The Southern's top sports photos of 2020
View photographer Byron Hetzler's favorite sports photos from the past year.Â
SIU guard Ronnie Suggs (3) goes to the basket as Valparaiso forward Ben Krikke (23) defends during the first half at the Banterra Center on Jan. 7 in Carbondale.
SIU guard Lance Jones (5) looks to dribble around Valparaiso guard Daniel Sackey (4) during the first half at the Banterra Center on Jan. 7 in Carbondale.
Carbondale’s Hannah Lowndes (31) and Marion’s Maegan Dillon (40) battle for a rebound in the third quarter on Jan. 14 in Carbondale. Marion held on to win 46-36.
SIU forward Gabby Walker (20) takes the ball to the basket against Missouri State center Emily Gartner (50) during the first quarter at the Banterra Center on Jan. 17 in Carbondale.
SIU forward Gabby Walker (20) is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the winning basket against Missouri State at the Banterra Center on Jan. 17 in Carbondale. SIU won 70-68.
SIU head coach Bryan Mullins encourages his team during the second half against Northern Iowa at the Banterra Center on Jan. 22 in Carbondale. SIU held on to win 68-66.
SIU guards Lance Jones (5) and Ronnie Suggs (3) celebrate the Salukis’ 68-66 win over Northern Iowa at the Banterra Center on Jan. 22 in Carbondale.
Carterville’s Abbey Crain (1) goes to the basket between Anna-Jonesboro’s Sydnie Ralls (left) and Mikayla Bundren (30) during the first quarter on Jan. 28 in Carterville.
SIU head coach Bryan Mullins questions a call during the first half against Loyola at the Banterra Center on Jan. 29 in Carbondale.
SIU guard Eric McGill (4) slams home two points during the first half against Loyola at the Banterra Center on Jan. 29 in Carbondale.
Saluki players celebrate with the Dawg Pound after defeating Loyola 68-63 at the Banterra Center on Jan. 29 in Carbondale.
Harrisburg’s Lydia Miller (10) tries to find a way to the basket between Murphysboro’s Ashley Jarrett (33) and Kylee Kaerrens (32) during their game on Feb. 3 in Murphysboro.
SIU guard Lance Jones (5) goes to the basket past Evansville guard Jawaun Newton (3) during the second half at the Ford Center on Feb. 5 in Evansville, Indiana. The Salukis went on to win 64-60 in overtime.
SIU quarterbacks Stone Labanowitz (from left), Kare Lyles, Nic Baker and Zach Zebrowski (12) go through a drill during the first day of spring practice on Feb. 26 at Saluki Stadium.Â
SIU running back Romeir Elliott (1) looks in a pass as linebacker Bryson Strong (31) defends during the first day of spring practice on Feb. 26 at Saluki Stadium. SIU never completed its spring workouts because of the coronavirus pandemic. Â
SIU center Barret Benson (40) shakes hands with Cooper Calcaterra, 5, of Herrin, who dressed up like Benson for the Salukis’ final home game of the season at the Banterra Center on Feb. 26 in Carbondale.
SIU guard Eric McGill (4) goes to the basket through a host of Indiana State defenders to score during the first half at the Banterra Center on Feb. 26 in Carbondale.
SIU guard Eric McGill (4) has his path to the basket blocked by Bradley forward Elijah Childs (10) during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference Mens Basketball quarterfinals on March 6 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Salukis lost 64-59.
SIU guard Ronnie Suggs (3) defends as Bradley guard Darrell Brown (5) looks to pass during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball quarterfinals on March 6 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Salukis lost 64-59.
SIU forward Marcus Domask (1) has his shot blocked by Bradley center Koch Bar (12) during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference Mens Basketball quarterfinals on March 6 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Salukis lost 64-59.
SIU guard Eric McGill (4) and forward Marcus Domask (1) show their disappointment after losing 64-59 to Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference Mens Basketball quarterfinals on March 6 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Salukis did finish the season with a better record than expected under first-year head coach Bryan Mullins.Â
Anna-Jonesboro’s Brodie Denny (center) leads the girls’ field away from the start of the cross country race at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp near Pinckneyville on Aug. 25. Denny would go on to win the race.
Nashville’s Aaron Brink reacts as misses a putt on the sixth hole during the SIRR Boys Golf Tournament at Hickory Ridge Golf Course on Sept. 29 in Carbondale.
Carbondale’s Ian Davis plays out of a bunker on the 15th hole during the South 7 Boys Golf Tournament at Hickory Ridge Golf Course on Oct. 1 in Carbondale.
Pinckneyville’s Dylan Bledsoe nears the finish of the boys’ race during the Pinckneyville cross country meet on Oct. 8 at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp. Bledsoe went on to finish second. Cross country, golf and girls tennis were the only high school sports contested in the fall due to the pandemic.Â
SIU takes on Southeast Missouri State at Saluki Stadium on Oct. 30 in Carbondale before a crowd of just players’ families. It was the Salukis only game of the fall after the remainder of their games were postponed until spring due to the pandemic.
SIU linebacker Bryce Notree (54) and cornerback Jonathan Thompson (7) celebrate after defeating SEMO 20-17 at Saluki Stadium on Oct. 30 in Carbondale.
SIU kicker Nico Gualdoni (99) kicks a 23-yard field goal as time runs out at the end of the game to defeat SEMO 20-17 at Saluki Stadium on Oct. 30 in Carbondale. The game was the Salukis' only game of the fall with all of their games postponed until spring due to the pandemic.Â
The SIU women and Eastern Michigan tipoff at the start of their game at the Banterra Center on Nov. 25 in Carbondale. Eastern Michigan went on to win 65-52 in the Salukis first game of the season. Only family members were allowed to attend due to COVID-19 restrictions.
SIU guard Dalton Banks (3) puts up a shot as Quincy guard Jamaurie Coackley (4) defends during the second half at the Banterra Center on Dec. 6 in Carbondale. The Salukis rolled to a 102-61 win in their first home game of the season.
COVID-19 was the clear choice as The Southern Illinoisan’s top sports story of 2020. The pandemic shut down the sports world in every form imaginable for more than two months and continues to have effects Southern Illinois.