1st Place Sports Picture Story: Matt McClain, Washington Post–Tia Watkins practices with her fellow members of the D.C. Divas at Spingarn High School on Thursday May 19, 2016 in Washington, DC. The D.C. Divas is a full-contact female football team.
Tia Watkins, left, talks to teammate, Emily Grossman, center, during a game against the Pittsburgh Passion at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex on Saturday June 25, 2016 in Landover, MD. Tia plays for the D.C. Divas, a full-contact female football team.
Tia Watkins prepares for her football game against the Philadelphia Phantomz at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex on Saturday May 21, 2016 in Landover, MD. She plays for the D.C. Divas, a full-contact female football team.
Tia Watkins, right, jokes with her daughter, Jori Watkins at the relatives’ home they live on Tuesday July 26, 2016 in Severn, MD. Tia plays full-contact football for the D.C. Divas.
Tia Watkins reads with her daughter, Jori Watkins and son, Shawn Watkins Jr. at the home where they live on Tuesday July 26, 2016 in Severn, MD. Tia plays full-contact football for the D.C. Divas.
Tia Watkins plays with her son, Shawn Watkins Jr. before her football practice with the D.C. Divas at Spingarn High School on Wednesday July 20, 2016 in Washington, DC. The D.C. Divas is a full-contact female football team. Among the things that motivate her to play a sport not widely known as a women’s sport is the role model she can provide for her children. “Having a son, I’m showing him to respect women and that women can do anything you can do.” For her daughter Tia believes that having Jori watch her play football will result in her having a greater “sense of self” as well as “increasing her confidence and just showing her that I can be whatever I want to be , even if it’s not playing football. If I want to be President of the United States or the CEO of a company, there’s no limits.”
Tia Watkins, right center, talks with Whitney Simms, right, during half-time of the Women’s Football Alliance championship game or W Bowl against the Dallas Elite at West Allegheny High School on Saturday July 23, 2016 in Imperial, PA. Tia plays for the D.C. Divas, a full-contact female football team. The Divas won the game.
Tia Watkins, left, helps to tackle Tiffany Hill of the Dallas Elite during the Women’s Football Alliance championship game or W Bowl at West Allegheny High School on Saturday July 23, 2016 in Imperial, PA. Tia plays for the D.C. Divas, a full-contact female football team. The Divas won the game.
Tia Watkins, center, celebrates with teammates following the Women’s Football Alliance championship game or W Bowl against the Dallas Elite at West Allegheny High School on Saturday July 23, 2016 in Imperial, PA. Tia plays for the D.C. Divas, a full-contact female football team. The Divas won the game.
Tia Watkins, right, poses for a photograph with family and friends following the Women’s Football Alliance championship game or W Bowl against the Dallas Elite at West Allegheny High School on Saturday July 23, 2016 in Imperial, PA. Tia plays for the D.C. Divas, a full-contact female football team. The Divas won the game.
2nd Place Sports Picture Story: Matt McClain, Washington Post– Japanese archery is centuries old. It distinguishes itself for it’s connection to spirituality and religion. Included as a martial art is is heavily rooted in tradition and ceremony. Today it is taught in schools throughout Japan and certain disciplines including Kyudo are practiced by people throughout the world. Mizuho Noguchi retrieves arrows as archers practice at the Ogasawara-ryu school on Tuesday November 01, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
Archers take part the Mometeshiki ceremony on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine on Thursday November 03, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
People watch archers before a Kyudo competition on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine on Thursday November 03, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
An archer from the Takeda School of Horseback Archery practices before a Yabusame archery demonstration on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine on Thursday November 03, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
An archer competes in a Kyudo competition on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine on Thursday November 03, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
Students at Yahio High School practice Kyudo archery at the school on Wednesday November 02, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. The school has it’s own Kyudo club.
Framed by arrows, Miyasaka Kazuhisa is seen in his archery dojo on Friday October 28, 2016 in Yudanaka, Japan. Kazuhisa runs a small inn next to his dojo where he teaches Kyudo archery.
Miyasaka Kazuhisa is reflected in a mirror in his archery dojo on Friday October 28, 2016 in Yudanaka, Japan. Kazuhisa runs a small inn next to his dojo where he teaches Kyudo archery.
Sandals are seen at the Ogasawara-ryu school as archers practice Kyudo on Tuesday November 01, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. Participants used the sandals to go from inside to outside in order to get their arrows or arrange the targets.
An archer from the Takeda School of Horseback Archery takes part in a Yabusame archery demonstration on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine on Thursday November 03, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
Women, who were waiting to retrieve arrows watch archers during the Mometeshiki ceremony on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine on Thursday November 03, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
3rd Place Sports Picture Story: Lathan Goumas, News & Advance– The Dynamic Cheer Super Stars are a special needs competitive cheer team founded by Billie Wray Nuckols because of her daughter’s, Jodie, interest in cheering. In the two years since beginning, the team has be designated as an All Star team by the United States All Star Federation of Cheer and Dance Teams and won a national championship. The team brings together girls with a variety of special needs including ADHD, Aspergers and Down syndrome. The team practices twice a week nearly year round. Kaitlin Elliott, 18, is lifted by her Dynamic Cheer Super Stars teammates as they practice a new stunt on Saturday April 2, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA. The Dynamic Cheer Super Stars are a special needs competitive cheer leading team. The team was founded two years ago by Billie Wray Nuckols, who has a daughter on the team.
The Dynamic Cheer Super Stars special needs cheerleading team prays following a practice on Saturday April 2, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA. The special needs of the team members range from ADHD and Aspergers to Down Syndrome.
Jodie Nuckols, 16, practices a leg lift as Haley Coleman, 15, supports her during a Dynamic Cheer Super Stars team practice on Saturday March 26, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA.
Haley Coleman, 15, holds her pompoms during a Dynamic Cheer Super Stars practice on Saturday April 2, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA.
Kaitlin Elliot, 18, shows Kristen Rondeau her fingernail paint during a Dynamic Super Stars practice on Saturday April 2, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA. “There’s not a lot out there for kids with special needs,” says coach Wendy Barker, whose daughter, Emily, is on the team. “They love performing in front of people, and it makes them feel good about themselves.”
Dynamic Cheer Super Stars coach Liz Matts talks with Haley Coleman, 15, during a team practice on Saturday March 26, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA.
Kelsey Minnick, 19, walks onto the practice floor at a Dynamic Super Stars cheerleading practice on Saturday April 2, 2016 in Lynchburg, VA.
Haley Coleman, 15, gets her hair done by Angela Hamilton before the Dynamic Cheer Super Stars perform at the Cheer and Dance Extreme Finale on Saturday April 9, 2016 in Virginia Beach, VA. “The girls care for each other,” said Hamilton, whose 13-year-old daughter, Kirsten, is on the team. “They take cues from one another. They know when somebody’s having a good day. They know when somebody’s having a bad day.”
Kelsey Minnick, 19, uses a cell phone as members of the Dynamic Cheer Super Stars wait for their turn to perform at the Cheer and Dance Extreme Finale on Saturday April 9, 2016 in Virginia Beach, VA.
Kelsey Minnick, 19, takes the stage with the rest of the Dynamic Cheer Super Stars as they prepare to perform during the Cheer and Dance Extreme Finale on Saturday April 9, 2016 in Virginia Beach, VA. “The girls are enjoying it. … When that spotlight hits them onstage, they’re in a world of their own. They want to show off,” said Tony Torrence, Minnick’s grandfather.
Dynamic Cheer Super Stars coach Kristen Rondeau hugs Emily Barker, 16, before the team performs at the Cheer and Dance Extreme Finale on Saturday April 9, 2016 in Virginia Beach, VA.
HM Sports Picture Story: Alexa Welch Edlund, Richmond Times-Dispatch– Duffy, head coach of Richmond’s hurling team, the Richmond Battery GAA, jokingly describes the game as “a cross between the skills of lacrosse, baseball, rugby and … second-degree murder.” The team didn’t let the snow deter their practice.
(L-R) Stephen Foster and Stan Roberts practice hurling with the Richmond Battery GAA team on Seminary Fields Sunday, January 17, 2016.
Richmond Battery GAA Coach Niall Duffy talks to his team before playing the Hampton Roads Hurling Club at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
Richmond Battery GAA Coach Niall Duffy shows his broken hurl after playing the Hampton Roads Hurling Club at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016. He had just ordered it from Ireland.
Richmond Battery GAA’s Will O’Brien watches as Hampton Roads Hurling Club’s Jeremy Hancock tosses the sliotar on his hurley during a match at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
The Richmond Battery GAA’s Phil O’Donnell practices before they play the Hampton Roads Hurling Club at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
(L-R) Richmond Battery GAA’s Will O’Brien and Hampton Roads Hurling Club’s Paul Cannon compete for the sliotar during a match at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016. ,
(L-R) Hampton Roads Hurling Club’s Jeremy Hancock and Richmond Battery GAA’s Stephen Healy compete for the sliotar during a match at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, Jeremy Hancock, Stephen Healy
(L-R) Hampton Roads Hurling Club’s Zach Otto and Richmond Battery GAA’s Peter Hoskins compete for the sliotar during a match at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
Richmond Battery GAA goalkeeper Stephen Foster, right, tries to prevent a score by Hampton Roads Hurling Club’s Donovan Hall at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
Members of the Richmond Battery GAA hurling team huddle after they lost to the Hampton Roads Hurling Club at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
(L-R) Niall Duffy, his nine-year-old son Noah Duffy, Joshua Parker and Alan Delahunty gathered at Green Leaf Cafe in Williamsburg after their team, Richmond Battery GAA, played the Hampton Roads Hurling Club at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016.
Peter Hoskins plays a game with Cian Duffy, age 7, at Green Leaf Cafe in Williamsburg after Hoskins’ team, Richmond Battery GAA, played the Hampton Roads Hurling Club at the James City County Recreation Center field Saturday, February 20, 2016. In the background are, left to right, Ella Duffy, age 4, Corey Delaney and Emily Delahunty.
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