Heart of the game: Sports feature photography captures essence of athletics

Southeast Missourian photography staff

Friday, April 3, 2020

Sports photojournalists must capture action and feats of athleticism, but sports feature images are the heart and soul of sports photography. In a time when sporting events are cancelled due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southeast Missourian decided to take a look back at those recent images capturing the spirit of our teams and their communities.

Notre Dame seniors (front row from left) Madeline Hulshof, Tanner Peters, Blake Morris, Brent Vandeven and Cristian Evans (right in foreground) cheer while attending the Notre Dame Bulldogs' 67-52 win over the Jackson Indians on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Lily Harper high-kicks along to the pep band's rendition of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" while ostensibly mopping sweat off the gym floor during a timeout in the 4th quarter of a game between the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks and the Austin Peay Governors on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at the Show Me Center. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Central senior Faith Manhart collects herself shortly before competing in the 100-yard breaststroke during the 2019 Girls SEMO Conference Championship on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at Central Municipal Pool in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Oran's Ty Johnson (33), on left, and Todd Priggel (35) kiss the championship plaque following the Eagles' 89-72 win against the Oak Ridge BlueJays in the Missouri Class 2 District 3 championship Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, at Chaffee High School. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Southeast players consolidate a dugout's-worth of ball caps and Oakleys as WIU notches an out during a game Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at Capaha Field. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Central senior Luke Laramore, center, cheers next to fellow seniors Cameron Borders, left, and Scott Limbaugh during the Cape Central Tigers' 68-62 loss to the St. Mary's Dragons in the Class 4 state quarterfinals on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Jefferson College in Hillsboro. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame junior cheerleader Elisabeth Seabaugh watches the game during the Bulldogs' 54-48 loss to Miller Career Academy in the Class 4 state quarterfinals on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Jefferson College in Hillsboro. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Kennett's Adelynn Nelson (8), right, is emotional while high-fiving head Kevin McCaig after winning the class 1 state quarterfinal between the Scott City Rams and Kennett Indians at Scott City High School on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Scott City. The Indians won 6-4 in an extra inning walk-off home run. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Natalie Miller (14) and Katelyn Miller (4), left, celebrate a win as opponents mourn a loss during the Indians' 2-1 double overtime win against Northwest High School in the Class 4 District 1 championship Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

St. Vincent's Megan Lipe (10) screams after scoring a goal during a game against Maplewood High School Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Bank of Missouri field in Perryville. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
The Scott County All-Stars put their hands together before the start of the championship game of the 2019 Kelso 11U Showdown on Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Kelso. The team defeated the SEMO Cardinals 5-2. "Just trying to make kids better. That's all we're trying to do," head coach Matt Asher said. "Winning obviously makes everything a little bit better, but we're just trying to do things right." (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Catfish outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. pumps his fist after hitting an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Prospect League West Divisional playoff game against the DuPage Pistol Shrimp on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
St. Vincent players hold hands to pray after a preseason jamboree game on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at St. Vincent High School in Perryvillle. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson senior Luke Starzinger (23), with flag, and teammates take the field before the start of the team's 48-0 win against Webster Groves on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame pitcher Brittany Porter, far right, shares sunflower seeds with shortstop Audrey LeGrand during a game against Jackson on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Members of Scott City's offensive line are backlit by a red sunset between plays during a game against the St. Vincent Indians Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at Scott City High School in Scott City. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Central's Anthony Robinson takes a quiet moment in the locker room during halftime of a game against Farmington Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, at the Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson Indians take the field before the start of their matchup against the Sikeston Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Jackson. Jackson defeated Sikeston 53-0. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson seniors Alice Mansell, front middle in hat, and Ashlyn Prince, front right, do the "roller coaster" with other Jackson fans at halftime of the Jackson Indians' matchup against the Sikeston Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Jackson. Jackson defeated Sikeston 53-0. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Top row from left: Jackson's Nathan Harrison (53), Joshua Wehrenberg (19) and Javin Hitchcock (27) wait for the start of the game with Mark Brakhane (75), bottom center, before the Jackson Indians' 35-14 victory over Farmington on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Farmington, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Nick Lappe (21) is seen icing his ankle after being sidelined with injury in the first quarter of a game against St. Pius X on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at St. Vincent High School in Perryville. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame teammates from left: Harley Ressel, Halle Heuring, Grace Lemons, Caroline Lochmann (with phone), Ainsley Burnett and Sophie Hagan take pictures with the team's plaque after the Bulldogs' 4-3 victory over the Perryville Pirates in the Class 3 District 1 championship Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Morgan Gadberry, left, hugs Kelly auxiliary band director Lela Carmack as members of the marching band cheer as a senior is announced before a game between Scott City and Kelly High Schools Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Kelly High School in Benton. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Ball boy Ellis Brune, 12, blows a bubble on the sidelines while watching Cape Central take on North County on Friday, Nov. 2, 2019, at Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Scott City's Gage Underwood (13) is seen in the locker room, one nostril packed with gauze to stem a bloody nose, during halftime of a district championship matchup against Caruthersville Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, at Scott City High School in Scott City. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Mark Brakhane (75) lies on the floor while Luke Brotherton (57) reads a book before the Jackson Indians' 49-20 win against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
The moon is pictured with a Jackson Indian during the Jackson Indians' matchup against the Fox Warriors in the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Saxony Lutheran's Quinn Steffens (17) takes a moment to himself on the field following the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders' 3-1 loss to Principia in the Class 1 sectional Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, at Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Scott City seniors Spencer Stratman, left, and Jimmy May, quarterback and running back, respectively, embrace following the Rams' quarterfinal loss to Lutheran North Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Scott City High School. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Scott City players dive into a swath of mud on the sidelines to brighten spirits following the Rams' quarterfinal loss to Lutheran North Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Scott City High School. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Bret Meyer (67) and JR Place (36) celebrate the Indians' 20-7 victory over Staley High School in the MSHSAA Class 5 state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. Jackson ultimately placed second in Class 5 after the team's 27-21 overtime loss to Carthage in the MSHSAA Class 5 state championship Dec. 7 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Matthew Stroder (17) and Adam McClanahan (38) gather with teammates following Indians' 20-7 victory over Staley High School in the MSHSAA Class 5 state semifinals Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Fans wave as the Jackson Indians' football team departs for the Class 5 state championship Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Jackson. The Indians take on Carthage for the title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson's Cael Welker (6) and Cole Amelunke (99), holding the Indians' second place trophy, hug following the team's 27-21 overtime loss to Carthage in the MSHSAA Class 5 state championship Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Oak Ridge's Paige Glueck, right, and Maggie Oswald, left, react from the bench to a high-stakes play near the end of a game against Meadow Heights Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, at Delta High School in Delta. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Bryan Schoen holds his 9-month-old son, Luke, who despite the cacophony of the gymnasium had fallen asleep during the Class 1, District 2 championship game between Delta and Oak Ridge Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Bell City High School in Bell City. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
From left, Saxony Lutheran'sMaddox Murphy, Alice Hogendobler and Emma Brune hug after winning the Class 3, District 2 championship game Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Scott City's Spencer Stratman roars after the Rams won the Class 3, District 2 championship game over Kelly Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown. Stratman played a pivotal role in the Rams' win, in part due to several key three-point shots. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame senior Cristian Evans celebrates the Notre Dame Bulldogs' 38-37 double overtime win against the Cape Central Tigers in the Class 4 District 1 championship Friday, March 6, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame senior Kam Dohogne (11), facing forward, hugs teammate senior Jack Floyd (13) near teammate senior Tyler Parker (25) following the Notre Dame Bulldogs' 38-37 double-overtime win against the Cape Central Tigers in the Class 4 District 1 championship Friday, March 6, 2020, at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame senior Riley Burger (22) flexes while being announced before Notre Dame's 55-35 victory against Rockwood Summit in the Class 4 quarterfinals Saturday, March 14, 2020, at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame junior Allie Burnett (4), left in hug, embraces sophomore Leah Jansen (20) following Notre Dame's 55-35 victory against Rockwood Summit in the Class 4 quarterfinals Saturday, March 14, 2020, at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame seniors Tyler Landewee (2), right of hug, Jack Floyd (13) embrace near teammates senior Tyler Parker (25) and junior Chase Logel (22) following during Notre Dame's 59-53 victory against Westminster Christian Academy in the Class 4 quarterfinals Saturday, March 14, 2020, at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)