First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLicking Valley warms up before their Division IV, Region 15 semifinal against Bloom-Carroll, October 30, 2020. The Licking Valley Panthers lost 13-6 ending their hope of returning to the state championship game.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateCorbin Smaley of the Jackson County Black Sox slides into Jacoby Arcuri at second base. The Licking Valley Dirtbags 9U beat the Jackson County Black Sox 5-4 in their first game of the Nations Ohio State Championship at Mound City in Newark June 17, 2020.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateThe Heath volleyball team dance with their coach's son, Kendrix while getting pumped up for their home game against Zanesville on October 15, 2020. Heath swept the match 3-0.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateNewark Catholic cheerleaders warm up the crowd in as the sunsets over White Field, September 5, 2020.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateJessi Paxton, Brooklyn White and Wyatt McInturff all reach to catch a football while playing in the street next to the Utica football field October 16, 2020. The kids were playing while their parents watched the game from their trucks, outside the fence. Because of COVID restrictions on family members were allowed inside the stadium to watch games.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateGranville seniors Ian White and Max King (7) celebrate with classmate Julian Labocki, after he scored the second goal in a Licking County League game against host Watkins Memorial on Thursday September 9, 2020. The unbeaten Blue Aces won 3-0.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateRunning back, Garrett Meyers, of Utica lands a punch on Jaden Jacob of Johnstown September 4, 2020. Utica lost to Johnstown 49-21. Utica went on to have a 0-10 season.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateWhetstone senior quarterback, Alex Hurd, is comforted by a teammate during halftime of the school's first playoff game in school history on October 9, 2020. Hurd who was injured in the second quarter had to watch his team loose his final game of his high school career. Whetstone lost to Licking Heights, 28-9.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateThe Croom family has always been tight knit. Starting with Ruby, who raised six children by herself. Her daughter, Shela was a star volleyball player in high school, and later returned to coach at the same school and passed that love onto her daughters, Tashia, Tavia and Taya. All three daughters played in high school and now coach in the district themselves. The great grandchildren now carry the torch and play for the same high school and pee wee leagues as their mom’s. The family has set down deep roots through coaching and a love for each other in a town where many Black families decide to leave, feeling isolated in a mostly white, conservative community. Ruby instilled a confidence to persevere through anything in her children who have also passed that strength on through the generations. Tashia Croom holds her young son, Kendrix while she coaches the Heath volleyball team October 7, 2020. Tashia coaches the team with her mom, Shela Croom. Both played volleyball for Heath high school while in high school.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTaliyah Holmes holds her baby brother, Kendrix while her great-grandmother, Rubbie Stinson comes over to congratulate her on her first basketball of the season, November 21, 2020. Ruby, who is the matriarch of the family raised 6 children by herself in the Heath area. Ruby is the reason the entire extended family is always there to support each other whether at children games or through the tough times. She is the reason all the women in the family have so much inner strength and self confidence. The roots Ruby established in the area is also a large part of why this Black family has choses to stay in a largely white, conservative area when so many other Black families have left.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTashia Croom trims the last little long strands from her daughter, Taliyah's hair while her younger sisters, Taya and Tavia hold up lights and help her. The 3 sisters are extremely close. Most evening one or both of them drop by Tashia's home. They all coach volleyball for middle school and high school, along with their mom, Shela. The sisters also coach middle school basketball. Taliyah plays both sports at the high school.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTashia Croom holds her young son, Kendrix while she visits with her grandmother, Rubbie Stinson before her daughter, Taliyah's first basketball of the year, November 21, 2020.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTaya Croom plays a tough game of 1 on 1 with her nephew Kam in the Heath High School gum after cheering for her niece, Taliyah at her varsity basketball game on December 15, 2020.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateShela Croom keeps stats at a Heath 7th and 8th grade school games her daughters, Tavia and Taya coach December 10, 2020. Her grandson, Kam leans on her trying to stay awake during the games. The Croom family has put down roots in Heath with Shela Croom coaching high school volleyball with her daughter Tashia and her younger two daughters coaching middle school teams. Her granddaughter, Taliyah plays Heath volleyball and basketball.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateSisters Tavia Croom (right) and her sister, Taya Croom, (left) cheer on the Heath 7th grade girls basketball team December 10, 2020. Both sisters coach the middle school teams while their older sister and mom coach high school volleyball in the fall. The tight knit family had developed deep roots in Heath as well as with each other, keeping them tied to an area that many Black families leave after a few years.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateTashia Croom holds her son Kendrix as he tries to climb into the bathtub. Tashia and her family balance work, time with each other and still have time to spend at the high school gym where her daughter plays multiple sports and Tashia and her mom and fiancé all coach.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLife is busy for Tashia Croom. Between work, coaching, and raising a young son with her fiancé. She makes time for her daughter Taliyah though in small ways like straightening and trimming her hair. Family is important to Tashia and her sisters who always show up to support one another.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateThe Croom family celebrate Taya Croom's birthday at the Pizza Cottage on November 3, 2020. The family has set down deep roots in a town where many Black families decide to leave, feeling isolated in a mostly white community. The family has actively gotten involved and coach different sports at the Pee Wee, middle school and high school level.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateThe Lakewood softball team started the first days of their 2020 season with such optimism. They were favored to make a run for the state championship this year. But as the news started coming in about a potential pandemic players got nervous. When a shutdown was issued for schools in March the girls were devastated but kept their faith. They continued to practice at home. Alone. Finished their school work at home. Alone. And even graduate in an empty gym. They began to loose hope of having even a shortened season. Their coach knew the team, especially the seniors needed closure so he organized a senior night game pitting JV against varsity so the team could play on their home field in 2020.As winter turned to spring the Lakewood softball team began practice for their upcoming season March 11, 2020, yet unaware that the pandemic would hit canceling what was a highly anticipated season.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLaila Schmitt and Heather Young get ready in the Lakewood locker rooms before having their team pictures taken March 13, 2020. Their Coach Jon Griffith wanted to make sure the team got their pictures taken before the shut down in case their season was canceled. At the time there were so many uncertainties and the girls were all holding out hope they would only be out three weeks of their season.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLakewood players uncover the field for the last time before the shutdown began March 13 2020. At the time there were so many uncertainties and the girls were all holding out hope they would only be out three weeks of their season.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLakewood senior and third baseman, Kylah Morrison, laughs while visiting with friends May 7, 2020, during the shut down. She and her friends met in a parking lot and stayed in their cars to abide by social distancing guidelines, laughing and gossiping for hours.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateKatie Chittum, pitcher for Lakewood softball, studies for her AP exam at home on May 1, 2020. As schools shut down students were forced to work online in their homes.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateKeelie Davis practices her hitting skills in her garage in April during the shut down. Davis, like her teammates, remained hopeful their season would not be completely canceled and wanted to keep her skills sharp.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateKylah Morrison walks through the cornfield looking for softballs April 7. Kylah the balls into the field while working on her hitting skills in her backyard. Kylah who was a senior was especially heartbroken at missing her final season with her high school team.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateBy June the stands at the Lakewood softball field became overgrown with weeds. The field stood empty. All signs of the springtime lockdown in Ohio that prevents students from going to school and athletes playing their games.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLakewood senior, Laila Schmitt wrestles with balloons that spell out 2020 for their senior night they had June 30. Their season was canceled but OHSAA regulations allowed teams to cobble together a makeshift summer season to let kids play with their teams. Lakewood senior night was a family affair and saw the JV team take on varsity players.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateKatie Chittum, now a Lakewood graduate, talks with her mom after readjusting her cap and giving the invocation during her graduation, May 18 2020. Due to the pandemic students had to sign up for a time slot and walk through an empty gym with only four family members in attendee to cheer them. The ceremony was recored and played online when their ceremony would have been held.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateKatie Barton does pull-ups in the dugout after picture day, March 13. Lakewood coach Jon Griffith made sure the team got their picture taken before the shutdown began.
First Place, Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateLakewood senior, Kaitlyn Vaubel raises flowers she received at senior night after being honored with her parents and other seniors June 30, 2020. The varsity team then played the JV team for one final game.
