Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchOhio State freshman Jake Ryan, of Antwerp, Ohio, gets his body painted before a NCAA Division I college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchTennessee Volunteers forward Kyle Alexander (11) shoots as Colgate Raiders forward Will Rayman (10) defends during the first half of a NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament first round game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Colgate Raiders on Friday, March 22, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchWill Meyer, 16, a Bexley High School junior, pulls during the tug-of-war competition with the senior class during "Clash of Classes" on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Bexley High School in Bexley, Ohio. For many years, Bexley City Schools students have used the event to fundraise for the nonprofit Charity Newsies.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchGrounds crewmen remove a rain tarp before the start of play during an International League baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and the Toledo Mud Hens on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. Heavy rains swept through the area Thursday morning, but cleared in time for first pitch.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchOhio State University Marching Band director Christopher Hoch conducts the band during the fourth quarter of a NCAA Division I college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchOhio State Buckeyes running back J.K. Dobbins (2) fights Wisconsin Badgers defenders while carrying the ball during the first quarter of a NCAA Division I college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchWashington Huskies forward Noah Dickerson (15) fouls North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) as he drives to the basket during the first half of a NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament second round game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Washington Huskies on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchFrom left, Shivangi Bhardwaj, Aash Bhandari and Katie Crile perform sit-ups with a 250-pound telephone pole while wearing five-pound weight vests during the Buckeye Wellness and Ohio State University ROTC 2019 Wellness Boot Camp on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The event is designed to give students the chance to see what ROTC students experience while promoting personal fitness and wellness.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchAthletes in the Master's Figure division stand on stage during the amateur bikini competition at the Arnold Sports Festival on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchYoung fans cover their faces as smoke bombs are released following the Columbus Crew SC’s 2-1 victory against the Montreal Impact during a MLS game on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchOhio State Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison, left, and teammate Jonathon Cooper celebrate following the Buckeyes' 34-21 victory against the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchSUMMARY: Garrett Ford, a 20-year-old person with autism, is a powerlifter, and is pound-for-pound one of the best lifters in the United States. His personal best deadlift is 505 pounds, almost three times his 175-pound body weight. He started lifting at 16, when he was a scrawny 115 pounds, Other kids at school bullied him for his size and disability. “I did not like being small,” he said. “I was a wimp.” Now, he’s preparing for his biggest competition yet: The Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.Garrett Ford knocks out a round of dumbbell curls while training in his basement gym on Monday, February 11, 2019 at his home in Pataskala, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchAfter getting into a brief argument with his stepsister, Grace, left, Garrett Ford embraces her and his mother, Leah, right, to apologize while at the Arnold Sports Festival on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. "Family is hugely important to Garrett," Leah Yost said. "He's definitely a peacemaker."
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchAfter loading twenty 50-pound bags of horse feed, Garrett Ford navigates the 1,000-pound cart through aisles while working at Rural King on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 in Heath, Ohio. Garrett works part-time at the store as a loader.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchGarrett Ford listens to music as his grandfather, Bill Lane, drives him to Old School Gym for an early-morning lifting session on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 in Pataskala, Ohio. Driving and other independent activities for young adults are difficult for Garrett as a result of his autism, and he has to rely on family members and other social service agencies to get around.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchTrainer Thomas Covert checks the positioning of Garrett’s shoulders while spotting him as he back squats on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at Old School Gym in Pataskala, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchAfter finishing their lifting session, Garrett, right, does bodybuilding poses with his trainer, Thomas Covert, left, as Dustin Myers takes a picture of the pair on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at Old School Gym in Pataskala, Ohio. It was Garrett's last session with Thomas before heading to Abu Dhabi for the Special Olympics World Games.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchGarrett Ford chats with from left, Andrew Fuss, Thomas Fuss and Jesse Batarseh, who he met while training at Old School Gym, while walking around at the Arnold Fitness Expo on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Before getting into powerlifting, Garrett was shy and didn't have many friends, but lifting has grown his social circle and his confidence when interacting with others.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchGarrett Ford gives participation medals to competitors following the deadlift competition at the Arnold Sports Festival on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Before leaving for the Special Olympics World Games, Garrett was invited to present awards at the event and to be recognized as a member of Team USA.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchAfter packing Garrett's protein powder in a reusable bag for him as she prepares for his upcoming trip to the Special Olympics World Games, Leah shows Garrett how to seal the bag closed on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at his home in Pataskala, Ohio. Garrett struggles to remember things like small, repetitive tasks because of his autism, so Leah makes it a point to teach and remind him how to do things.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchGarrett Ford sits with little brother, Connor, as the pair watch videos while Leah finishes packing Garrett's luggage the night before his trip to Abu Dhabi for the Special Olympics World Games on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at his home in Pataskala, Ohio.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchGarrett's grandmother Jackie Mossman says goodbye as he leaves to board his flight to Newark en route to Abu Dhabi for the Special Olympics World Games on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. During the competition, Garrett swept his events, winning gold in the deadlift, squat, bench press and the overall competition. Following this performance, Garrett plans to compete among his able-bodied peers.
Second Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus DispatchColumbus Clippers catcher Dioner Navarro (17) nabs a strike on Toledo Mud Hens shortstop Willi Castro (5) during the second inning of a International League baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and the Toledo Mud Hens on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.
