Top Row: Maya Walker, Matt Kazimir, Lauren Yun, Nora Burke, Tyler Berg, Vanessa Pan; 4th Row: Michael Lee, Chris Balthazar, Jaden Hill, Thomas Shepanzyk, Michael Collodi, Stew Newblatt, Abbey Hsu, Ashton Daniel, Cam Shockley-Okeke; 3rd Row: Sierra Kirvan Good, Rutvik Rau, Sophie Raiszadeh, Darren Pang, Daisy Lentz, Nate Gramentine, Anne Walsh; 2nd Row: McKinlee Morris, Casey Fellows, Caiti Levin, Alice Diakova, Henry Ruger, Zoe Meshel; Front Row: Tessa Green, Grace Hurren, Wes Eberly, Aziza Ganihanova, Nicole Vanasse



Columbia Athletics released its most recent version of its "All-31 Sport" Photo earlier today in its monthly Lions Digest email newsletter. The photograph, featuring student-athletes from every Columbia varsity team, was taken off-campus for the first time since the end of the COVID-19 Pandemic, at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park.

The photograph, the fifth in a series which began in 2015, was taken by Mike McLaughlin. He has worked with Columbia for more than a decade and has taken each of the previous "All-31" photographs. 

"I always have a great time working with our student athletes and while I love watching and documenting their competitive careers, photographing their portraits, both as a group and individuals, is when I get to interact with them the most and really get to know them. I am truly humbled by the trust they have in me to do this for them time and again," says McLaughlin. 

"This particular photograph, the 'All-31 Sport' portrait, is a passion project for me as it is taken very seriously by the athletes themselves as well as by the teams and coaches, and is a huge undertaking each year," adds the photographer. "From the planning and choice of location, to the logistics of scheduling it around classes and games and practices, to the task of posing and lighting a group this large in a busy public space and in a compelling manner, it takes a great deal of time, effort and collaboration by everyone involved to pull this off and, at the end of the day, hopefully end up with a fun and memorable experience for the athletes and a photograph that everyone can be very proud of.I am very proud of this year's photo and grateful to all those who helped make it happen, and to all of the student athletes for their patience, cooperation and trust."

"I enjoyed the experience of being a part of the photo. It was great that we had a chance to connect with athletes from every other sport at Columbia since we're often only around our own teammates," remarks Cameron Shockley-Okeke '23CC, the men's basketball representative in the picture. "It means a lot to be a part of the photo." 

"Being a part of this photo was one of the coolest Columbia experiences I have had thus far, and I'm incredibly grateful to have been a part of such a special Columbia tradition," adds Maya Walker '24CC, who appears in the photo representing field hockey. "One thing I've loved about playing a sport at Columbia is just how close the athletics community is, and this photo was a fun opportunity to bring people from each of the different teams together." 

This year's photograph features the Columbia student-athletes standing in front of the arcade at Bethesda Terrace, located on 72nd Street in the middle of Central Park. Designed by park co-architect Calvert Vaux, Bethesda Terrace was conceived as one of a few formal locations within the park to showcase architectural structures. Behind the student-athletes is the arcade, which was constructed in the 1800s, but completely renovated by the Central Park Conservancy from 2002-2007.

"It was so special to be at such a well known landmark in Central Park which is definitely a reflection of the Columbia experience and the access that we have to everything New York City has to offer," said Walker.

"The centerpiece of Manhattan, Central Park, is filled with iconic landmarks and locations which are unique to New York City," notes Alex Oberweger '92CC '01BUS, Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications. "This photograph is one that could be taken only here, in Columbia's backyard. We are grateful for the assistance of The Central Park Conservancy, in particular Lauren Ullrich and Stephen McConkey, for their assistance in making this photographic tribute to our hometown possible."

Previous photographs in the series have featured Columbia's campus locations Low Library (2015) and Revson Plaza (2021), across the river from the New York skyline in Hoboken, New Jersey (2016), and the crossroads of the world, Times Square (2018).

"I always remember walking into Dodge [Fitness Center] and seeing the huge photo on the wall as you enter the front doors," added Shockley-Okeke. "It's truly amazing that I will now be a part of that photo."