Win, Place... and Show.

It's the kinda stuff that you dream about...

But what if you actually LIVED it?

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better... it DOES... several times.

Perhaps it's just hyperbole... but I've been watching area athletics for a good three decades or so, and I'd be hard pressed to find a better overall year than Colton Dinsdale and his Gladbrook-Reinbeck teammates had a year ago.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some example that was as good or better, but when you play a huge role in putting three place winning state trophies in the awards case in Reinbeck... you've had yourself a year.

I followed the Rebels progress closely all year as I was fortunate enough to have photographed several key players on the runner-up football, championship basketball and third place soccer squads (oh... did I mention they got to state in baseball, too?).   As most schools in the area were having epic and historic struggles with their programs, the Rebels were dominating, not just in the area... but on the biggest of stages at the state level.

So, it became easy to hop on the G-R bandwagon and follow this juggernaut all year long as they ram-rodded their way through their schedules.

And right in the middle of all of it was Mr. Dinsdale.

A key component to the football team's run to the dome... a defensive specialist on the hoops team that wasn't even challenged on their double-digit victory laden title run... and just for kicks... why not just go ahead and get third in Class 1A soccer why you're at it?

Oh, and... did I mention the guy dates last year's homecoming queen?

It doesn't suck to be Colt Dinsdale... that much I'm confident of.

All that being said, from what I was able to gather, I didn't think I'd ever even get the chance to photograph Colton.

The aforementioned homecoming queen was also a Stewart Photography senior last year, and through brief discussions during her session, it was mentioned that her long-time steady had two older brothers that both went to another studio when they were seniors.

And as these things go, that pretty much locks child no. 3 into going to the same place... and it was at that point I wrote off my chances to get to photograph one of G-R's best the following year.

But... as fortune turns out, said competing studio is no longer in business... and the beneficiary ended up being Stewart Photography.

Colton's older brothers were photographed by the well respected Woody Walters.   A master of sports collage work... I've studied the man's work for years and it my honor that several clients this season have let me pick up the slack that Mr. Walters has left with his decision to no longer do studio work.

So while I always put pressure on myself to deliver with every session we do, I couldn't help but feel a little more in this case.   Living up to Woody Walters' type expectations and to do so for one of the area's finest and accomplished athletes... whew... 

I made sure to put on my big boy pants on this day... that's for sure.

As it turned out, the Dinsdales made me feel like a totally worthy replacement.   Mama Lora seemed thankful to have another option... and Colton was about everything I expected him to be... and I tell ya what... I had a heck of time picking that kid's brain for a few hours.  

Call me a bandwagoner... or living vicariously.   I'll own that.   It was a great session... and hardly felt like work.   I even got to meet Papa Kirk for a bit as he was on "Krome Duty."   Krome is Colton's Alaskan Malibu/English setter mix that you see here.  But make no mistake... this day was nearly all sports talk... all the time, and for those that know me... they know that that is right in my wheelhouse.

And while I can't be for sure... I think Colton was okay with that, too.

I saw that Mr. Dinsdale's senior season is off to a great start as he made a diving catch for a TD as Class A No. 1 ranked G-R defeated a salty Class 2A bunch from Union, 13-6.   It'll be tough to top last year, but I know this much, Colton will about run through a brick wall trying to get there.

Thanks for choosing Stewart Photography, Team Dinsdale!   Good luck tonight against, Dike-New Hartford!