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Heart & Soul of Kansas Sports

Farm Team Competition

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The Latest

Heart & Soul of Kansas Sports
  • Team ropers at the Flint Hills Rodeo.
  • A sun beam illuminated a lens on a swimmer’s goggles
  • High-flying players of the Nemaha Central Thunder
  • A competitor unleashed the shot
  • Smiles filled the faces of the volleyball victors
  • The beautiful wood ceiling of Stewart Field House
  • Shawnee Heights' Jeremiah Smith and Topeka West's Tyrell Reed congratulated each other
  • Wrestlers whirled around the mat
  • The passing of the baton
  • Happy players raced to their dugout
  • Terry Lilac concentrated on the peg

Picturing the Power of a Dream

With the inception of this website in the summer of 2020, I asked viewers to consider “The Heart & Soul of Kansas Sports” and the goal of a grand multimedia documentary. I asked people to believe in a dream. The problem with dreams is that they are often hard to explain. What seemed so clear in my mind could be abstract and veiled for others. I asked people to financially support me when all I had at the time was the belief that the people of Kansas and the uniting power of sports would be worthy of their financial support. 

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Team ropers at the Flint Hills Rodeo.
A sun beam illuminated a lens on a swimmer’s goggles
High-flying players of the Nemaha Central Thunder
A competitor unleashed the shot
Smiles filled the faces of the volleyball victors
The beautiful wood ceiling of Stewart Field House
Wrestlers whirled around the mat
Shawnee Heights' Jeremiah Smith and Topeka West's Tyrell Reed congratulated each other
The passing of the baton
Terry Lilac concentrated on the peg
Happy players raced to their dugout

Picturing the Power of a Dream

With the inception of this website in the summer of 2020, I asked viewers to consider “The Heart & Soul of Kansas Sports” and the goal of a grand multimedia documentary. I asked people to believe in a dream. The problem with dreams is that they are often hard to explain. What seemed so clear in my mind could be abstract and veiled for others. I asked people to financially support me when all I had at the time was the belief that the people of Kansas and the uniting power of sports would be worthy of their financial support. 

Read more

What Kansans are saying about ‘Heart & Soul’

As Jeff Jacobsen visits the state’s 105 counties his photographs are creating memories across generations

Jeff – I just reviewed your link … and though the photos are incredible and will be thoroughly enjoyed by the athletes and their parents, it was the Article that was so personally “perfection” for me.  You did more to pinpoint the essence of small-town high school football and the importance that it has to their communities, than any other article or write up that I have ever seen.” 
Your sports action shots are fantastic! The way you capture the true essence of the story within the sports you are shooting is phenomenal!”
Thank you so much for uniquely capturing my son playing a game that he loves.” 
Only you could make bowling look this cool! Love it.”
I just wanted to say how serendipitous it has been that our paths never crossed until this fall, but so glad they did! I have enjoyed subscribing to your newsletter and have drawn much inspiration and hope from your photographs!!!”
You are such a powerful writer and your photography is stunningly beautiful!”
Great photos, and great camaraderie depicted in the words and images.”
Great work capturing the grace, beauty, and strength of these gymnasts. Again, the parents of these athletes have to be very happy for your images.” 
You know you just made the day for a lot of wrestlers, parents, and grandparents.”
The championship will mean a lot to these young men for the rest of their lives, and you recorded it for posterity.” 
I appreciate your dedication to work and to others.”
I am so very glad that you decided to attend the game early in the season and even more glad that you adopted us as a team that you wanted to follow.  We are most definitely the richer for it. I very much anticipate the article that accompanies your very high-quality pictures. Again, thank you very much and it was soooo good getting to know you.”
It is such fun to watch The Heart and Soul of Kansas Sports grow and touch so many lives.  Well done!”
I want to thank you so very much for following our team and capturing those moments that I just cannot capture as a FB mom and a coach’s wife! Your talent and abilities are just amazing and so very appreciated!!!”
Along the way
Through the Lens
Connor McKay

Walkoff

One of my hard and fast rules when covering a baseball game is to make sure I am somewhere along the third-base line of a tie game entering the ninth inning.

Up close

“Tribute to Crimson & the Blue” is the definitive photography book showcasing University of Kansas Athletics

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