Strick's 2012 PAC-10 Fall Sports Highlights

Spring-Ford district football champs.

     High school fall sports is the season that I enjoy photographing the best. With near perfect days and moderate temperatures most of the time, what's not to like shooting these outdoor events. There are cold rainy days at the end of the season, but mostly games are played in ideal conditions.
     Spring-Ford's District 1 champion football team was the last to play this year defeated by Coatesville in the state playoffs to end the Rams best season in a long time. I've read it many times that unless you finish off by winning the state title the last game will no doubt end in a disappointing loss. But along the way were many positive moments from various sports and photographs that I have snapped that highlight another great year.

Boyertown PAC-10 soccer champs.

I can't say that I favor one sport over another as each  offers challenges to get the best shots. Soccer and field hockey are great action sports with little time stoppage and players are constantly moving around the field. Spring-Ford battled Upper Perk for the PAC-10 field hockey title and afforded me a pile of post game celebration pictures to choose for The Mercury's sports page. Tennis is fairly easy to cover and players get emotional at times on a good volley.

Methacton's Brandon Vance

     The PAC-10 golf championship was held at Gilbertsville Golf Course. The winner was decided on a one hole playoff with Methacton's Brandon Vance cracking a long straight drive down the fairway.  All participants from each school followed the two players battling for the title. It made for a some gallery pressure but these seasoned players seemed unaffected.
     There was no fist pumping or high fives after Vance sank the winning birdie putt. He calmly walked over and shook hands with runner-up Carlo Barrasse walking off the green together in a classy finish.

Spring-Ford PAC-10 field hockey champs

     Football is another opportunity to grab some good pictures. I won't get real effective photos from teams who are running constantly up the middle for two or three yards with the defense gang tackling in piles. I like teams that mix in a variety of plays where a quarterback will launch a pass or a running back will bounce outside scrambling down the sidelines for a long touchdown. Pottsgrove  had a PAC-10 title winning season getting closed out in district play.

Pottsgrove are PIAA state cross country champs.

     There was one team this fall that swept all the titles. The Pottsgrove Falcon boys cross country team won the PIAA State AA Boys cross country champions. I watched them earlier in the season and they bunched their runners together in a pack ganging up on teams with a strong group also winning districts and a PAC-10 title. After a strong season in 2011,  early on this year they showed their potential and teamwork. The veteran bunch made the best of their year going out as title winners.
     The weather has turned cold and its back inside for another season of hoops, swimming and wrestling. But not before playing tribute to the good sports that take to the green fields in autumn.

Travel - Washington, D.C. : My favorite city

The W.W. II Memorial and Washington Monument in background.

     I consider Washington, D.C. my favorite city in the United States. As a small boy our family lived near the nations capital in Silver Springs, Maryland while my dad was stationed at the Walter Reed Army hospital.
     Though we moved back to Pottstown after several years, Washington left a lasting impression on me and I remember not wanting to move back to Pennsylvania.
     Almost every weekend we would pile in the family station wagon and drive into the city for a day at the Smithsonian. Or run around underneath the cherry blossoms and also to climb the stairs of the Washington Monument which in my youth we were still allowed to do. These days, visitors are ushered into a line to wait for an elevator. Currently the monument is closed after an earthquake caused damage to the stone work and engineers are still trying to figure out how to repair cracks in the structure.

The Vietnam War Memorial.

     Deb and I try to travel to D.C. annually and recently took a trip that included a weekend in Baltimore. There are numerous hotels from which to choose. We have stayed near the BWI Airport at the Hampton Inn. It's ideally located to see both cities. The hotel is close to the Baltimore - Washington Parkway and we can drive twenty minutes to the Greenbelt Metro subway station, park the car and ride the Metro instead of trying to find limited parking in the busy city. On weekends parking is free and the cost of a Metro day pass after 9:30 a.m. is fourteen dollars for unlimited use.
     It's best to get a game plan together for a daily visit as it is impossible to see everything in one day.  My sister and her husband were along and hadn't been in the city for years. Though I like to stop in at least one Smithsonian building, we decided to enjoy the warm December day and stayed outside touring the Lincoln Memorial, walked along the mall and reflecting pool and visited the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials. Comfortable shoes are a must in a city that I prefer to walk.  Without rushing around it took until early afternoon to see the highlights that day.

The Lincoln Memorial.

   
 The final part was spent taking a Segway tour on a fascinating two wheeled battery powered people mover. My wife Deb has always wanted to travel on a Segway and she was the one who excitedly reserved our ride. We picked the Capital Segway tour located in the 1300 block of I Street NW. The employees were friendly and excellent teachers giving us tips so that we felt confident aboard our unique mode of transportation. You learn skills on how to climb on and off and to keep yourself balanced. You lean forward to move ahead and stand up straight to slow down and stop. Our seasoned tour guide effectively herded a group of  novice riders along bike lanes and paths making it feel like a walk in the park. Riders are comfortable enough after a short introduction to navigate around.

Strick's Pics and family on Segway's in front of the White House.

     Once we took to the streets we rode to a our first stop in front of the White House. The 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue is now a pedestrian only area with the roadway blocked off to trucks and automobiles. Police kept a watchful eye as visitors snapped pictures. We had the opportunity to buzz around the street on our machines. People would turn and stare, still intrigued even though the Segway has been around for a number of years.
     We listened on an earpiece as the guide gave an audible description of architecture and facts as we rolled by historic buildings. We completed our two hour tour safely. A half block away from the Segway business was the McPherson Square Metro station making for an easy turnaround to Greenbelt to complete the day.
     There is so much to do and see in the District of Columbia and I enjoy reminiscing about my days there as a boy.  On my list of things I have yet to see is the Smithsonian's Native American museum. Also, as a news photographer, a look at a museum dedicated to the history of the newspaper business named the Newseum.  It's nice to have an excuse to return to a place that I also call home.