Best of 2011| Sports

Overall, 2011 was a successful year for my sports photography. I enjoyed covering the Red Land Boys Basketball team all the way through to the PIAA State Quarterfinals and several Penn State Football games before and after the Jerry Sandusky child abuse investigation resulting in the firing of legendary coach Joe Paterno.

Below, Penn State Nittany Lions players run onto the field prior to a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Cumberland Valley's Eagles Trevor Magnuski (33) attempts a shot during a game against the Central Dauphin Rams defense.

 

Red Land's Mike Zangari (34) attempts a layup during the first round of PIAA Class AAAA Boys Basketball State Championship playoffs against Bartram.

The Red Land Student Section "The Red Sea" keeps the crowd entertained during a timeout.

Lebanon's Jesse Thomas is blocked by Red Land's Stephen Zach (44) and Mike Zangari (34) during the PIAA District 3 Class AAAA Basketball Quarterfinals.

Mike Zangari (center) celebrates with the Red Land student section following their 40-38 win over Lower Marion in the second round of PIAA Class AAAA Boys Basketball State Playoffs.

Red Land's head coach Scott Slayton, left, chats with Steve Zach following his personal foul on Plymouth-Whitemarsh's Jaylen Bond(15)(not pictured).

Red Land's Mike Zangari (background) hugs teammate Dominick Antonelli (foreground) after lossing to Plymouth-Whitemarsh in the PIAA Class AAAA Boys Basketball State Championship Quarterfinals.

Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tim Frazier (23) blocks Purdue Boilermakers guard Lewis Jackson (23) in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA. 

Penn State Nittany Lions forward David Jackson (15) is fouled by  Purdue Boilermakers center JaJuan Johnson (25) in the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA.

Penn State Nittany Lions guard Talor Battle (12) attempts a shot in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA. 

Bucknell Bison head coach Dave Paulsen reacts from the bench in the second half against the American Eagles at the Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, PA.

Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Trevor Mbawke (32) attempts a shot in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA.

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Ed DeChellis reacts to a call in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA.

Bucknell Bison center Mike Muscala (31) attempts a shot in the second half against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at the Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, PA.

North East's Alexandra Schriefer avoids the high temperatures during the Girls Class AA high jump finals at the PIAA track & field championships at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg.

Northwestern's Nicole Lockard competes in the Girls Class AA high jump finals at the PIAA track & field championships at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg. 

Boiling Spring's Lauren Lehman competes in the Girls Class AA 3200 meter run at the PIAA track & field championships at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg. 

Trinity's Tom Gruschow, left, celebrates after defeating North East's Ryan Smathers in the Boys Class AA 1600 meter run at the PIAA track & field championships at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg.

Cedar Cliff's Olivia Loy clears her set height in the Girls Class AAA Pole Vault at the PIAA track & field championships at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg. 

Bible Baptist's Josh Nesmith stretches across the finish line to place second in the Boys Class AA 110 meter hurdles at the PIAA track & field championships at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg. 

Hempfield's Drew Skundrich (14) and Cumberland Valley's Colin Phillips (10) battle for the ball in the PIAA District 3 AAA Boys Soccer Semifinals game at Hersheypark Stadium.

Cumberland Valley's players hug Kelly Pizzingrilli (11) after scoring the winning goal in the PIAA Girls Soccer Championship game.

Cumberland Valley's celebrate with the PIAA Girls Soccer championship trophy after defeating Penn Manor 1-0.

Messiah's Olivia Scott (9) moves the ball past the Lebanon Valley defenders in the NCAA Women's Soccer Commonwealth Championship game.

Selinsgrove Seals' goalkeeper Gabby Pagana tries to block a shot from the Villa Maria Hurricanes offense in the 2nd half of the PIAA Class AA Field Hockey Semi-Finals at Hershey High School in Hershey, PA.

Selinsgrove Seals' Brooke Greak, left, reacts after losing to the Villa Maria Hurricanes 6-0 in the PIAA Class AA Field Hockey Semi-Finals at Hershey High School in Hershey, PA.

Mechanicsburg teammates are disqualified in the Boys 5K Cumberland County Cross Country Championships race.

Jon Gonzales hits his ball from the sand trap during the Charles Stringfellow Four Ball Tournament at the Carlisle Country Club in Carlisle.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers enter pit road during the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon (24) leads the field on a restart during the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon (24) celebrates after winning the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano sign autographs for fans during qualifying for the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series trucks sit on pit road after the red flag was displayed at lap 17 due to rain during the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series spotters look on from atop the tower during the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) closes in on leader Joey Logano (20) as weather moves in during the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch and crew celebrate in victory lane after winning the AAA 400 at the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch climbs into his car during practice for the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick during practice for the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger relaxes in his car during practice for the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski celebrates in victory lane after winning the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

Harrisburg Senators left fielder Bryce Harper signs autographs for fans prior to the start of a game against the Binghamton Mets at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, PA.

Harrisburg Senators pitcher Stephen Strasburg warms up prior to making a rehab start against the Portland Seadogs at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, PA.

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno laughs while answering questions from the media following a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

A Penn State Nittany Lions fans roars up the fans prior to a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. 

Penn State Nittany Lions safety Drew Astorino (28) attempts to tackle Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson (3) in the 2nd quarter at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Alabama Crimson Tide Dre Kirkpatrick (21) breaks up a pass intended for Penn State Nittany Lions Shawney Kersey (81) in the 2nd quarter at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson (3) steps out-of-bound at the one yard line in the 3rd quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Matt McGloin (11) in the 4th quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. 

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson (3) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in the 4th quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. 

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Mark Barron (4) breaks up a pass intended for Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Andrew Szczerba (80) in the 4th quarter at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Mechanicsburg's Ryan Greene (43) tries to tackle Central Dauphin's Sam Adams (10) during a game played Sunday afternoon at Memorial Park Stadium in Mechanicsburg.

Mechanicsburg's quarterback Frank Rubinic (12) is sacked by Central Dauphin's Zayd Issah (1) during a game played Sunday afternoon at Memorial Park Stadium in Mechanicsburg.

Cumberland Valley's Jeremy DiPietro (22) touches the eagle statue prior to a game against Central Dauphin at Harry Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

Cumberland Valley's Joseph DeCecco (18) runs the ball during a game against Central Dauphin at Harry Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

Cumberland Valley's Devon Blewett (72) tries to tackle Central Dauphin's Zady Issah (1) during a game at Harry Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

 

Penn State Nittany Lions starting cornerback Chaz Powell (2) prior to a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Mike Wallace (14) attempts to tackle Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Jordan Bernstine (4) in the 1st quarter at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. 

Penn State Nittany Lions safety Nick Sukay (1) breaks up a pass intended for Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley (11) In the 1st quarter at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Matt McGloin (11) looks to hand the ball off in the 3rd quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Bishop McDevitt Crusaders defensive end Noah Spence (9) carries Hershey Trojans running back Taylor Luchansky (33) back behind the line of scrimmage in the 1st half at McDevitt Field in Harrisburg, PA.

Central Penn Piranha's quarterback Mark Jarmon (11) stiff arms Lehigh Valley Storm's Jaren Elder (4) during a game at East Pennsboro High School in Enola.

Carlisle's head coach Josh Oswalt reacts to a play during a game against Cumberland Valley at Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Devon Still (71) attempts to sack Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez (3) in the 1st quarter at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.

Camp Hill's Jake Bingham (5) leaps over the pile during the District 3 Class A Football semifinals game against York Catholic at Siebert Memorial Park in Camp Hill.

Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Tom Bradley salutes the fans following a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA.