Editor's Note

I will never forget the first basketball game I covered at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a 60-point Duke victory against Barton College in an exhibition game in November 2007.

But as much as I'll always remember that night, I also know that my fondest Duke memories weren't made in the press room; they come from standing in Cameron, or at Wallace Wade Stadium, cheering as one with students you've never met. The best part is the kids you're rooting for are really just students, too.

Because truthfully, on a crisp Saturday afternoon in the fall, I won't think of myself as sports editor of The Chronicle. I'll just be a kid from South Florida who's hoping Thaddeus Lewis completes his next pass. And the following Monday, there's a good chance Lewis will be sitting in the classroom with me.

Here at The Chronicle, we try not to take ourselves too seriously; sometimes we succeed in that venture, and sometimes we don't. But when it comes to Duke sports, we know how you're feeling better than anyone, because after we leave 301 Flowers in the wee hours of the morning, we all return to our roles as students and sports fans as well.

In this first issue of Sportswrap, we've tried to combine success stories of Blue Devils already plying their trade professionally with those striving to join them at the next level. Those we've featured-including Lewis, the men's basketball seniors and Olympic medalist fencer Becca Ward-are all great at their sports, but they also are humble, driven and proud to go to school here, just like the rest of us.

With that, I am proud to welcome you to Volume 105 of The Chronicle and kick off the 27th installment of Sportswrap, and I look forward to sharing a wonderful year in Duke sports with you.