Sports photography is the perfect marriage of things I love dearly, athletics and imagery. Sports photography is a thrilling, exciting, and exhausting field that aims to capture the raw emotion and intensity of athletes competing at their very best. The excitement of being on the sidelines is palpable, stemming from the energy of the crowds and anticipation of the next big play all contribute to the atmosphere of pure unadulterated emotions. Serendipitously, I met a sports writer for the Santa Barbara Independent who was looking to add another photographer to the independent’s stable photographers. Admittedly, I was hesitant given my obligations to graduate school and work but I had always been interested in dabbling in sports photography. I have been learning a lot about low-light photograph, while I fantasized about upgrading my Canon 5D Mark II to a more modern camera body, it has taught me how to be resourceful under terrible lighting conditions. Perhaps 2024 will be the year to upgrade to a second camera, I have had the pleasure of working with talented photographers from other news organizations and have always envied newer camera bodies with AI-enabled autofocus. While not all photographs submitted make in the online stories, they all contribute to a story, a story created but student-athletes that felt increasingly nostalgic as the season progressed. I decided to share a few images that may have not made into print but that made an impression on me. After a short break, I am already looking forward to winter sports, which include basketball, soccer, and wrestling. Truth be told, I very much look forward to Track and Field in the Spring.