The Year in Photos 2020: Iowa Sports

Cedar Rapids Xavier's Eve Magill (13, bottom right) finds herself at the bottom of the dog pile while celebrating her team's win in the Class 4A state championship final of the IGHSAU state volleyball tournament at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. Every year the state volleyball tournament makes a long week for journalists covering the event but especially for the players who spend their whole week focused in on their game and pushing their bodies as hard as they can for their team. Any state tournament presents the opportunity for some pretty strong emotions from athletes. It's the nature of any tournament. But this always seems amplified at the volleyball tournament where the emotional energy of the team and the intensity of their celebration for each point can seem to directly affect the team's play. When a team wins, it is as if all that tension bursts and they let it all go on the court. That's exactly what it felt like to run onto the court as the Saints celebrated their win. It all had come to this moment where players were running off the bench and joining their teammates collapsing in a pile on the court. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

As summer sports picked back up after the coronavirus-related spring cancellations, photographers sought positions away from the sometimes-crowded stands. This game was in the ninth inning and I was stationed near home plate, hoping to capture the game-winning run and make deadline. This photo captured the joy of the team that would eventually win, the umpire making the call and the plea of the team that would lose this hard-fought 11-inning game. North Cedar's Kassidie Galloway (13) and Cascade's Alyssa Lux (8) react as Galloway is called out at home in the 9th inning of their Class 2A prep softball regional game Cascade High School in Cascade on Monday, July 13, 2020. Cascade won 5-4 in the 11th inning. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Usually I'm a bit closer to the action at Pigman, but this year I was consciously keeping my distance from the athletes. It turned out to be a nice change of scenery that I was positioned on the berm along the shore and catch this silhouette of people lining up to start their swim as others were finishing theirs. An athlete finishes their swim as others line the beach while waiting to begin the swim portion at the Pigman Triathlon at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area in Palo on Sunday, July 26, 2020. This year's race took place a month later than normal under restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a cap on participants, temperature screenings and no spectators allowed on the course. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

With the coronavirus pandemic precautions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, news photographers photograph from positions off the court. It's actually a welcome break from our normal baseline positions. I think the elevated angle helped clean up the background and draws the viewer's attention to Caitlin Clark as Clark and teammates began celebrating their win over Iowa State. Clark has already been compared to Megan Gustafson and Ally Disterhoft, the top two scorers in Hawkeye history. Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) yells as she and teammates celebrate as time expires in their Cy-Hawk Series women's college basketball win over the Iowa State Cyclones at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. Iowa won 82-80. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes center Luka Garza (55) hangs onto the ball as he collides with Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) in the first half at an Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball game with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Lisa Bluder and associate head coach Jan Jensen celebrate their win and Bluder's 200th win at an Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball game with the Ohio State Buckeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. The Hawkeyes won the game, 77-68. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Iowa's Michael Kemerer wrestles Ohio State's Kaleb Romero in their 174-pound match at an Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling dual with the Ohio State Buckeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Kemerer won by decision, 7-1. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Iowa's Alex Marinelli wrestles Penn State's Vincenzo Joseph in their 165-pound match at the Iowa Hawkeyes' wrestling dual with the Penn State Nittany Lions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Independence wrestlers hoist Cole Davis into the air after a takedown with 2 seconds left against Charles City's Elliott Sinnwell in the air in their 170-pound bout at the Class 2A regional dual final at Independence High School on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Independence won 31-29 with a 4-2 win by 170-pound Cole Davis in the final bout. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Valley's Benjamin Smith celebrates his win over Don Bosco's Cade Tenold in their 160-pound Class 1A championship match at the IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Smith won by tiebreaker, 2-1. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Iowa City West teammates dive into the pool following their win at the boys' state swimming meet at the University of Iowa Campus and Recreation Center in Iowa City on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. Iowa City West won the state meet. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Kendra Nerad of Cedar Rapids dives for the ball after attempting a goal against Jonathan Stichter of Coralville and Grace Assan of Iowa City during a broomball game at Beat the Bitter at Penn Meadows Park in North Liberty on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. Warm weather caused poor ice conditions for the earlier planned curling competition, but broomball, which has similarities with hockey and soccer, is best played on rougher ice. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Andy Katz prepares to go on air following the cancellation of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Athletic conferences around the country canceled tournaments in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Mitchell Schares (left) and Deven Williams take turns chopping a tree limb while volunteering with other members of the Kennedy varsity football team to clean storm debris from the practice fields in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Fans sit in spray-painted circles while waiting for the start of the home game against Cedar Rapids Xavier at Linn-Mar High School in Marion on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Band members play a pregame show at a Washington High School football game with Cedar Falls at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Varsity boys cross a bridge during their race at the West Delaware cross-country invitational at Hart Ridge Golf Course in Manchester on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Brandon Smith (12) pulls in a touchdown pass over Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Cameron Ruiz (18) in the first quarter of their football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Brandon Smith (12) pulls in a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter at an Iowa Hawkeyes football game with the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Xavier defensive back Aidan McDermott (left) attempts to recover the ball after breaking up a pass intended for Newton running back Cade Cupples (right) in the second quarter at a high school football game with Newton at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Montezuma's Cole Watts (5) pulls in a pass over Remsen St. Mary's Alex Schroeder (3) in the first half of their 8-man semifinal playoff game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

The stands are sanitized after the 8-man semifinal playoff game between Montezuma and Remsen St. Mary's at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Kennedy teammates sit spaced six feet apart at a doubleheader basketball game with Kennedy at Cedar Rapids Washington High School on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Montezuma's Makenna Johannes lies in the grass after completing the girls' varsity 5k race at the Clear Creek Amana Invitational cross-country meet at Kickers Soccer Club in Iowa City on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Bailey Libby, 16, leaps into the air as she works on the balance beam at Twisters Gymnastics, 4625 Tower Terrace Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. The training facility mandated masks for all athletes in the gym while participating. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Wilton's Carly Puffer (21) jumps to try and block during their Class 2A state semifinal match of the IGHSAU state volleyball tournament at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Addie Parker (25) runs for home plate as Iowa City High's Carey Koenig (7) makes a catch to get her out during the first game of their doubleheader at Iowa City High School in Iowa City on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

The ball comes loose from the glove of Norwalk's Nate Lane (10) as Clear Creek-Amana's Tyler Schrepfer (21) slides back to avoid being picked off during their Class 3A state quarterfinal game at Principal Park in Des Moines on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

David Carr flips Hayden Hidlay over his back during the 65 kg men's freestyle consolation semifinal bout for 3rd place at Senior Nationals at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

West Delaware's Wyatt Voelker celebrates his win over Davenport Assumption's Aiden Morgan during their class 2A 195 lbs. semifinal match at the 2020 IHSAA State Dual Team Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Linn-Mar's Brandon O'Brien (right) wrestles Iowa City West's Grant O'Dell during their 106-weight bout in Class 3A quarterfinals of the 2020 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. O'Brien won by an 8-3 decision. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

The sun sets behind the West High softball field before stadium lights are turned on at Iowa City West High School in Iowa City on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. All Iowa City high schools turned on their athletic facility lights for 20 minutes Wednesday night to honor senior athletes. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

From left: Connor Whannel, 10, Austin Whannel, 7, and Maddux Mueller, 12, pickup balls during a break from batting practice at Dugout Sports, 814 Eagleview Dr., in Fairfax Iowa, on Monday, April 6, 2020. The baseball and softball training facility sees athletes of all ages, including many Major League Baseball players. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn players watch the end of the 1A final before their Class 2A state championship game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Mount Vernon's Keaton Kutcher (22) holds up his team's state qualifier banner after winning their Class 3A substate final at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Rob Miller drives his Dodge Charger during a Detroit Iron pre-1980 bracket race of the White Claw Outlaw Street Drags presented by Simmons Promotions Inc. at Hawkeye Downs in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 14, 2020. Racers could compete in one or several of 19 classification brackets. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Mya Dodge celebrates with head coach Maddison LeClere as she rounds the bases after hitting an RBI home run that also scored Kaylin Kinney during the third inning of their class 5A semifinal game against the Muscatine Muskies at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex Park in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Kennedy won 9-0. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

City High head coach Tricia Carty gives instructions to her players during the second set of their Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball match against the Linn-Mar Lions at Iowa City High in Iowa City, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

OABCIG's Easton Harms (21) hauls in a touchdown pass against Sigourny-Keota's Cade Molyneux (10) during the second quarter of their 1A semi-final high school state football game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Coe's Megan Norris competes in the one-meter diving competition at a ARC Mid-Season virtual triangular college swimming meet at Coe College in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)