[Sport] Big plays, joyous celebrations highlight 2020 Flint-area sports photos

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GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- 2020 was a difficult year for sports, especially high school sports.

COVID-19 restrictions in Michigan kept many athletes and teams from completing their season in winter and fall sports, and kept spring sports including baseball, girls’ soccer, as well as track and field from occurring at all.

While few champions were named, the passionate spirit of why students choose to play was more vivid than ever before. 

MLive-The Flint Journal wanted to celebrate those athletes in the very same spirit by selecting some of the best photos to share encapsulating the feeling.

Take a look through the gallery above or scroll below to enjoy Flint and Genesee County’s finest sports moments from the year that was. The Grand Blanc student section erupts in celebration moments before defeating Carman-Ainsworth 63-56 as the final seconds tick off of the game clock on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 at Grand Blanc High School. Students were decked out in purple and gold, many repping Lakers jerseys, in honor of Kobe Bryant. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Grand Blanc boys basketball players lift their fists united as they rally together to defeat Beecher 62-55 on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Dort Federal Event Center in Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Goodrich senior Tyson Davis shakes a tackle attempt by Ortonville-Brandon junior defensive back Dylan Dickens, setting up the martians for first and goal during the first half as Goodrich and Ortonville-Brandon face off on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 at Brandon High School. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Swartz Creek senior Adriana Derscha-Summers shouts out in celebration with her teammates as they rush senior Cianna Gloster after receiving a commemorative game ball for her 1,000th career point on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 at Swartz Creek High School. Swartz Creek defeated Linden 47-36. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Goodrich junior goalkeeper Nate Olson throws the ball upfield after making a save in the fist half on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 at Claude M. Cranston Field in Linden. Ortonville-Brandon boys varsity soccer defeated Goodrich 3-0, and will advance to the district championship game. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Grand Blanc head coach Josh Williams shouts toward senior Brody Kemper in the final minute of his match against Holt senior Dylan Phelps during their 130-pound semifinal round match during the MHSAA Division 1 individual wrestling championships at Ford Field in Detroit, on Friday, March 6, 2020. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Drum majors Annie Babiasz, left, and Erin Henthorn salute the crowsd as Leah Holyfield, senior mellophone player, marches in formation with the marching band after the halftime performance on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 at Atwood Stadium in Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com Beecher senior Jalen Terry, second from right, screams out in celebration as a teammate slams a dunk through the net on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 in Flint. Beecher defeated Flint 76-53. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com