First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerRanked High school wrestlers from the state of Ohio gather in Columbus to see who is the best in their weight class. The event takes a weekend and whittles hundreds of wrestlers working on ten mats to just three mats with six wrestlers from each division and weight class at a time. Wrestlers make their way out to the mats in the parade of champions before the start of the 67th OHSAA state wrestling championships February 28, 2004 in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerFour of the ten mats are constantly occupied with high school wrestlers all over the state of Ohio during the state championship high school wrestling tournament in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJosh Rohler (left) from St. Vincent-St. Mary squeezes the face of his opponent Lucas Ransbottom from St. Paris Graham in their 140 pound Division II match, February 26, 2004 during the Ohio High School Athletic Association's 67th state wrestling championship at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Josh won his match 7-1.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerThe fans supporting Clyde High School erupt out of their seats when their Division II 140l pound wrestler Jon Taylor beat Owen Powell from Camden Preble Shawnee to keep his state championship hopes alive in the quarterfinal match, February 27, 2004 in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerBen Doolittle a senior at Gallipolis Galia Academy is comforted by his coach Todd May after a defeat in the quarterfinal consolation round that ends his days as a high school wrestler February 27, 2004 during the 67th OHSAA state wrestling championship in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerA pair of Division I wrestling matches continue on two of the ten mats and scoreboards used to whittle the competitors down to the final championship round, February 27, 2004 during the 67th OHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJake Milton of Yellow Springs High School dons a swollen eye after his semi-final match during the Ohio High School State Wrestling Championships in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerAdam Middleton of Toledo celebrates his 170 pound victory in the Ohio High School State Wrestling Championships semi-final match in Columbus.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune Chronicle
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleBarbara Clifford rides atop her horse surounded by some of the hounds out on the fox hunt in Waynesburg. More that forty riders participated in the hunt. The organizers of the event release a fox on the grounds four hours before the hunt in order to create an odor for the hounds to follow.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleYoung fox hunters Kaley Laurita (left) and Erika Demaio (right) wait in their outfits early one Saturday morning for the beginning of the the Gully Ridge Fox Hunt.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleOne of the more than two dozen hounds for the hunt looks through the fence before the start of the hunt.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleA procession of horse drawn buggies are announced by French Horn players at the start of the fox hunt which is looked on by land owners who have allowed the host to conduct the hunt on their adjoining property.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleRobert Hunkus sits on top of his mount as a priest blesses the riders and hounds before the fox hunt. Hunkus is the owner of the Gully Ridge Farm on which the Gully Ridge Hunt Club held its opening season hunt.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleSome of the two dozen hounds for the fox hunt mill around as one of the riders is served a drink before the start of the fox hunt.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleJudy Bush leans down to feed a treat to one of the hounds during a break in the hunt.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleSpectator Bain Malone lays in the grass to look out at the landscape. Bain and others follow the hunt in a truck which is called a buggy hunt.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleAfter the hunt is over, riders relax with a glass of red wine.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andy Wrobel / Warren Tribune ChronicleIn the end, the only fox that was seen on the hunt was a stuffed one at the end of the buffet table.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerAmerica's Pastime is still baseball and part of that pastime is chasing down home run balls or foul balls by the fans. A home run ball does not clear the fence, stuck in the netting, as a grandfather helps his grandson wiggle the ball through the fencing for a prized souvenir. Practice Field Diamond #1 at Winter Haven's sports complex is a prime location for chasing down the home run balls, where young and old and compete for the souvenirs.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerA youngster peers through fencing while waiting for a home run ball on practice diamond #1 at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla. Anyball hit over the fence is fair game.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerWaiting outside the home run fence, a youngster waits for action, sunglasses and glove on, hat on backwards, and crouched like he was playing the outfield.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerWhether you are young or old, fun is had by all. The quest to be the first to the baseball is a game in itself.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerSometimes the American Pastime can be more like a rugby game, as a scrum develops, only one winner gets the ball and sometimes the penalty of bumps and bruises comes with the ball, a prize coveted by all.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerWhile waiting for the next homer, a bag hanging on a fence collects souvenier baseballs as the practice goes on.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerThe quest goes on, as a youngster climbs a fence that flies over from batting practice, first one to the ball gets the souvenir. A game that can be played with a crowd or all by your self.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The Blade
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeDevin Vargas trains late into the evening in an empty Glass City Gym, in preparation for the Olympics. Vargas is the heavyweight on the United States boxing team.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeVargas picks up his crying son Bishop. Besides the demands of training for the Olympics, the 22 year-old must deal with the one-year old son he and his girlfriend Megan are raising.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeVargas shows the strain after another day of training for the Olympics.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeVargas is seen through the viewfinder of a television camera as he gives interviews after a training session. Dealing with celebrity status is easy for the outgoing boxer.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeVargas, with his amused girlfriend Megan, cuts loose in a local bar while hanging out with friends and family.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeVargas plays with his son Bishop as he packs to leave for a boxing tournament.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeAt the airport, Vargas gives his girlfriend Megan a kiss after returning from a tournament in Mexico.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeVargas lands a right to the head of Chazz Witherspoon during the United States Olympic team box-offs in Cleveland.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Andy Morrison / The BladeDevin Vargas celebrates after defeating Chazz Witherspoon at the United States Olympic Box-Offs in Cleveland. Vargas won the right to represent the U.S. in the Athens Olympics.
