Photos, videos, & stories by Vincent D. Johnson
Help Me Find The Best High School Gyms in Illinois The high school basketball season is coming to and end. By this time next month schools and towns will be throwing parades and rallies for the state champions across girls … Continued
Schurz & Steinmetz High Schools Each Have Multiple Cool Old Gyms Carl Schurz High School is quite possibly one of the overall most impressive high school buildings I have ever been in. Completed in 1910 it is a sight to … Continued
Pekin’s Hawkins Gym is the latest addition in the search for Illinois’ Best High School Gyms
Nothing like waiting to finalize things at the last minute, but plans are 100% confirmed, I will be traveling to Southern Illinois to photograph at least three of the state’s best high school gyms. (What makes a gym the best? … Continued
Gates Gym witnesses its final game. Built in 1928 the Gates Gymnasium at New Trier High School’s Winnetka campus witnessed its final game Thursday night December 16, 2021. The aging structure which has issues with asbestos and lead paint will … Continued
I’ve been talking about doing a photo book on Illinois high school basketball gyms since about 2012. I figured for sure someone else would have done something like this by now, but they haven’t (unless you’re talking about Indiana). Seriously, … Continued
I was in the perfect place for a game ending photo. Lucky? As they say luck is all about how you position yourself.
Mount Carmel and Thornwood’s 1st Round Playoff Game Started With A Splat! In 25 years of photographing high school football, this first round playoff game might have been the wettest I’ve ever seen! Mount Carmel was the away team, but … Continued
it feels like this game is still being played and in just seconds you’ll hear the roar of the crowd, but you don’t know from which side that roar will come from.
While 2020 and Covid had made empty stadiums common place, the reason there were no fans allowed at the Simeon vs Phillips game was for a more immediate safety concern.