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SPORTS
DawsonNewscom
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
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DCHS football photographer stepping down
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
Years ago, Paige
Sweany was a young
mother who had to scrape
up hundreds of dollars to
have professional photos
of her first daughter taken.
After reflecting on those
experiences, she would
make it her mission to
provide local families with
affordable options to cap
ture timeless memories —
by becoming a profession
al photographer herself.
Sweany began her pho
tography career by focus
ing on new mothers and
their babies, which helped
her set a baseline for her
prices going forward.
“It’s not about the
money,” Sweany said. “I
never wanted anybody not
to have pictures because
they couldn’t afford
them.”
She would later trans
late her mission to another
subject entirely in 2010,
when she became the
chief photographer for the
Dawson County High
School football team.
After 13 seasons of
countless games, practices
and treasured moments,
Sweany stepped down
from that role and is pass
ing the torch to a new
group of photographers.
Over the years, the
many young players who
showed their excitement
and appreciation for her
work served as her moti
vation.
“It’s really the kids who
made me stay,” Sweany
said. “It means the world
to me that the kids
acknowledge, recognize
and appreciate me.”
Though Sweany’s most
recognized photographs
are of the varsity team on
Friday nights, her work
has spanned a large swath
of ages from the youth
levels up.
While she watched her
younger daughter go
through her academic
career, Sweany has wit
nessed the growth of
many Dawson football
players from their young
est days to graduation.
For her, serving the
community — especially
players whose parents
may not always be in
attendance — has given
her a sense of great fulfill
ment.
“We have some really
cool kids in the communi
ty,” Sweany said. “Seeing
them succeed, grow, score
their first touchdown —
it’s just cool to be there in
See Sweany 13B
Paige
Sweany
spent the
past 13 sea
sons docu
menting the
Dawson
County foot
ball pro
grams
through her
photographs.
Photo courtesy of
Paige Sweany
Dawson alums still feel programs influence in college
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
Over a year ago, former Dawson
County varsity football player Bailey
Dameron contemplated where he want
ed to continue his academic and athletic
career on the collegiate level.
Having experienced little playing
time his first three years of high school,
he was having a breakout season at
wide receiver as a senior and garnered
several offers.
But in truth, there was only ever one
choice he wanted to make — a fact
directly influenced by another former
Tigers standout in Dakohta Sonnichsen.
As a 2021 graduate, Sonnichsen was
already launching his college career at
Taylor University in Indiana when
Dameron was in the midst of his senior
season.
For both players — and many others
in the Dawson County football program
— their lives had been impacted by
coach and motivator Tony Kijanko.
But for two years before his senior
season, Dameron had looked up to
Sonnichsen — and the latter’s work
ethic, character and confidence to play
far from home for college made an
indelible mark on Dameron.
“Watching Dakohta make his choice
to go far from home and truly betting
on himself is what impacted my choice
more than anything else,” Dameron
said. “He inspired me to take a chance
on myself and to do what is best for
me.”
Not only did Sonnichsen serve as a
motivator to Dameron, he served as an
example through his character.
While the two worked hard every day
to improve on the football field, they
also experienced spiritual growth —
with the latter ultimately influencing
Dameron to follow in Sonnichsen’s
footsteps to attend a Christian universi
ty.
Amid all the offers he received,
Dameron jumped at the chance to emu
late Sonnichsen after earning a chance
to sign with Missouri Baptist
University.
The combination of traits exhibited
by Sonnichsen over the years helped
push Dameron to maximize his poten
tial both as a player and person.
“I just have this memory of looking
down the weight room and seeing
Dakohta pushing himself in the work
outs. That set a new standard for me on
how I should be working out,”
Dameron said. “He’s very respectful
and holds himself to a high standard.
He’s influenced me on and off the
field.”
But what made the connection
between the two unique was that
Sonnichsen was not one to declare him
self a leader or mentor.
Instead, his actions spoke far louder
than any words could.
“I was unaware of the way I was
being an influence for Bailey,”
Sonnichsen said. “I tried carrying
myself in a manner of respect for others
and trying to be the best leader for those
around me that I could.”
What ultimately tied the two players
together was the influence of Kijanko
— one of the varsity team’s offensive
line coaches whose true role on the
team reaches far deeper than his job
title.
For Sonnichsen, joining Kijanko’s
post-practice sessions helped him build
the traits that in turn impacted
Dameron.
“After practices, we would meet with
a group [Kijanko] started called Men of
See Influence 13B
Rio White Dawson County News
Trey Harvey prepares to shoot the ball
against Model on Monday, Nov. 21. He
scored 21 points.
Player Of The Week!
Trey
Harvey
The player of the week is
Trey Harvey, who scored
21 points in the Tigers’
win over Model.
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BASKETBALL
Harvel, Reed
lead boys to win;
girls top Towers
By Rio White
riowhite@dawsonnews.com
The Dawson County boys and girls varsi
ty basketball teams wrapped up the Roger
Slaton Memorial in style on Monday, Nov.
21, with the girls displaying a complete per
formance in a 72-4 win over Towers before
the boys showed their determination in a
71-65 win over Model.
With both Tigers teams looking to build
momentum going into the Thanksgiving
break, the coaches sought consistency from
their players.
While the Lady Tigers used the game
against Towers as an opportunity to fine-
tune their offense with the first region game
looming, the boys team were facing a
See Basketball 13B
Learned lessons on display
Bailey Dameron
lines up at wide
receiver during a
Missouri Baptist
football game.
Photo courtesy of Missouri
Baptist Athletics