The 42nd Illinois State Championships is in the books! This is the longest running disc golf tournament in Illinois history. You can read about the history of this event in Dellwood Magazine here, in the article written by Tournament Director Jesse Saenz Jr.

You can also hop back in time and check out the 2011 video of the Illinois State Championships below (video by Rick Rysso).

I love photographing this event just because of how much history has, and it is so exciting to watch the players compete to have their name on the McCallister Cup. It is a title that everyone wants almost more than anything else.

The photographs below are from MPO rounds at The Canyons on Saturday and Highland Park on Sunday (all photos are in the gallery).

The Canyons AT DELLWOOD PARK Saturday

Highland Park Sunday

I love Illinois State so much, I wish I could say that this is one that I have never missed… but I have. So I’m leaving a note for myself here NEVER MISS ILLINOIS STATE.

Energetically, this is an incredible event to photograph.

What kept me alive at this event was focusing on MPO only (there were a total of 450 players! That is impossible for one person to cover everything).

I did not stay out all day long, but at the same time I put the hours in especially on Sunday when I stayed out past my bedtime to capture awards. It was THE BEST.

Thank you for all of your words of encouragement, your thank you’s mean the most to me, and its what mentally keeps me in the game.

A big thank you to all the TD’s and event staff that make this event run so smooth. Jesse, Joanne, Gary, Leo, Dale, Steve, Jason, Mike, Sean, Sheila, and everyone involved your hardwork does not go unnoticed. You navigated the chaos of running this tournament through the storms like the championship event that this is. 42 Years!

Keep In Flight™

-Lauren