While Hannah has been out of the photo office, the Rock M photo staff has gotten some help from other talented photographers in the Missouri School of Journalism. Last week’s edition introduced you to freshman
Margo Jenkins, and she was busy this week, shooting Friday’s Mizzou sports double header. She first attended Dawn & Co.‘s four-set thriller against South Carolina where both of us were pleading, “Can Mizzou hurry it up already? We’ve got plans down the street!” When that was over and the Tigers secured the W, she trekked across the parking lot to Mizzou Arena for Dennis & Co.‘s exhibition game vs. K-State.
Here’s just some of Margo’s photos I liked best, as well as an honorable mention photo I took of the The Legend, Dennis Gates. Bask in these moments of happiness and rid yourself of the Vanderbilt game demons.
Peepers
The volleyball team has a very animated sideline, and watching what they’re doing on the sidelines is just as fun as watching the play on the court at times. Here is one example of the lighthearted silliness as they’re on the lookout.
Roar of Approval
Hearnes Center has the capability of being a pretty great environment when the crowd is engaged, and Friday night was no different. The way the facility is built into the ground, the crowd almost feels like it’s on top of you, and it got pretty loud. I love this photo because it shows the engagement of the Tiger faithful.
Killer Caylen
Caylen Alexander recorded a team-high 24 kills and a .396 hitting percentage. Makes sense why there were so many pictures of the Hawaii transfer. Margo mentioned to me that she didn’t think her action shots were that good, but I really liked this one (and may others).
The Scream
Again with the sideline antics! Redshirt junior Kimani Johnson (7) reacts very dramatically to something while her teammates have varying reactions. Trinity Luckett (16) and Claire Morrissey (18) seem amused and Sierra Dudley (2) holds her head, while Maca Labaglio (10) remains stoic. I love this photo and may keep it for future use.
Dig It
Libero Maya Sands (3) recorded a career-high 32 digs against South Carolina, and while this photo doesn’t really show a dig, I wanted to give Sands her flowers while also sharing this photo, which shows her level of immense concentration.
Elation
As I’ve said before, I love a joyous celebratory photo, and my phone is full of them. The photo on the left is another exuberant shot of Johnson (7), who posted four blocks in the win, alongside Marina Crownover (22), who recorded 45 assists and 4 kills, and Maya Sands (3 in black). In the photo on the right, it was more of an excited Crownover and Sands, this time with Zoey Mattias-Lopez (1), recent Over the Net podcast guests Caylen Alexander (far left) and Tyrah Arieal (far right). GO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST!
Dennis Gates Fan Club
Dennis Gates is a good dude. I love that he regularly can be found in attendance at other Mizzou sporting events. I also posted this on twitter and people LOVED it (8.7K views & 198 likes), and before he sat back down and I got this photo, he was up, hyping up the crowd and throwing tshirts. Big Dennis Gates fan. HUGE. Also, loving those two-tone Jordans, Coach.
Hair-raising Hoopers
Mizzou Basketball has good hair. I know, it’s like. a super important quality to have, but it’s true. It leads to great photographs such as this one on the left with Ant Robinson (0) jumping up to lay the ball in for an easy FG. This one is going to be my new lockscreen, I think, replacing a photo of —surprise, surprise— Ant Robinson that former Rock M photographer Cal Tobias took last year. Love that guy. On the right, T.O. Barrett flies through the air with his Sideshow Bob-esque hairstyle, and this is a great example of motion photography.
Hangin’ in There
Margo was in great position for this one, able to capture Sebastian Mack swinging from the rim after a dunk, I love how the ball is just levitating off to the side, and again with the cool hair— love the braids flying around him.
The Many Faces of Jayden Stone
Jayden Stone has had quite the journey, from leaving Australia and his close-knit family to come to the US, to stops at a number of different schools like GCU, Detroit Mercy and WVU, to his scary health situation that led to him sitting out his one year with the Mountaineers.
In a recent episode of the Inside Mizzou Athletics Podcast that debuted after Media Day, Matt & Brad talked 1:1 with various Tiger newcomers. During Jayden’s interview, we learned he was a multi-sport athlete, running the 100m & 200m sprints and an accomplished swimmer in the homeland — yay! a swimmer! — as well as about what happened at WVU. Basically, he sustained a head and spine injury and spent time in the hospital where it was unsure if he would regain the usage of one side of his body. Scary stuff, so I’m rooting for him super hard and you should too. It was lovely to see him suit up and show off.
That’s likely all from me photo-wise for a while, as Hannah will be back shortly. These things are fun to write, though, and I love sharing our staff’s work.
