A Season Comes to a Close

The majority of this week's photographs cover the end of the basketball season for the men and women's teams at Saint Francis University. Far be it from me to make a criticism of a game that I really don't know all that much about or have ever played but I think it's about time for Saint Francis University to think about securing a new men's head basketball coach.

Kurt Hoffman of Saint Francis University moves into position to get a rebound against Mark Porter of the Wagner Sea Hawks.


Saint Francis University Center Bassirou Dieng goes for the hoop over the Sea Hawk's Michael Orock.


#43, Steve Profeta, a Junior guard for the Red Flash of Saint Francis University tries to get his own rebound while holding off Michael Orock of the Wagner Sea Hawks.


Saint Francis University head coach Bobby Jones talks with his team during a media time out.


It's air time for Devin Sweetney as he goes to the basket for two.



Lynn Queen of the Whiskey Run Logging Company out of Irvona, PA cuts logs into 8 foot sections in a cold driving snow.

At this time of the year I don't think that overflow parking is a problem at the Cambrian Hills Golf Club near Hastings, PA.



A center for the Saint Francis University Lady Flash, Taryn Adamski, warms up before the game with Mount St. Mary's.

Janie Killian reaches for the basket.


Whitney Robinson of Saint Francis University tries for the glass while being covered by #20 Lauren Howell and #32 Dominique Mezzuchi of Mount St. Mary's.
Saint Francis University Head Coach Susan Fruchtl talks with her team after calling for a time out.


Saint Francis University Sophomore Britney Hodges will go to the foul line after getting fouled on this shot by #3 Hassanah Oliver of Mount St. Mary's.



Sandy Kerrigan - "I'm with the band"


Lou Stein The Band

Chris Berry, a Junior forward for Saint Francis University goes over top of Will Holland guard for Mount St. Mary's in Saturday night's double header.


Cale Nelson brings the ball down court for the Red Flash.


Marquis Ford of Saint Francis University looks to pass the ball.


A couple of Saint Francis University cheerleaders take a break after a routine went wrong.


Steve Profeta draws a foul on this basket after the infraction of #2 Chris Vann of Mount St. Mary's.


Saint Francis University basketball fan.

I shot this scene of ice covered trees along Route 36 South on my way to Altoona.


Heather Carver a bartender at the Hastings Moose Lodge showing off a book she created for her daughter that is part of a story that will appear in the Star-Courier newspaper.

In my pursuit to get photographs of all of the birds around here, I study how they act at certain times. Nine times out of ten, if a Red-bellied Woodpecker holds a piece of suet in his mouth like this it means that he is about to leave the feeder.

District 6 Playoffs

Around here, February means high school sports playoffs and we're winding down the District 6 playoffs for basketball and wrestling. Twenty-three of this week's photographs deal with those two sports. This is the first time I've had the opportunity to shoot wrestling.

The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity chapter at Saint Francis University held it's 2nd Annual "Polar Bear Swim" fund raiser at Lake Saint Francis on the University campus in Loretto, PA. Last year the boys only raised $500. This year the event raised over $3,000 for the Alzheimber's Association Ronald and Nancy Reagon Research Institute. The Institute if the national charity for TKE. http://www.tke.org/member_resources/services/alz/press_release.html

Thirteen of the frats 22 "swimmers" gather for a pre-swim photo op.

The swimmers get the bon fire roaring before taking the plunge.


At last it's time to pay the piper. With the crowd watching there's no backing out now.


One at a time the frat brothers hit the icy water.


Lending a cold hand to help another.


Steam rises off of the bodies as the men gather around the fire.



At the close of the third period, Cameron Harris of the Harmony Owls gets the pass over the defense of the Glendale Vikings' Vance Kimberly.


As the fourth period gets started Vance Kimberly of the Vikings looks towards the glass for two.


Harmony's guard Jeremy Prister works to the basket against Glendale's Brock Kaffman.


Joey Schneider has a go at the hoop for the Owls.


Harmony High School Cheerleaders.


Joey Schneider again at the basket.


Brett Hullihen of Glendale does his best to stop the hard charging Joey Schneider.




The Northern Cambria Colt's Cheerleaders pump up the crowd.


Colt's Senior guard Brittany Sedlock hauls in the rebound.


Trapped between Jenae Dunchack and Jen Valeria, Nicole Miloser of Marion Center tries to move the ball after the inbound pass to her.


Jess Rocco fights for control of the rebound with Nicole Miloser.


Time out.


Jen Valeria works around the Lady Stinger's Sarah Fyock.


Sophomore starter Jenae Dunchuck of the Lady Colts getting pass the Marion Center guard.

Saturday night I got a chance to shoot my first wrestling matches at the 2008 PIAA District 6 AA Wrestling Championships held at the Altoona High School Field House. http://www.d6wrestling.com/ I guess that if you're going to start shooting a new sport, you might as well start at the top.

Northern Cambria Wrestler






Inducted to the District 6 Wrestling Hall of Fame http://www.d6wrestling.com/ was Jody Strittmatter, a Cambria Heights wrestler who won the 112 pound class AA 1996 title. Strittmatter is now the assistant coach of wresting at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Presenting the award is UPJ Head Coach, Pat Pecora.















Hairy Woodpecker
It is 14 inches from the post to the feeder. To get these kinds of shots, I use a cable release because I can't take my eye off of the bird. In 1 second the woodpecker went from the post to the feeder. I got three shots in that one second.