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Photo Gallery: The Gazette’s Visuals Staff’s Favorite Sports Photos of the Year 2025
Staff photojournalists share their favorite sports photographs selected from the thousands of images taken throughout 2025
Jim Slosiarek
Gazette Visuals
Savannah Blake
Nick Rohlman
Elizabeth Wood Dec. 28, 2025 8:43 am, Updated: Dec. 29, 2025 2:26 pm
Maryland Terrapins guard Shyanne Sellers (0) reacts after a foul is called on her in the fourth quarter of the game against Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen reacts to a call on the Hawkeyes in the second quarter of the game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
The West Delaware bench goes wild as West Delaware’s Kooper Waugh secures his win by fall over CDG’s Ryan Hartwig in a class 2A 132 pound semifinal match during boys’ state wrestling duals at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Sergeant Bluff-Luton wrestling head coach Clint Koedam reacts as his son Bo Koedam jumps into his arms after defeating Ballard’s Tucker Vitzthum during their 2A 165 lbs. final match at the Iowa Boys’ High School Athletic Association’s 2025 State Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes’s Avery Jackson (center, right) bumps chests with Jena Young (#24) during player introductions before their college softball game against the Saint Thomas Tommies at Pearl Field in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa City High School’s Damari Lacy competed in the long jump during the Prep Track Forwald-Coleman Relays at City High’s track in Iowa City, April 16, 2025. Lacy placed sixth. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Decorah’s Renae Wilson reacting after clearing 5’5” during the 3A girls high jump on the first day of the 2025 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Wilson finished third with a jump of 5’6”. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Mount Vernon’s Libby Dix (center) hugs her twin brothers Will (left) and Mack, both 10, after she won the 3A girls discus on the first day of the 2025 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Dix won with a throw of 148’, 10”. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
From left: Tipton’s Ella Hein, Noelle Steines, Tatum Nebergall and Zoe Holstein celebrate after the time on the clock of the third and final heat surpassed their time during the 2A girls sprint medley relay on the second day of the 2025 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, May 23, 2025. Tipton won from the second heat in 4:07.80. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa City West’s Derek Hua celebrates with a teammate after defeating Waukee Northwest in the doubles first round during the 2025 IHSAA Class 2A state tennis tournament at Hawkeyes Tennis and Recreation Center in Iowa City, Iowa on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Iowa City Liberty Lightning's Kali Browning (10) crouches to the ground after Bettendorf Bulldogs' Alivia Snow (76) scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game during the girls' soccer regional final at North Liberty High School in North Liberty on Friday, May 30, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Bret Ramsey works on his car before the races begin for Hall of Fame night at Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, Iowa, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Ramsey finished in 5th place in the third heat of IMCA modified. The feature race for the category was canceled due to the rain. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
North Fayette Valley's Decklyn Heins (82) and North Fayette Valley's Broden Frieden (2) embrace after the TigerHawks fell to the Bulldogs 1-0 during the class 1A IHSAA state soccer quarterfinals at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Monday, June 2, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Kye Franks (CQ) picks up candy on the Hawkeye Downs Speedway track during the Hy-Vee candy dash in southwest Cedar Rapids on Friday, June 20, 2025. Frank’s dad, Matt Franks, raced in the Sports Mod class. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Western Dubuque's Lauren Ervolino (12) celebrates making it to second base next to North Polk's Alexandra Mohlke during their 4A quarterfinal game of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2025 State Softball Tournament at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Monday, July 21, 2025. The North Polk Comets won 8-7 in extra innings. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Cascade's Addison Frake (12) eyes a fly ball in the infield during their 2A quarterfinal game against the West Lyon Wildcats at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2025 State Softball Tournament at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The West Lyon Wildcats won 10-8. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Williamsburg players pile on each other in celebration after defeating Wahlert Catholic 3-2 during their 3A championship game at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2025 State Softball Tournament at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Friday, July 25, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Heather Fleming hits the ball back to her opponent, Gabriella Fleming, during the women’s finals of the Baird Iowa Open tennis tournament at the Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in southwest Cedar Rapids on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Gabriella and Heather tied after the first two sets; Gabriella won the tiebreaker 10-7.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Prairie’s Willa Brown reacts after missing a hit from Kennedy while playing in a doubles game at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Williamsburg Raiders players are silhouetted baby the morning sun during football practice at Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Cornell Ram's Justice Toledo (7) congratulates Cornell Ram's Fox Wight (9) on scoring a goal during their scrimmage game against Upper Iowa University in Mount Vernon on Sunday, August 24, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) sprays himself with water in the second half of the CyHawk game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes' Iba Oching (12) and Minnesota Gophers’ Kate Childers (3) during their soccer game at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex in Iowa City on Sunday, September 21, 2025. The Iowa Hawkeyes won the game 2-0. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Waterloo West’s Jackson Stanford reacts after his chip shot rolled into the hole on the 10th green during the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Golf Meet at Gardner Memorial Golf Course in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Stanford chip shot made it in the hole. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Kohawk’s Leighton Charters (29) tackles Buena Vista University’s Dolan Pospichal (7) at Coe College’s Clark Field in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Coe College won the game 37-10.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Prairie's Grace Knock (1) celebrates a Hawks point with teammates during their match against the Cedar Falls Tigers at the Mississippi Valley Conference High School volleyball tournament at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Hinton co-head coach Kate Ortegren high fives Blackhawks players as they celebrate their 2A quarterfinal win over the Iowa City Regina Regals at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s 2025 State Volleyball Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Davenport Assumption players huddle together to celebrate their win over Humboldt during their 3A championship match at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s 2025 State Volleyball Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Thursday, November 6, 2025. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Iowa City Regina Regals' Drew Greve (13) catches a pass in the end zone during their Class A semifinal football game against the Grundy Center Spartans at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Friday, November 14, 2025. Iowa City Regina High School won the game 31-12.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes' Isaia Howard (23) tries to gain possession of a rebound during their basketball game at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The Iowa Hawkeyes won the game 83-64. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
West Liberty’s Ryker Dengler stands for a portrait at the Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, June 27, 2025. Dengler, the Gazette’s 2025 Boys’ Athlete of the Year lettered in five varsity sports (football, wrestling, basketball, track and field, and baseball) his senior year. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
A composite image showing Linn-Mar long-jumper Abby Mecklenburg jumping during a practice at Linn-Mar High school in Marion, Iowa on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
West Liberty coaches Colin Cassady and Chayse Schultz react as West Liberty’s Silvia Garcia-Vasquez wrestles AP/GC’s Grace Storjohann at 120 pounds during the championship round of the 2025 IGHSAU Girls’ Wrestling State Tournament at the XTream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, February 7, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Zach Lutmer (6) intercepts a pass during a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Lutmer returned the interception for a touchdown. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Iowa’s Jordan Williams (left) wrestles Iowa State’s Vinny Zerban at 157 pounds during a a dual meet between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Zerban won by major decision, 11-3. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Iowa Hawkeyes forward Hannah Stuelke (45) and Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) fight for the ball during a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. The Cyclones defeated the Hawkeyes 74-69. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman celebrates after winning the boys’ 3200 meter run during the 2025 Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Baylor Bears forward Jason Asemota (5) and forward Norchad Omier (15) defend Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise (0) during a game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Baylor Bears at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, January 4, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Daxton Mock of Lake Mills, Wisconsin carries his bike up a muddy level b section of Osage St. SW during the core4 multi surface bike race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The race ran on an alternate route due to heavy rain the night before on a day where the heat index rose to more than 100 degrees. The men’s elite race was won by Julien Gagné of Quebec and the women’s elite race was won by Rosa Maria Klöser of Germany. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Xavier Saints head coach Tom Lilly raises his arms in celebrateion after guard Madden Wilson (3) advanced Xavier on the tournament bracket following a state tournament championship game between the Xavier Saints and the North Polk Comets at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Xavier won 66-47 to clinch the state championship and head coach Tom Lilly’s sixth career state championship in his final game before retiring. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)


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