In July 2012, Abbotsford's basketball star Jacob Doerksen signed his second professional contract with Germany's Pro A league.

The 6-foot-7 forward, a Rick Hansen Secondary and Trinity Western grad, played his first as a professional in Germany's Pro B division with the UBC Hannover Tigers last year.

Averaging 21.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and two steals per game, Doerksen was named Eurobasket.com Germany Pro

B Center of the Year, as well as being named to the Eurobasket.com Germany Pro B First Team and Eurobasket.com Germany Pro B All Import Team.

"I am excited to be moving up to Pro A and look forward to a great year ahead," said Doerksen.

Four members of the Abbotsford Judo Club came home with medals from the

Canadian Judo Nationals July 5 - 8 in Toronto. Cole Yodogawa, 16, took silver; Brandon Jobb, 19, won bronze; Leo Goldberg and Jeff Swad-den both won bronze in their first national competition.

In August, London 2012 marked the third Olympic appearance for Mission swimmer Brent Hayden, who did not disappoint.

The 28-year-old captured the bronze medal in the 100 metre freestyle in a time of 47.80 seconds. American Nathan Adrian took gold in 47.52 seconds while James Magnussen of Australia captured silver in 47.53.

"I think tonight it was just digging down right into my soul. Physically I probably wasn't that fast, but spiritually and emotionally, I had that extra push to get me beyond what I was capable of," said Hayden.

No Canadian man had ever won a medal in the 100m Olympic final until Hayden did it Aug. 1.

More Olympic glory was in store for local athletes as Abbotsford's Sophie Schmidt, a member of the Canadian women's soccer team ground it out with her team to capture Canada's first-ever medal in Olympic soccer.

After losing a heart-breaker in the semi-final in a controversial 4-3 decision to the Americans, the Canadians rallied for the

bronze medal game against a tough French team. With all of Canada watching on TV, the score was tied at zero after regulation.

In the second minute of extra time, Schmidt took a pass from midfielder Diana Matheson, turned, dribbled and fired at the goal.

The ball deflected off France's defender and came right back to Matheson, who side footed it into the right

side of the net for Canada's 1-0 win and the bronze medal.

The podium finish in women's soccer marks the country's first Summer Games Olympic medal in a traditional team sport since a silver in men's basketball in 1936.

Aug. 25 saw the debut of the controversial Lingerie Football League at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Complex. The home team, the BC Angels beat the Regina Rage 41-18 before a skimpy, predominantly male crowd.

The Angels would go on to win the inaugural Lingerie Bowl at the AESC against the Saskatoon Sirens, but lost the Pacific Cup to the Seattle Mist 38-18 in December.

In September, Abbotsford was home to the Canadian BMX Championships and also the BMX Supercross World Cup, which drew the top riders and Olympic athletes from all over the world to Abbotsford's outdoor track at Exhibition Stadium.

"It's pretty amazing," said Steve Baxter, president of the Abbotsford BMX Club, which hosted the cup. "It's one small step down from the Olympics. It's a huge event."

In early October, the University of the Fraser Valley men's golf team captured the 2012 PACWEST conference championship with a come-from-behind victory over Camo-sun College in the final round of the regular season at the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club.

"I am not sure I have the words to describe what happened on the golf course today. It was truly the gutsiest performance by a team I have ever watched," said head coach Chris Bertram. "To come back from that deficit against a team that good is just incredible."

Oct. 20, Abbotsford's Brandon Jobb, 19, captured gold in the -90kg division of the Provincial Judo Championships, hosted by the Abbotsford Judo Club at the Ag-Rec building.

In November, W.J. Mouat's Maleek Irons broke what is believed to be the B.C. high school all-time, single-season rushing record of 3,173 yards over 11 games (set by Coquitlam-Centennial running back Reg Bradshaw in 2001).

Irons, a Grade 11 tailback, carried 30 times for 322 yards and six touchdowns in his team's 55-20 Subway Bowl quarter-final victory over West Van. That gave Irons, over 11 games, 3,184 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Mouat's quest for a Triple-A championship was stopped when they later lost to Mt. Douglas in the provincial semifinal.

The MEI junior boys volleyball team won the provincial championship at home Nov. 24 in storied fashion in three straight sets. The undefeated Eagles even blanked the No. 2 ranked Oak Bay team 25-0 in a quarter-final game earlier in the tournament.

"In volleyball land I've never heard of that before," said coach Jeff Gamache.

"This is the most dominant junior team we've ever had. It's a special group of guys that can deliver a performance like that."

Abbotsford Heat goalie Barry Brust set an American Hockey League record Nov. 24, extending his scoreless streak to 268: 17 minutes before allowing a second-period power play goal to slip in while playing the Rampage in San Antonio, Texas.

The netminder broke the record of 249: 51 minutes, established by Johnny Bower of the Cleveland Barons in 1957.

Brust set the mark at 18: 11 of the first period and held the Rampage scoreless until 16: 36 of the second period.

"Barry's shutout streak was really a hot issue," said Heat coach Troy Ward.

In December, the Mission Roadrunners junior varsity team defeated the Abby Senior Panthers 22-8 to claim the championship in JV Double-A football Dec. 1 at BC Place Stadium.

This is the Roadrunners second JV title in the last three years and the fourth consecutive year they have gone to the finals.

"The string of success our program has had in the last few years reflects the dedication and hard work of a lot of players and coaches," said Mission head coach John Kapty.

"Championship football programs aren't built overnight."

JKonda-Witte@abbotsfordtimes.com