Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAs a tribute to his fallen teammate, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins wears Matiss Kivlenieks jersey for warm-ups prior to the season-opening NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Oct. 14, 2021. Kivlenieks, a young goalie in the Blue Jackets organization and good friend of Merzlikins, was killed in the offseason during a fireworks accident.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchOhio State running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) and the Buckeyes take the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 13, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchOxy Sweehearts contestants (from left) Emi Herring, A'Mara Little, Mina Holden and Campbell Patterson squirm in the chairs while waiting for the judges to tabulate the final results from the judges during the Ox Roast in West Jefferson, Ohio on Sept. 6, 2021. Patterson eventually was named the winner.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchNoelle Thyret, 8, of Dublin screams while sledding down the hill at Antrim Park with her mother's horse mask wearing fiancé, Nick Quast, 39, of Cleveland on Feb. 15, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / Following the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent the death of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant in a Columbus Police-involved shooting, protesters march through the streets of downtown Columbus on April 20, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchButterflies are released by family members following the funeral services for Ma'Khia Bryant at the First Church of God in Columbus on April 30, 2021. Bryant, 16, was shot and killed by a Columbus Police officer on April 20 during an altercation at her foster home on the Southeast Side.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchHilliard Police officers Brandon Long, right, and Kyle Bright handcuff a man during a prostitution sting called Operation 614 at a Hilliard-area motel on April 15, 2021. Operation 614 is a collaborative effort by over 20 central Ohio law enforcement agencies under the guidance of the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The johns were charged with a solicitation misdemeanor and given a court date.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAs a pregnant woman takes a nap in the living room and others grab dinner in the kitchen, Esther Flores runs the nonprofit 1DivineLine2Health, drop-in safe houses that provide resources for women and trans women, including victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and those with substance use disorders on July 12, 2021. The registered nurse by trade provides a safe haven for these women in the Linden and Hilltop neihborhoods.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchDanielle White, 24, sits inside the pink airplaine room at the #Viral Selfie Museum in the University District on Sept. 2, 2021. White plans to have the 19-room venue for taking selfies and photos done for a grand opening on Sept. 11.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchLinda Oiler, 81, the owner of Oiler Meat Processing, walks past a deer waiting to be processed for Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry inside the Utica shop on Jan. 26, 2021. Oiler, who started the business in 1974 with her husband Carmel, plans to retire at the end of the month.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchMadison Jellison, a junior catcher at Watkins Memorial, is the 2021 softball all-metro player of the year.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe "Beaver Moon" lunar eclipse takes a reddish hue as it is peaks through the fall foliage in Columbus on Nov. 19, 2021. The eclipse, which reached 97% coverage in the Earth's shadow in the early morning hours, was the longest eclipse in 580 years, lasting three and a half hours.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchMadi Brokaw, 18, dances with Austin Newland, 17, both seniors, dance during the Hilliard Darby High School prom at The Exchange at Bridge Park in Dublin on May 1, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchHilliard Davidson Wildcats running back Jonny Weir (22) gets upended by Thomas Worthington Cardinals defensive back Connor Smith (8) before being hit by linebacker Bernard Oteng Jr. (24) during the second quarter of the OHSAA football game at Thomas Worthington on Sept. 17, 2021
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchPatrick Cantlay hoists the trophy after beating Collin Morikawa in a playoff to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on June 6, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / After sparring, Lyndsie MacNeer hugs fellow student Esther Hall at Short North Muay Thai on Sept. 1, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison (9) makes his way through fans that stormed the field following the 33-24 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 31, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / Wisconsin Badgers players play in the confetti following their five set win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the NCAA volleyball national championship at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Dec. 19, 2021.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchWithout many organized sports or after school activities in the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, many kids turn to gangs to occupy their time. The Hilltop Tigers soccer program helps keep kids away from violence, but organizers desperately need an indoor facility for winter. The group pleas with civic leaders and city council for financial support. Hilltop Tigers soccer coach Ali Jeylani drives a colorful 2004 Ford E350 transport van to pick up Hassan Aweis from the Wedgewood Apartments on Nov. 4. Jeylani drives several miles around the Hilltop to pick up kids for soccer practice from the Wedgewood and Havenwood housing communities.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchHilltop Tigers coach Ali Jeylani drives around the Hilltop, mainly in the Wedgewood and Havenswood housing communities, in a donated 2004 Ford E350 transport van picking up kids from the U16 soccer team to go to practice at Wilson Road Park on Nov. 4.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAweys Bilal, 14, jogs one of four laps around the soccer fields at Wilson Road Park as he warms up for Hilltop Tigers soccer practice on Nov. 4. The practice would end up being the final outdoor practice of the fall season due to early darkness and colder temperatures.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchHilltop Tigers founder and co-director Siyat Mohamed helps coach soccer practice at Wilson Road Park on Nov. 4. The practice would end up being the final outdoor practice of the fall season due to early darkness and colder temperatures.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSharmarke Abdi, 15, wraps his arms around twins Wencell and Wendell Medina as they finish practicing at Wilson Road Park on Nov. 4. The practice would end up being the final outdoor practice of the fall season due to early darkness and colder temperatures.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchWith weather being too cold to practice outside and an indoor soccer facility not yet being procured, members of the Hilltop Tigers hang out in the MyProjectUSA youth center watching soccer highlight videos from YouTube on the TV after school on Nov. 15.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchMy Project USA founder and executive director Zerqa Abid makes a passionate plea to Columbus City Council on Oct. 28 for budgetary funding that will allow the Hilltop Tigers soccer program to be able to play year round.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchWith Hilltop Tigers players lined up behind her, My Project USA founder and executive director Zerqa Abid makes a plea for donations to support youth programs like the Tigers during the My Project USA fall banquet on Nov. 7. My Project USA, which recently opened a youth center on Sullivant Avenue, provides Muslim social services and programming for kids in the Hilltop area.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchChristian McNair, 10, gathers his soccer cleats to get ready to play on the field at Havenwood Townhomes in the Hilltop on Nov. 22. Soccer is a popular hobby for many of underprivileged kids in the Hilltop like Christian. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSoccer is a popular activity for underprivileged kids in the Hilltop, like these at Havenwood Townhomes, on Nov. 22. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers soccer program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchChristian McNair, 10, retrieves soccer balls from the goal at Havenwood Townhomes in the Hilltop on Nov. 22. Soccer is a popular hobby for many of the kids in the Hilltop like Christian. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round.
Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSoccer is a popular activity for underprivileged kids in the Hilltop, like these on the field at Havenwood Townhomes, on Nov. 22. My Project USA funds the Hilltop Tigers soccer program to keep kids active and out of trouble year round. According to neighbors, the field gets used every day of the year regardless of weather.
