Weber High School’s Joshua Maughan screams in pain as Pleasant Grove’s James Tran-Khanh-Bichon steps on his arm during the 6A boy soccer state semifinal match at Juan Diego High School in Draper on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Chuck Wing
By Chuck Wing

SALT LAKE CITY — This time of year is always enjoyable as a photo editor. 

It’s a tall task to narrow down the top 25 sports photographs of 2019, but also a very rewarding one because it’s a true testament to the dedication of the Deseret News photojournalists.

In order to bring our readers the most action-packed, storytelling images, those same photojournalists work tirelessly through the snow, rain, freezing temps and soaring sauna-like conditions to capture these pictures. The result is a collection of photographs from sporting events this past year in and out of Utah that is sure to wow anyone. 

As the year draws to a close we look back on just a few of the most memorable sports images of 2019.

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— Chuck Wing, Deseret News director of photography

A cat runs past Real Salt Lake defender Aaron Herrera (22) during the last minutes of a Leagues Cup soccer match against the UANL Tigres at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Real Salt Lake lost 1-0. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
During his postgame TV interview, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) gets hit with water from teammates Thabo Sefolosha (22) and Naz Mitrou-Long (30) after the Jazz defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 115-111 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Jazz sideline reporter Kristen Kenney reacts to the deluge. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
BYU Cougars running back Ty’Son Williams (5) dives for the end zone against the USC Trojans at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Desert Hills High School runners rest after the 4A girls cross-country state championship race at Highland High School in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Corner Canyon High School’s Cody Hagen (3) can’t make the fingertip catch in the end zone during the 6A football state championship game between American Fork and Corner Canyon at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Utah Royals FC forward Amy Rodriguez (8) is congratulated by teammates Vero Boquete, Erika Tymrak and Desiree Scott after scoring against Chicago at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Friday, May 3, 2019. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Layton High School’s Sadee Watkins dives for the ball and misses it during the 6A softball state championship game against Herriman at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, on Thursday, May 30, 2019. Herriman won 9-3. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Kevin Drury, right, of Canada, Francois Place of France, Jean Frederic Chapuis of France and Johannes Aujesky of Austria fly over a jump during a semifinal of the skicross competition at the 2019 FIS World Championships at Solitude Mountain Resort on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. | Ravell Call, Deseret News
Referee Dennis Nordfelt, left, exchanges words with Davis High’s Tyson Garff, middle and Jake Sampson, during action against American Fork in the 6A boys basketball state tournament semifinal action at Weber State’s Dee Events Center in Ogden on Friday, March 1, 2019. American Fork won in triple overtime 82-80 to advance to the championship. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Sky View High School’s Jake Walters, right, is congratulated by Dixie High’s Payton Plumb after Walters won the 100-yard backstroke at the 4A swimming state championship meet at the BYU pool in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. Walters broke a decade-old Utah state record in the 100 yard backstroke. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Highland High School’s Ashton Olevao reacts to missing a long pass while he is open near the end zone during a game against Salem Hills in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. | Ravell Call, Deseret News
BYU Cougars guard TJ Haws (30) comes away with a loose ball as teammate Luke Worthington and Pacific Tigers forward Jahlil Tripp, bottom, also fight for possession during a West Coast Conference game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. | Ravell Call, Deseret News
Skyridge High School team manager Caleb Klein celebrates with the bench as Skyridge takes a lead against Murray during the 5A girls basketball state quarterfinal match at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019. Klein purchased the suit with his own money and wears it only during home games and tournaments. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando (18) makes a stop as Real Salt Lake and the Houston Dynamo play an MLS match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. Rimando retired following the 2019 season. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
East High School’s Vi Tunuufi, left, gets his helmet knocked off during 6A football state semifinal game against American Fork at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. The Cavemen defeated Tunuufi’s Leopards, advancing to the championship game. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Mountain View High School’s Kaylee Sinema (24) cheers with her team as she hoists the state championship trophy following the 5A volleyball state finals match at the UCCU Center on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
Sky View High School’s Ryan Seamons pumps his fist and celebrates as his birdie putt finds the bottom of the cup on the first playoff hole to secure his medalist victory over Bear River’s Jaret Giles during the 4A golf state boys tournament at TalonsCove Golf Club in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Real Salt Lake forward Sam Johnson (50) and midfielder Kyle Beckerman (5) embrace after Beckerman scored on Sporting Kansas City during MLS action at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Saturday, June 29, 2019. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Utah State Aggies fans cheer for the cameras as they celebrate their basketball team’s win over the San Diego State Aztecs in the Mountain West Conference tournament finals at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 16, 2019. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl calls out from the sideline during an NCAA basketball tournament second-round game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2019. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes up for a dunk as the Jazz and the Las Angeles Lakers play at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Utah won 115-100. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
East coaches and players react after Jordan and East played in 5A boys basketball state tournament semifinal basketball action at Weber State’s Dee Events Center in Ogden on Friday, March 1, 2019. Jordan defeated East 60-52. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Real Salt Lake forward Sam Johnson (50) battles Columbus Crew defender Aboubacar Keita (30) for the ball as Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew play a Major League Soccer match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
American Fork High School’s Haven Empey poses for photos on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, after being named Ms. Soccer 2019 by the Deseret News. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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