Wasatch's Sammy Heywood takes a moment to himself before the UHSAA 6A and 5A State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, at the UCCU Center in Orem. Heywood went on to win the 5A state title in the 126-pound weight class.
High school state tournaments were my life this month.
Action and reactions were the name of the game throughout different divisions of wrestling, basketball (boys and girls) and drill teams. I can say that covering back-to-back games on deadline has certainly quickened my workflow and improved my time-management skills this month. Though the vast majority of my shoots this month included typical state tournament coverage, I had to bounce to and from some sporting events to photograph a few feature and general news assignments (because we can't put sports on the front page every day, right?)
Though in terms of news, February is typically a pretty slow month. Mitt Romney hanging out with various Utah politicians in Provo after announcing his Senate run was a highlight for sure, but otherwise we had to look a little harder for front-page features at the newspaper. I had to find, photograph and write a few centerpiece stories. Only having two photojournalists at the paper instead of three as it was last year has made this time of year a bit more stressful with state tournaments, but I'm glad Evan is here to help us divide and conquer what we can as a two-man band.
This was a more cut-and-dry month of shooting than most (considering I can't turn in a bunch of random sports features to the newspaper and that be ok for game-coverage stories - though I fit a whole lot of sad high schoolers into this post). However, I still fit in my monthly Monday-Close Up, which I did on a live-action role-playing group here in Utah County. That quick little edit of photos is the last five pictures of this post, and read more about it more here: http://provodh.com/aarue.
American Leadership Academy's Quenton Mortimer holds down South Sevier's Triston Fillmore as they wrestle in the 126-pound weight class during the UHSAA 3A and 4A State Wrestling Championships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at the UCCU Center in Orem.
Members of the Pleasant Grove Military Drill Team perform during the UHSAA State Drill Team Championships on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at the UCCU Center in Orem. Eighteen schools from around the state, including four Utah County schools, competed throughout the evening in three different categories: military, dance and character.
Timpview guard Taylor Ross (31) is helped off the floor by her father, Dan, of Provo, left, after she sustained an injury on a play during the UHSAA 5A Girls Basketball State Championship between the Timpview Thunderbirds and the East Leopards on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
Wasatch's DJ Cohen sustains a hold on Viewmont's W. Taylor Money as they wrestle in the 195-pound weight class during the UHSAA 6A and 5A State Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, at the UCCU Center in Orem.
Timpview head coach Aimee Dorais addresses her players just before the start of the fourth quarter during the UHSAA 5A Girls Basketball State Championship between the Timpview Thunderbirds and the East Leopards on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
Westlake's Rian Fullmer (22) and Hillcrest forward Taylee Allen (20) both reach for a Westlake offensive rebound during the quarterfinals of the UHSAA 6A Girls Basketball State Tournament in a game between the Westlake Thunder and the Hillcrest Huskies on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
Timpview guard Madelyn Boulton (2) reacts after she fell to the floor from an East player's crossover during the UHSAA 5A Girls Basketball State Championship between the Timpview Thunderbirds and the East Leopards on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Dave Rose walks toward his players during a timeout in a game between Brigham Young University and Gonzaga University on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at the Marriott Center in Provo.
The Salem Hills bench celebrates after Dixie Lainhart (5) made a three-point shot to put the Skyhawks up 34-31 late in the fourth quarter of a game between the Salem Hills Skyhawks and the Mountain View Bruins on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at Salem Hills High School.
Westlake head coach Michael O'Connor puts his arm around Samantha Hester (10) after she fouled out of the game in overtime during the semifinals of the UHSAA 6A Girls Basketball State Tournament in a game between the Westlake Thunder and the Fremont Silver Wolves on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
Orem's Cooper Legas celebrates his victory over Desert Hills' Byron Anderson in the 195-pound weight class during the UHSAA 3A and 4A State Wrestling Championships on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at the UCCU Center in Orem.
U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney speaks during the Lincoln Day Dinner held by the Utah County Republican Party on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo.
The Maple Mountain drumline performs during a surprise hot-tub-reveal party for Army veteran Jared Vivyan on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, at Vivyan's home in Payson.
Dentist Darren Gardner talks with Angelique Lozan, 7, of Orem, during the Give Kids A Smile event Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in Orem. Give Kids A Smile brought together dentists throughout the area to donate over $100,000 of dental-care services to the community.
Tayshaun Keck, 13, right, enjoys ice cream with Jason Rowland, 14, both of Pleasant Grove, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, at the Purple Turtle in Pleasant Grove. This year, the Purple Turtle is celebrating 50 years of business in the community.
Aaron Gonzales, left, also known by his in-game persona as Chaco, duels with James Stich, both of Orem, also known by his persona as Stich, before battle games held by the Duchy of Iron Hold on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at Orem City Center Park in Orem, Utah. Iron Hold, which is Utah County's Amtgard group, currently has about 30 active members, and grows to about 50 members in summer months.
Jeffrey Fields, of Provo, also know by his in-game persona as Arc, works on creating a chain-mail shirt during craft night Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, at the home of the group's monarch in Orem, Utah. Amtgard players make their own weapons, armor and other items.
Alyssa Hunter, center, of Provo, also know by her in-game persona as Silent Kitten, looks up as she sketches weapons to create while Beth Egnew, left, of Orem, also know by her persona as Galastacia, looks up from playing a video game during craft night Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, at the home of the group's monarch in Orem, Utah. Craft night is a chance for Amtgard players to get together to bolster their in-game wares, but also to hangout with one another.
Players including Maya Frazier, second from right, of Orem, also known by her in-game persona as Kara, fight during battle games held by the Duchy of Iron Hold on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at Orem City Center Park in Orem, Utah. Battle games can be played in many different ways: some are more traditional team death match style, whereas others are more objective-based with overarching story elements.
Aaron Gonzales, of Orem, also known by his in-game persona as Chaco, is hit by a spell ball, right in red, during battle games held by the Duchy of Iron Hold on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at Orem City Center Park in Orem, Utah. In-game magic falls into three categories: verbal spells, spell balls and enchantments.