The Gazette's best sports photos of 2018

'Besides volleyball, softball is my most favorite sport to photograph,' said Gazette staff photojournalist Jim Slosiarek. 'I've shot this type of photo before but it never gets old seeing Iowa City High's Ella Cook (right, facing camera) and her teammates wave the state qualifier banner as they celebrate the Little Hawks's class 5A regional win over the Linn-Mar Lions at Iowa City High School in Iowa City, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.' 'The elements in the photo make the photo work: The expressions on the players' faces, Ella Cook's face framed by her arm and the banner, the coaches hugging in the background, the one coach with her arms raised contribute to creating a storytelling photo. City High won 4-2 to advance the the state tournament. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I'm still thinking about this trip to northern Wisconsin that I took with Gazette sportswriter Jeff Linder. It was amazing to get to travel so far for this story on Iowa basketball player Megan Gustafson and we had perfect weather and lots of great northern light for the day we were there. Anytime we get a chance to share an athlete's story is a chance to connect with them and their sport in a different way. This photo didn't make the edit when the story was published, but I liked Gustafson's shadow on the rough concrete where she spent so many hours as a kid. In a town where she's left a huge impression as a community member and athlete. Megan Gustafson shoots hoops on the outdoor concrete court where she practiced as a kid in Port Wing, Wisc. on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Hawkeye basketbal center Megan Gustafson was a consensus all-American in the 2017-2018 season and is on track to become the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Iowa history. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

After 11 seasons of covering Hawkeye football, game photography is very instinctual. It's not unusual to have a close call in the end zone when covering football, but until I watched game tape later I didn't realize just how close this play came to my field position. As the play developed, I continued shooting as I stood to move away from the tumbling players. Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Brandon Smith (12) catches a touchdown pass under pressure from Maryland Terrapins defensive back Tino Ellis (7) in the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa City Regina's Jayden Kies (5) is hit by a pitch during the seventh inning of their high school baseball game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Jun. 18, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Japan's wrestling team rushes the mat to celebrate with Taiki Yammoto after he defeated Cuba's Yudenny Alapajon Estevez, left, in the 125 kg match to win the bronze medal for Japan at the 2018 Freestyle Wrestling World Cup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Sunday, April 8, 2018. We weren't covering the match for third place but I in order to save my spot for the medal round I had to sit matside for the last 3 or 4 weight classes of Cuba versus Japan. I couldn't see the Cuba bench but Japan's bench was reacting to every point as the bronze medal came down to who won the heavyweight match. My favorite sports photos are ones the capture both the jubliation and dejection of the athletes in the same frame. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

North Linn's Ryan Miller (24) makes a basket during the third quarter of their quarterfinal game of the State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Monday, Mar. 5, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Sofia Gomez Villafane of Argentina (44) and Arley Kemmerer of the United States (15) slip in the mud as they start their descent on the 'Luge Run' during the Women's Telenet UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Heavy rain right after the big men's race made the women's race much more interesting to photograph. Bad weather can make for good photos. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Runners compete in the 800 meter relay at the Hopkins Relays at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Linn-Mar's Payton Wensel celebrates after crossing the finish line as she anchors the Lions in winning the class 4A spring medley relay at the 2018 Iowa High School Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The Lions set a record with their win in 1:43.64. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

West Branch players dump water on head coach Butch Pedersen after he won his 300th career game after their high school football game at Oliphant Street Field in West Branch on Friday, Sep. 14, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Players particpate in drills during football practice at Williamsburg High School on Monday, August 6, 2018. Most of these preseason practices are in the morning or afternoon but fortunately this one was late enough in the day for great evening light streaming through the adajcent (and very tall) cornfield. This was the last practice I shot for the prep football preview and I was starting to run out of ideas for interesting photos so I was happy to take advantage of the dramatic light. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz (right) shakes hands with offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Ferentz (left) after Kirk became the winningest coach in Hawkeyes history after their NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sep. 1, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Noah Fant (87) talks with offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of their college football game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Holt Hinkel, 8, plays football with brother Hux Hinkel, 6, and Trey Streb, 10, before the Iowa game against Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Holt and Hux's father Ed Hinkel played wide receiver for Iowa. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Luka Garza (55) is pumped up after making a basket while being fouled as forward Nicholas Baer (51) runs over to him up during the second half of their B1G basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Kernels batter Akil Baddoo (24) leans back to avoid a Beloit pitch during a Midwest League baseball game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Monday, August 6, 2018. I decided to try shooting from an angle that was behind the batter for something different but I was not getting any of their faces until this batter backed away so he wouldn't get hit with a pitch. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Iowa City Regina's Ryan Schott (15) drops to his knees as the Centerville Big Reds celebrate after the final out of their 2A championship game in the state baseball tournament at Principal Park in Des Moines on Saturday, Jul. 28, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Jefferson head coach Brian Erbe high fives Lindsey Culver as she rounds the bases after hitting a one RBI home run to win the J-Hawks' Class 5A quarterfinal game against the Fort Dodge Dodgers at the 2018 Iowa Girls' High School State Softball Championships at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Jefferson won 3-1. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa City West's Austin West at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Hayley Speidel does a kneeling drill during practice with the Maidens of Mayhem hockey team at Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Timothy LeDuc skates at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. LeDuc, who grew up in Cedar Rapids, is an alternate on the U.S. Olympic figure skating team. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

City High goalie Naomi Meurice attempts a save in the second half at a high school girls' soccer game between Iowa City West High School and City High School at the Iowa Soccer Complex in Iowa City on Friday, April 20, 2018. City High won the game, 4-0. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Marion's Connor Gorton (13) blocks a shot by Cedar Rapids Xavier's Ben Conrad (3) in the second period of the 2A boys soccer state championship consolation game at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines on Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Mitch Hall celebrates his win in the boys' 400-meter relay at the Drake Relays in Des Moines on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Jefferson won the event in 42.31 seconds. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Iowa's Reno Tuufuli throws the shot put at the Musco Twilight invitational at the Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track at the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Tuufuli placed fourth with a throw of 17.59 meters. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Linn-Mar's Micah Poellet (right) gets a hug from Chloe Skidmore after Poellet won the class 4A race during the 2018 State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Northern Iowa Panthers running back Trevor Allen (25) dives between South Dakota State Jackrabbits linebackers Christian Rozeboom (2) and Dalton Cox (53) to score a touchdown during the second half of a game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Saturday, October 20, 2018. One of the hardest images to get in football is a good shot of a player making a short dive into the endzone, you have to be in just the right postition to see the face of the player with the ball through all the other players. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Iowa City West's Logan Cook (22) runs to celebrate the 56-45 win over Iowa City High in the 5A championship game at the girls prep basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, March 2, 2018. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Iowa City West head coach Garrett Hartwig fills water bottles during the team's camp at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids Prairie's Mike Jasa celebrates after crossing the finish line of the boys' 3200-meter relay at the Drake Relays in Des Moines on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Prairie won the event with a time of 7:56.84 minutes. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)