Run of Warriors...

I can about set my watch to it annually.

Every year I'll have at least a couple it seems.

We'll be truckin' along shootin our usuals.   The East Marshalls.  The South Tamas.  The GMGs.  The Marshalltowns.  The BCLUWs.  The Gladbrook-Reinbecks.  The Grundy Centers. The West Marshalls.

The usual suspects.

And then, seemingly out of nowhere, they'll come.

The Warriors.

Now, I do see some Warriors just down the road at the settlement school on occasion as well... but that's not who I'm talking about here.

We're talking about the HLV variety.

We've had a handful of extremely loyal families in the communities of Hartwick, Ladora and Victor, and they haven't been afraid to preach the gospel on our behalf when the question comes up over there...

"Where should we go for senior pictures???"

The jury is still out on who I'm to blame for Colton Lynn coming our way.   I've gotten conflicting reports as to whether it was the Thys family or perhaps the DeBrowers (and maybe they're BOTH at fault?) who ultimately convinced Mama Julie to make that call.  But regardless... the call was made... the session was booked... and in a strange twist... a couple more classmates soon followed.

In fact... after not seeing an HLV senior all year, we went back to back Warriors... and then another came shortly there after.

I guess HLV finishes strong?

So while there can be no doubt that Team HLV was indeed the overriding story here, individually ANOTHER team bonded me with our guest of honor on this day.

Your Iowa Hawkeyes.

Make that OUR Iowa Hawkeyes.

As in my brother,  Colton and I's, Hawks.

I saw in the notes prior to his session that Colton was a huge Hawkeye fan, and when that was noted... I sprung to action.

I decided to dig into my vast Hawkeye collection at home and I brought in our full size Hawkeye helmet that usually sits in my son's decked out University of Iowa bedroom (and makes it way to the living room for Hawkeye games on television) and thought I would bring it to the studio and surprise Mr. Lynn with an added prop to his session...   IF he wanted, that is.

Let's just say it didn't take too much convincing when I busted it out.... and why not?   The old saying is "It's Great to be a Hawkeye!"... and these days, with our  boys in Iowa City firmly in the top ten nationally... and becoming a part of the national discussion on a daily basis, you can feel it.   The buzz is back... the sky is the limit... and our Hawks are relevant again... whether the rest of the nation wants to accept it or not.

So, no... I didn't get much argument from our senior who brandishes a tigerhawk logo on his car, and fittingly had the same emblem right over his heart on one outfit when I asked if we could put the helmet in a few.

The Hawk talk was aplenty.   The pride and confident smiles were abound.   And I had myself another Hawkeye friend for life.

Not a bad way to spend a day.   Not bad at all.