Scott Strazzante is an amazing photojournalist for the Chicago Tribune who has an eye for sports.  His series “The Season“ is a couple years old, and follows a local high school team for a season.  Highly emotional.

“Evanston’s season has just ended with a 4-1 sectional semifinal loss to Glenbrook South, and the Wildkits are gathering their belongings for the walk back to the team bus. Suddenly, senior captain Anna Kennedy sees junior Margaret Head alone on the field. Kennedy sprints over to Head, who next spring will be one of a handful of upperclassmen on a young and talented squad. As they quietly talk between the tears, Kennedy verbally passes the leadership torch to Head with five simple words: “It’s all you next year.”"(Image/words via CT)

“The locker room is silent as the Fenger Titans come to the realization their season is over. Coach Lamont Nelson makes his way from player to player, giving each a hug and quietly thanking them for their effort during his first year as coach. The seniors, including Ramon Brown Jr. (right), take the Class 3A state tournament-opening loss to Carver the hardest. “We turned it on too late,” Brown says. “Like Coach said, we tried to say hello when it was time to say goodbye.” And it was the final goodbye for Nelson, who was informed Thursday that he was fired.” (Image/words via CT)

“Evanston has just defeated Ridgewood 5-0 in its Class AA playoff opener, but from the mood inside the Wildkits locker room, one would assume that their season has just ended. Each girl somberly stares at head coach Marx Succes as he expresses his disappointment in the ragged play. Stung by Succes’ words, the team holds a players-only meeting and vows to give a supreme effort in Friday’s regional championship game. “We didn’t play nearly our best,” junior midfielder Lindsey Krug says, “but I think it’s a good experience because now we know that we can’t take anyone lightly.”"(Image/words via CT)

“Hesed House homeless soccer player Dan McLaughlin practices in an abandoned warehouse. Lacking practice facilities, team members hone their skills in different locations around Aurora.”(Image/words via CT)

“A little more than half of Thursday’s Evanston soccer match was played in a cold rain but a 3-0 win over Highland Park made the inclement weather a little easier to deal with.” (Image/words via CT)

“Another powerful moment I was honored to witness.” (Image via CT)

 ”As the team bus rolls into the Joliet Catholic parking lot following the Angels’ season-ending loss to St. Francis, coach Chris Scheibe’s husband, Bill — the team’s unofficial motivational speaker — is waiting with an armful of candles. One by one, the demoralized and dejected players disembark, take a candle and head inside to form a circle in the center of the old gymnasium. While the girls’ candles flame to life, Scheibe begins to recite the “Light of the Body” from the Gospel of Luke. This candle ceremony, a JCA tradition after every supersectional since 2003, is unique. It’s the first one after an Angels loss. “Win or lose,” Scheibe says, “I look at this as a chance to put the whole journey into perspective.” (Image/words via CT)

(First Image via CT)