WINFIELD, Kan. — James Dill still remembers the moment he realized his photography had truly made an impact. Standing inside the press box at Southwestern College during the NAIA Football Championship Series, he was handed his media pass and stopped in his tracks.

"Mike Abasolo had printed a couple of my photos in a very large poster size," Dill said. "I was shocked to see my work printed and being displayed. I usually only see my work on a screen, and it felt really good and validating that someone thought my work was good enough to print and display like that."

For Dill, a 1980s Southwestern graduate, photography is more than a hobby — it's become a second career of sorts, one he began later in life. A longtime railroad worker with a 24/7 on-call schedule, Dill only picked up a camera in 2020, at the age of 50, after years of frustration with his phone's inability to capture scenes the way he experienced them.

"I would take pictures with my phone and share with my wife, but I always ended up telling her, 'that's not how it really looked in person,'" Dill said. "Eventually I got upset that I couldn't convey what I was seeing, so I bought a camera and decided to learn."

Learning quickly became a passion. He studied photography manuals, practiced at local high schools and colleges, and found himself drawn to the challenge of sports. Southwestern athletics offered him the chance to sharpen his craft, while also giving back to student-athletes who reminded him of his own track and cross country days.

"I wouldn't have any photos of my track career in high school if it wasn't for one or two parents who showed up and took pictures," Dill said. "I kinda see myself as doing the same thing. I just hope these athletes look back one day and have those same memories."

Dill's process is meticulous. On any given game day, he might shoot 2,000 to 6,000 images. From there, only 50 to 80 make the cut — the fleeting split-second moments where "eyes, face and ball" align, or candid celebrations when the emotion of the game is most raw.

The hours are long, but Dill insists the reward is worth it. "It's really validating as a photographer when you see a student or family post one of your photos," he said. "It means someone appreciated it enough to share. That's what keeps me going."


 

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For Richard Rico, photography is as much about family as it is about sports. Growing up in Mulvane in the 1950s and 60s, he learned early the values of hard work, faith and community. His father, Tony, worked multiple jobs to support the family and was known across town as a bus driver, janitor, musician, painter — and a role model.

"My dad was my hero," Rico said. "He worked for the public schools as a janitor, but he also cut hair, gave guitar lessons, drove a school bus, and played in a western band on weekends. He led by example — a simple man but a giant of a man."

Tony's influence stretched beyond Richard's life. He was also a father figure to his nephew, Mike Abasolo Sr., who grew up without his father at home. "My uncle Tony was a pillar of Mulvane," Mike said. "He showed me the value of hard work if you want anything in life. Everyone knew him, and he embodied what it meant to be a neighbor."

That family tie remains at the heart of why Richard and Mike still do what they do. Cousins by blood and photographers by passion, they now share sidelines and camera angles — with Mike's son, Mike Jr., serving as Southwestern's assistant athletic director and sports information director, and grandsons Trey and Kaiden carrying the family name onto the Moundbuilder basketball court.

When Richard picked up his camera again after retirement, it was Mike who invited him along. "I went to one game, then another, then another," Rico said. "The Jinx was on! Then it was football, basketball, even baseball. Photography is fun and challenging for me, but I get so much back from it."

For Rico, the joy comes not from recognition but from knowing the images matter. "It's humbling when people say one of your photos is their greatest memory of someone or some moment," he said. "A picture can warm your heart for a long time. Serving God and serving others with this talent — that's my reward."

 

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For Mike Abasolo Sr., photography is about legacy — for his family, his community and his hometown of Mulvane.

"My grandfather brought his family from Mexico to build the railroad," Abasolo said. "This town shaped me as much as my family shaped the town. Small towns give us opportunity to be a part of the community, and I've enjoyed documenting school activities through the camera even before my kids were playing sports and my grandkids after them."

Abasolo's first camera, a Kodak box model given to him by his mother at age 10, sparked a lifelong love. But it wasn't until his sons, Michael and Mario, began playing sports that he became serious about capturing the moments. He photographed school activities before the digital age, sharing prints with families in an era before Facebook or smartphones made it simple.

"Documenting my kids growing up and playing sports is what got me the most involved in photography," he said. "It just never stopped after that."

Now retired after more than 25 years at Boeing and Spirit, Abasolo has continued to make photography his second life's work. He has followed his grandsons, Trey and Kaiden, through their basketball careers with the Moundbuilders, and he has expanded his coverage across Southwestern sports.

"Being up close to the action beyond being a spectator in the stands is not a privilege everyone gets, and I'm very grateful for it," he said.

For Abasolo, personal recognition isn't the goal. "Photography is my hobby and passion. I just feel incredibly lucky to be on the sidelines up close to the action of the games. It's a view very few people get without actually playing, and I feel fortunate to be here," he said.

It's not just the action that matters, but the emotion. Senior nights, he said, always carry extra weight. "It's like a farewell and recognition of their accomplishments. I try to capture that emotion. Those moments mean a lot, especially to parents and grandparents who can't be there in person."

Some of his favorite memories include following Southwestern's basketball team onto the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA court — rare moments for any college athlete, and thrilling opportunities for him as a grandfather and photographer.

"It makes me happy when others are enjoying what I do," he said. "I love hearing from parents and grandparents that my photos mean a lot to them. That's why I do it."

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Together, Dill, Rico and Abasolo form the quiet team behind the lens at Southwestern. But for the Abasolo and Rico families, it's more than photography — it's a bond of family, faith and legacy woven into the college's story. Tony Rico's example of service lives on in both Richard and Mike Sr., joined now by Mike Jr. in administration and Trey and Kaiden on the court.

Their dedication and generosity cannot be overstated — each frame a gift of time, passion and craft. The three photographers play a critical role not only for student-athletes and families, but also for Southwestern's athletic programs as a whole.

In today's digital age, high-quality photography enriches how the college's teams and student-athletes are viewed. What James, Richard and Mike provide is more than pictures — it is professionalism, recognition and a lasting legacy for Southwestern College athletics.

Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach Matt O'Brien echoed that gratitude.

"As Athletic Director, I am so thankful for all of the hard work they put into capturing memories for our community," O'Brien said. "Their talent behind the camera is undeniable, but what stands out even more is the love they have for Southwestern. That love shines through in every interaction they have and in every moment they capture.

"What makes it even more remarkable is that they volunteer their time and efforts—not for recognition or reward, but simply out of their deep care for our students and Southwestern Athletics. Their servant hearts inspire us, and their dedication reminds us daily of what it means to be part of the Builder family."

For Dill, Rico and Abasolo, the reward isn't in applause or credit. It's in the moments they freeze in time.

"It's really validating when you see your photo shared," Dill said.
"A picture can warm your heart for a long time," Rico said.
"Photography is always about that one special shot," Abasolo said. "Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't — but when you do, it's thrilling."

And thanks to these three photographers — bound by friendship, faith and family — Southwestern athletes, families and fans will have those thrilling moments forever.