Best of 2021: Coming back and saying goodbye defined the year in sports

After COVID-19 threw a wrench in the sporting calendar in 2020, 2021 saw our favorite athletes and teams navigate the virus as best as they could, although the virus still had a season-ending impact in some cases.

Our hearts were broken when the NC State baseball team and the Duke men's basketball team saw their seasons end due to outbreaks.

We said goodbye to one Triangle coaching legend in Roy Williams and welcomed the heir apparent to another icon as Jon Scheyer was picked to take over for Mike Krzyzewski.

We cheered as Olympic athletes from North Carolina competed on the biggest stage and supported NWSL players showing solidarity in standing up against mistreatment. The Carolina Hurricanes reached the playoffs for the third straight year, making another memorable run into the postseason.

These were some of the most memorable sports stories of 2021.

Bulls pitcher makes courageous recovery from scary injury

Durham Bulls pitcher Tyler Zombro was struck in the head by a line drive during a game in June. Zombro fell face first and began convulsing on the ground, prompting the game to be called early in an injury that caught attention and sympathy from across the baseball world.

"All things considered, I'm doing really well," Zombro said a few weeks later. "Surgery was successful and I'm just beginning therapy treatments; (I'm) getting better each day."

COVID derails college seasons

• Duke's season ends from positive COVID-19 test during ACC Tournament
• UNC game postponed; Snapchat video shows maskless players celebrating win over Duke
• Eight NCSU baseball players tested positive for Delta variant of COVID
• Fourteen NC State players sit after COVID exposure, Wolfpack removed from College World Series

Summer Olympics return amid fanfare

• Meet seven inspiring athletes from North Carolina competing in Olympics
• Allyson Felix is the most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympics history. Or is she?
• Cary double amputee swimmer bringing home 2 gold medals
• Olympic athletes celebrated in Cary, Apex
• Simone Biles withdraws from floor exercise final in Tokyo

Coack K, Roy Williams announce retirements

• Ticket prices to Coach K's final Battle of Blues game top $500,000
• Roy Williams to retire from coaching after 33 seasons
• "This is absolutely humbling." Jon Scheyer, Coach K speak on Duke coaching transition

Notable mentions:

• NWSL commissioner out; all games canceled this weekend after sexual misconduct allegations against Courage coach
• NC State knocks off No. 9 Clemson in overtime
• NC State women beat Louisville to win second straight ACC championship