The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
Categories:

March Photo of the Month Winners Announced

April 3, 2026

MARCH WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: Brian Mayer, Oak Park

Seniors Landon VanPelt, Joshua Kori, and Adam Tanner hold up the class 6, district 8 championship plaque in celebration of their third consecutive championship win to return to the state tournament on Saturday, March 7. (Brian Mayer/Oak Park)

Judges comments: It’s hard to get a sports celebration picture with multiple faces showing in the shot. Nice center of visual interest and filling the frame.

SECOND PLACE: Brian Mayer, Oak Park

Staley setter Harrison Manivong screams after a kill by his teammate in the finals of the Hy-Vee Arena Boys Volleyball Invitational on Saturday, Mar. 21. Staley went 6-0 throughout the entire tournament, sweeping every set in pool play. (Brian Mayer/Oak Park)

Judges comments: Creative lighting, crisp focus and emotion for the win on this photo.

 

THIRD PLACE: Skyler Tyson, Rockhurst

Junior JP Stegall squares up for the faceoff against the FOGO from St. Michael the Archangel during the home match on March 12, 2026. Stegall would get lots of repetitions in the faceoff circle in this one as Rockhurst won 19-2. (Skyler Tyson/Rockhurst)

Judges comments: Love the worm’s eye angle here, with the players framing the ball.

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

e1c9efaacc030d51cd06698d522ad8fe - Nicholas Cianflone
Nicky Cianflone/Platte County
Brotherhood Built on Faith, before the game, the Platte County baseball team finds its strength not in the dugout or on the diamond, but in a moment of shared humility. Before the first pitch is thrown, the players gather in a circle, arms draped over shoulders, to fix their focus on Jesus Christ. " This team prayer means alot to not just me, but everyone on our team, being able to follow something and be this close to it as a team, thats special" said John Sipes (head coach). This pre-game huddle is more than a tradition; it is a declaration of their belief that their identity is rooted in something far more permanent than the games outcome.

 

 

 

Tags:
More to Discover
More in Photo of the Month
Sophomore Grant Dinges (12) catches the ball to get a pickoff of junior Noah Johnson (5) of the Lafayette Lancers. Summit defeated the Lafayette Lancers on April 14 with a final score of 12-4. “I [call a pick] whenever there is a fast runner at second or their lead is getting really big,” Dinges said.
April Photo of the Month Winners Announced
The judges watch as Audrey McCann performs a backwards dive on Feb. 5. McCann ended GACs in first place.
February Photos of the Month Announced
Elliana Peal and Ethan Peal perform during the US Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, on Saturday, Jan. 10. The Peals finished in 12th place in the Ice Dancing championship with a combined score of 169.60.
January Photo of the Month Winners Announced
HERE ME ROAR: At the Multicultural Festival assembly on Dec. 5, junior Lynn-Truc Nguyen is lifted by her partner to reveal her identity at the end of the Lion Dance. This performance represented one of the many cultures celebrated at NKC's fifth annual Multicultural Festival event. The Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese performance where dancers perform in a colorful lion costume to bring good fortune and chase away negative energy.
December Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Varsity cheer team members jump in unison during their routine during the homecoming pep assembly on Oct. 16. Cheer helped to kick off the assembly festivities, which also featured the homecoming court and spirit king and queen. "The energy at assemblies is just a good feeling and makes you excited and want to be there," cheerleader Austin Koehnemann (12) said. "The music, the people all help just make the energy and vibes good."
October Photo of the Month Winners Announced
During a close game between Liberty and Timberland on Sept. 5, senior Jaylen Mack (#10) started the game off with a fumble. Mack bounced right back and on the next play scored a 40-yard touchdown. “The touchdown was a little more personal for me because Timberland's head coach was my old head coach freshman year so I felt really excited to just go out there and get two touchdowns off,” Mack said.
September Photo of the Month Winners Announced
More in Photo of the Month Winners
Soccer captain Will Bowne gets emotional after a heartbreaking loss to Rockhurst in the Missouri state semifinals. Bowne gathered with his teammates after the for what would be one of the final huddles of his high school career.
November Photo of the Month Winners Announced
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: Sophomore D'Mya Newton glides over the high jump bar, setting a new personal record of 5 feet, 3.75 inches. Nine area track and field teams competed at the 21st Annual Jerry Crews Track and Field Invitational on April 11 at the NKCSD District Activities Complex. D'Mya Newton placed second overall in the high jump event, only behind her older sister, Dede Newton, who jumped 5 feet, 9.25 inches for the top finish.
April Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Soaring through the air, junior Finn Smith starts off his season jumping 9ft at the Ron Ives Invitational in Liberty, MO. He would end the day jumping 10ft and placing seventh.
March Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Richland senior Tucker Hughes put down a dunk in the second half as the #1 seeded Richland Rebels complete the three-peat tonight, defeating the #2 ranked Delta Bobcats 80-67 in the Class 1, District 2 tournament, giving Richland three district championships in a row. This is the first time in Richland school history the Rebels have won three straight district championships.
February Photo of the Month Winners Announced
AGAINST YOURSELF: Mary-Jane Fleming (11) swims the 500 freestyle event during the City of Roses Invitational in Cape Girardeau. "The most challenging thing about the 500 is being in the water against yourself. The 500 is a long race and during that it's you and your mind." Fleming said, "You're mentally trying to push yourself at times that you want to go slower or don't want to keep going. It's a big mental game that you have to be willing to play."
January Photo of the Month Winners Announced
AND ONE: Flying in for a layup, senior guard Kam Tate is fouled on his shot while still getting it to go down. Tate went on to hit the free throw to cut the Rock Bridge lead down to three, and set up a game tying three-point shot to send the game into overtime. "We just gotta out hustle everyone else and get to bucket," Tate said.
December Photo of the Month Winners Announced