC, the state and regionally during the wintertime indoor season. Photo: Norm Cummings

The New Milford Renegades' Tyler Hansen delivers a pitch during his mound stint in the Cal Ripken youth baseball state championship game as he and his teammates cruise to state and regional laurels in July 2012 Courtesy of Joe Vaughey Photo: Contributed Photo

Relaxed and confident as they head with their teammates to national competition are New Milford Bulls' Pop Warner Junior Midget cheerleaders, from left to right, Hannah Seigel, Olivia Thalissinos and Emily McGuire. THe New Milford girls rose to the occasion in early December to claim national honors for their division. Courtesy of the New Milford Bulls Photo: Contributed Photo