Harrison Swimming & Diving

Well, I have been absent from my blog for awhile now--much of my time has been spent poolside with the tremendous Raider Swimmers & Divers.  Here are a few shots from throughout the season.  To view the entire collection of images from the season, simply double click on any one of the swimming photos.

Good season, Raiders!

As much as I truly love capturing the images of seniors and families, there is a special place in my heart for photographing sports--especially football.  And this year I was given the privilege of being on the sidelines with the Harrison High School Raiders to snap up some of the action on the field!  What fun it was!  The Raider season came to an end on Friday night as they lost in the Sectional Championship game to defending state champion Carmel, but the season was most certainly a success in every way!  

To the seniors of the Harrison squad:  best of luck in your future endeavors both on and off the field!  You guys were a blast to be with--certainly the classiest sideline crowd I witnessed this year!!

To the underclassman Raiders:  I can't wait until next year!!  Raider Up!

Here's a few quick highlights from the season:

2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits a dollar....

OK, so the gauntlet was laid down by my dear friend Brenda --

"So, you can capture the football players.  How about the cheerleaders in action?"

Well, here we are:  Raider Cheerleaders doing their thing!

A Change of Perspective

Okay, so I really enjoy watching sports (unfortunately, way too uncoordinated to actually participate).  And, I really love taking photographs.  Sooooo, shooting sports is just a kick for me!  This evening the Harrison Raiders JV football team was on the field against the Avon Orioles and I decided to use it as an experiment and shoot the game, but from different angles than I would normally.  More specifically, I decided to see 'how low can you go?'--well, me, go--ah, I mean how low could I go, get, shoot...you know what I mean.  

Anyway, early in the game I learned that when a play comes toward the sideline and you are low down and over 40 years old, getting out of the way is tougher than imagined -- but it lead to some, ah, interesting shots, like this one...

but as I grew more acclimated to my new setting, it was awesome to feel so 'in the action'...

this next series of three resulted in me being in the midst of the pile in the end, but I think it was worth it! (#18 here hurdled just past me, but the Avon defender and I became quickly acquainted--he jumped up profusely apologizing, it was too funny!)

this one I took lying on the ground behind the end zone--unfortunately the Raiders did move that line much closer to me and the game ended with the score shown on the board.

I think next week I'll bring a ladder, or trapeze, or sit in the trees beyond the field, hmmm....

Raiders v. Bronchos

Well, the first half of the game was all a Raider fan could ask for and they headed into the locker room with a lead.  Unfortunately for the Harrison team, Desmond Lake of Jeff had the game of his life (5 touchdowns!) and the Raiders came up short 30-37. 

Still, lots of great action on the field!

I just had to catch one of the Raider reserve players' reaction of disbelief as the final seconds ticked off...

Go get 'em next week, Raiders!

HHS Raiders v. Jeff

Yup!  It was another rockin' Friday evening on the football field.  This time the Raiders went face-to-face with the Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos.  Stay tuned for more pix and to see how things shook out...

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Cross Country

Wow!  Tonight I experienced first-hand a "sport within a sport"--watching a cross country meet.  You don't just have to be an athlete to participate in the meet, you have to be a runner to watch it!  I was found amidst many dashing from spot to spot, across fields and up and down rather steep hillsides, to catch a glimpse of the participants as they sped by!   And, boy oh boy, were these high school cross countriers (is there another term for those who run ungodly long distances through anything-but-smooth terrain?) impressive.  But if there is one thing that might truly have stolen my heart toward this sport it's the shoes--yeah, in what other athletic event can each participant wear personality-specific footwear!  Congratulations, Raider Cross Country teams--you rock! (additional photos from this event are posted on canonfire.shutterfly.com)

A fight to the finish ~ Raiders v. Mavs

First, congratulations to the JV Raiders for their 5-2 victory over the Mavericks!  You guys are coming on strong!  

Now for the varsity match-up:  for those who came out expecting a drawn out dog-fight game--they were not disappointed.  For that matter, everyone received two games for the price of one as the Mavs and Raiders battled it out for 14 full innings!  In the end, Harrison blinked and the ladies of McCutcheon were victorious 1-0.  Congratulations to one and all!  Here's some shots from the sidelines:

Lisa Cappa gets her girl at two and attempts to turn the double play

Ashlee Feller headed to first with determination

The thrill of victory...

And the agony of defeat.

Feller getting the high-five from Coach Abby Willis

Oooops, that bunt was supposed to go down (instead it went straight into a Mav's glove)

Cappa, Haley Baker and Raider teammates celebrate the defensive dig out of trouble during extra innings

"Gotcha!"  Stephens' intentional walk of Maggie Tull set up Teller's force out at home in the 14th.

Megan Huston displays her 'softball gracefulness' on first 

The battle of the pitchers:  Tori Collins (pitcher extraordinaire for the Mavs) watches as a Stephens strike hits Feller's glove.

"Hey Megan Mitchell, you really like it out there on second, don't you?!"  She put her self there twice during this shootout ~  Might bat, girl, mighty bat!

Ashley Courtney watches her hit

Teller slides into third safely while Brooke Jordan scoops up the throw

Morgan Stephens on the mound for the Raiders

(I figured she would be mad at me for posting the previous shot, so added this somewhat more 'attractive' one)

Another Mav 'big bat' at the plate--but this one slides by her for strike 3!

Lisa Cappa & Ashley Courtney celebrate in the dugout during the battle

Meg Teller heads for her 'post' at first base

Morgan bringin' it to the Mavericks early in the game (it's still light out!) with Jordyn Garrett at the ready!

Stephens fields a bunt put down by Mavs speedster Maggie Tull

Tristan Wilcox was a wall behind the plate for McCutcheon

"I got it!  I got it!"  Megan Huston calls off Stephens and snags the pop-up.

Ashley Courtney watches, hoping her ball will find a hole