Way more than one shining moment: Gazette photographers pick their favorite March sports photos

Iowa Hawkeyes seniors, forward Megan Gustafson (10), forward Hannah Stewart (21) and guard Tania Davis (11), pose for the cameras on the baseline as the clock runs down during the Hawkeyes 74 to 50 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Just a fun shot of players goofing off near the end of the last game of the regular season. (Cliff Jette /The Gazette)

I hate, hate, hate that I cut off Megan Gustafson's fingers when I took this photo. I love, love love her expression as she comes out of the game in the Hawkeyes' Sweet 16 win over NC State. Photographing this team as they made their NCAA tournament run is something that I'll remember for a long time. Iowa Hawkeyes forward Megan Gustafson (10) acknowledges her family and the Hawkeyes fans as she comes out of the game late in the fourth quarter of their Sweet 16 Greensboro regional game against the NC State Wolfpack of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC, on Saturday, March 30, 2019. Iowa won 79-61. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa City West's Patrick McCaffery (center) puts up a shot between Dubuque Senior's Landon Hermsen (left) and Nick Timmerman (right) during the fourth quarter of their Class 4A quarterfinal game in the Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

I wanted to show the crowd attending the second round NCAA game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Missouri Tigers. It's difficult to do since the difference in exposure between the well-lit court and the stands is pretty large. Photoshop isn't always a fix since blown-out highlights aren't easily recovered and opening up the shadows usually results in muddy, noisy shadow detail. I decided to wait for when they turn off the arena lights for player introductions. The game set a record as the sixth-highest attendance for a second-round game with 12,096 fans. Players from the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Missouri Tigers are announced to the 12,376 in attendance before their NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Classic Kathleen Doyle. I think I've photographed a Kathleen Doyle ball steal and her taking the ball down the court for a layup every game I've been to this season. Her energy after the play is evident. Have I mentioned how much fun it has been to photograph this team? Iowa Hawkeyes guard Kathleen Doyle (right) steals the ball from Missouri Tigers guard Sophie Cunningham (3) during the first quarter of their NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Megan Gustafson (10) leaps for the basket under pressure from Northwestern Wildcats center Abbie Wolf (21) during the first half of a game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Sunday, March 3, 2019. The tendency is to shoot basketball a bit loose but I like the intensity of Gustafson's face with the tight crop. (Cliff Jette /The Gazette)

This is just a fun shot of the seniors coming off the court after their second round win. I wished I was in front of them but I like having the scoreboard in the background. It provides some context. Iowa Hawkeyes seniors from left: forward Hannah Stewart, forward Megan Gustafson and guard Tania Davis acknowledge the fans as they walk off the court as they celebrate their NCAA women's basketball tournament second round win over the Missouri Tigers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Iowa won 68-52. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I like a good rebounding photo almost as much as I like capturing loose ball photos. The intensity on Iowa Hawkeyes forward Hannah Stewart's face as she reaches for a tipped ball really makes the shot. This was a great team to photograph and an amazing season to document. Iowa Hawkeyes forward Hannah Stewart (21) reaches for a tipped ball against Mercer Bears center Rachel Selph (34) during the fourth quarter of their NCAA women's basketball tournament first round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, March 22, 2019. Iowa won 66-61. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Nicholas Baer (51) dunks the ball near the end of the second half of a first round game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 22, 2019. The look of joy on Baer's face is what makes this photo for me. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

This was Iowa Hawkeyes forward Nicholas Baer's last home game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. I like respect given by Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. and the official as they wish Baer well after fouling out of his last home game. Iowa Hawkeyes forward Nicholas Baer (51) acknowledges the crowd after fouling out of his last regular season home game during the second half of their Big Ten Conference men's college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, March 2, 2019. Rutgers won 86-72. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

This was the Hawkeyes' final home game of the season. The assistant coaches, including assistant coach Kirk Speraw (left), filled in for head coach Fran McCaffery who was serving a two-game suspension. The game wasn't going well for the Hawkeyes who were playing Rutgers. My job is to tell the story of the game through photographs. I think the photo conveys the tension in an eventual upset by the unranked Scarlet Knights. Iowa Hawkeyes assistant coach Kirk Speraw (left) rubs his head during the second half of their Big Ten Conference men's college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Iowa Hawkeyes assistant coach Kirk Speraw (left) rubs his head during the second half of their Big Ten Conference men's college basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, March 2, 2019. Rutgers won 86-72. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Nicholas Baer (51), left, hugs forward Luka Garza (55) after the Tennessee Volunteers' 83 to 77 overtime victory in a second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Of all my postgame images this one best summed up the emotion of the team after their loss. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Marion's Leah Van Weelden (1) drops to the court as the North Scott Lancers celebrate after their Class 4A championship game in the Girls' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Center Point-Urbana's Madison Willson (22) points to the trophy held by Callyn Fox (44) as the Center Point-Urbana Stormin' Pointers celebrate after winning the Class 3A championship game in the Girls' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Mar. 1, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

West Hancock's Amanda Chizek (35) and Montezuma's Shelby Conger (24) get in position as they eye a rebound during the first quarter of their Class 1A semifinal game in the Girls' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Mar. 1, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

I love loose ball scramble photos. You can get some good expressions of players as they dive and battle for the ball. The scramble happened so fast that I didn't have time to rotate my camera from vertical to horizontal. Luckily, I didn't have to as the photo covers the full frame from left to right. All I did was crop off the top and bottom to make the squarish, Instagram frame. Drake Bulldogs guard Brenni Rose (right) reaches for a loose battle against Missouri Tigers guard Jordan Chavis (24) during the fourth quarter of their NCAA women's basketball tournament first round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, March 22, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Tyler Cook (25) celebrates a dunk during the second half of a second round game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, March 14, 2019. This was my favorite reaction shot of the two games I covered at this tournament. (Cliff Jette /The Gazette)

North Linn's Austin Miller (12) walks off the court as blood covers the side of his head after he was hit in the face during the first quarter of their Class 2A quarterfinal game in the Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Alburnett's Hunter Caves (34) walks to the bench as blood streams down his face after he was fouled during the fourth quarter of their Class 1A semifinal game in the Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

Boyden-Hull's Spencer Te Slaa (23) and North Linn's Trevor Boge (40) battle for a rebound during the fourth quarter of their Class 2A Championship game in the Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Mar. 8, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

The North Linn Lynx celebrate after winning the Class 2A Championship game in the Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Mar. 8, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

The Class 3A Championship game in a photograph taken with a tilt-shift lens during the Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, Mar. 8, 2019. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)

I love photographing expressive coaches. It means they're passionate about their sport and their athletes. A contrast in twins: Photographing Iowa associate head coach Terry Brands (left) and his brother head coach Tom Brands as they coach Iowa's Spencer Lee during his 125 lbs. semi-final match shows the contrast in the brothers' demeanors. That's also one of the ways that I tell them apart. Terry is a study in continuous motion, rocking back and forth in his chair. Tom is a more reserved head coach-like persona. Iowa Associate head coach Terry Brands (left) and his brother head coach Tom Brands coach Iowa's Spencer Lee as he wrestles Minnesota's Sean Russell during their 125 lbs. semi-final match at the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., Saturday, March 9, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

This is just a nice, storytelling photo. It has good celebration by Iowa's Jacob Warner. The inclusion of the official provides context in that he is indicating two points scored by green, Warner's color, to win his match in sudden victory. Iowa's Jacob Warner (right) celebrating his two-point takedown in sudden victory to win his 197 lbs. third-place match against Nebraska's Eric Schultz at the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., Sunday, March 10, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A good picture is a good picture. Even if it's of a person never likely to see it. When moments such as these happen in front of me, I feel compelled to photograph them. Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera (right) celebrates his 125 lbs. championship win over Iowa's Spencer Lee at the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., Sunday, March 10, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I was disappointed in not getting a photo of Iowa's Alex Marinelli showing his face as he celebrated his 165 lbs. championship win. But at championship events like this, photographers have taped off boxes on the opposite side of the mat where they can photograph. So you make the best with what you're given. I like the photograph. It's a quieter moment which seems to fit Marinelli's personality. Iowa's Alex Marinelli (center) hugs assistant coach Ryan Morningstar (left) and head coach Tom Brands after Marinelli won his 165 lbs. championship match against Penn State's Vincenzo Joseph at the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., Sunday, March 10, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I just like the lighting in this photo. I had to dodge the television camera crew filming the entrance of the wrestlers from my photo position across the mat to get a clear angle. Iowa's Jacob Warner runs to the mat after being introduced before his 197 lbs. third-place match against Nebraska's Eric Schultz at the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., Sunday, March 10, 2019. Warner won to take third place. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I got an email from the Coe College assistant communications director saying that Coe's senior shortstop Haley Jones asked if the college could use the photo I took of her on a banner that will be displayed during their senior day game. It makes my day when I get feedback from readers that a photo of mine impacted them in some way. Knowing a banner with my photo on it will be a keepsake for Calabrese or her parents gives me a good feeling. Coe's Haley Jones celebrates after tagging out Cornell's Sabrina Calabrese at second base during the third inning of their women's college softball game in Mount Vernon, Iowa, on Thursday, March 21, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa catcher Austin Martin (34) chase a bunt by Cal-State Northridge's Jose Ruiz (15) during the first game of a doubleheader at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The bunt ended up being a foul ball. I don't think I have ever shot a catcher and batter pushing each other on a play like this. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Iowa's Connor McCaffery (30) catches an Illinois fly ball into the outfield for an out during a game at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City on Sunday, March 31, 2019. It is difficult to time your shutter to capture the ball in the glove before the fielder closes his hand over the ball plus I liked the expression on his face. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

I love capturing the moment when swimmers break the surface tension of the water. I particularly like the ring of water around Anrew Loy's nose. Indiana's Andrew Loy surfaces as he swims the backstroke during the championship final of the 200-yard individual medley at the 2019 Big Ten Conference Men's Swimming & Diving Championships at the University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium in Iowa City, Iowa, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Editing a month's worth of photos (600 plus) down to a handful of favorites, I noticed that most of my favorite photos are of reactions or emotions rather than straight up action. I love the expression on Iowa State's Meaghan Sievers after her beam routine. Also, her teammates mirroring her actions and emotion adds some depth to the photograph. Iowa State's Meaghan Sievers shouts after landing her beam routine during their Cy-Hawk Series gymnastics meet against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, Friday, March 1, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Photojournalism can be one-sided sometimes. Your photos appear in print or online but rarely do you hear back from your subjects once the photos have been published. I got a shout-out on Twitter from Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Jacob Green after he shared this photo with his followers. That kind of made my day that day. Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Jacob Green pumps his fist as he wins the 1600-meter run at the Mississippi Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Meet at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Monday, March 11, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I really like photographing track. It's right up there with volleyball and softball as far as prep sports are concerned. There are good photographs everywhere, especially at the finish line. Iowa City West's Deniz Ince (left) gets a hug from Cedar Rapids Washington's Reagan Gorman after they finished first and second, respectively, in the 3,000-meter run at the Mississippi Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Meet at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I end up making this photo every time I shoot the West Invite. The timing always works out to get a cluster of distance runners and the setting sun. At first, I was irritated that the spectators at the gate were going to mess up my clean background. They actually add another layer to the photo. Runners in the 800-meter run jockey for position as they go through turn one during the Iowa City West Invitational at Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Just playing with panning and a slow shutter speed. I'll have to revisit this at start track in May. Although an indoor or a night track meet would work better. Runners jockey for position during the 3,000-meter run at the Mississippi Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Meet at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)