Sports

Suwannee running back Clay Starling eyes a hole after taking a handoff from quarterback Thomas Sikes during a drill in the Bulldogs' practice Monday morning. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee running back Clay Starling eyes a hole after taking a handoff from quarterback Thomas Sikes during a drill in the Bulldogs' practice Monday morning. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee begins fall practice away from home

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, July 29, 2024
LIVE OAK — Suwannee started fall practice Monday morning the same way it spent its summer: on the move. With their practice field turned into a pile of dirt as work continues on the school's track that encircles it, the Bulldogs have had to find other locations to work out.
Suwannee’s Marquavious Owens (from left) signed his letter of intent Tuesday to compete in football and weightlifting, while PJ Davis signed with LaGrange College to play baseball, Justice Leggett signed for weightlifting at Warner University and Ja’Darius Cherry signed to play football at Allen University. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s Marquavious Owens (from left) signed his letter of intent Tuesday to compete in football and weightlifting, while PJ Davis signed with LaGrange College to play baseball, Justice Leggett signed for weightlifting at Warner University and Ja’Darius Cherry signed to play football at Allen University. (COURTESY)

PREP SPORTS: 4 from Suwannee sign letters of intent

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
LIVE OAK — Before turning the page to the upcoming school year, Suwannee spent time Tuesday celebrating the past year. Four SHS athletes officially signed their letters of intent to continue their careers at the college level.
Matthew Jenkins, a Live Oak native and former Lafayette High star, has committed to play baseball at Florida after one year at Santa Fe College. (COURTESY)

Matthew Jenkins, a Live Oak native and former Lafayette High star, has committed to play baseball at Florida after one year at Santa Fe College. (COURTESY)

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Former Lafayette standout Matthew Jenkins commits to UF after year at Santa Fe

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 19, 2024
Growing up, Matthew, John and Kelly Jenkins were frequent visitors to McKethan Stadium. Kelly and John Jenkins will now be a constant presence at Condron Family Ballpark, getting the opportunity to watch Matthew, their son, pitch for the Florida Gators.
Willie Gardner, a three-time all-state quarterback at Suwannee in the 1990s, is being inducted into the Suwannee Athletics Hall of Fame this fall. The rest of the 2024 induction class include Tom Daniels (below from left), Tyler Chambliss and Shane Wheeler-Mitchell. (COURTESY SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

Willie Gardner, a three-time all-state quarterback at Suwannee in the 1990s, is being inducted into the Suwannee Athletics Hall of Fame this fall. The rest of the 2024 induction class include Tom Daniels (below from left), Tyler Chambliss and Shane Wheeler-Mitchell. (COURTESY SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

PREP SPORTS: Chambliss, Daniels, Gardner, Wheeler-Mitchell to be inducted into SHS Hall of Fame

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 19, 2024
LIVE OAK — Half of this year’s Suwannee Athletics Hall of Fame induction class made their impact on the field. The other two inductees, though, have had a more lasting impact behind the scenes to help the Bulldogs.
The Columbia Swim Team qualified six swimmers for next week’s AAU Junior Olympics in North Carolina. CST swimmers attending the national meet are Savannah Summerall (front from left), Mackenzie Shoemaker, Emma Fielding; back row, Brie Fair, Baron Herget and Casey Fair. (COURTESY)

The Columbia Swim Team qualified six swimmers for next week’s AAU Junior Olympics in North Carolina. CST swimmers attending the national meet are Savannah Summerall (front from left), Mackenzie Shoemaker, Emma Fielding; back row, Brie Fair, Baron Herget and Casey Fair. (COURTESY)

YOUTH SWIMMING: Columbia Swim Team qualifies six for AAU Junior Olympics

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Six local swimmers will compete for national titles next week. The Columbia Swim Team qualified six members for the AAU Junior Olympics in North Carolina, which begin July 24.
Florida’s Tyler Shelnut, a former Fort White High star, gestures after a hit this spring with the Gators. Shelnut is awaiting a phone call this weekend of early next week letting him know he’s been taken in the MLB draft. (MADDIE WASHBURN/UF Athletics)

Florida’s Tyler Shelnut, a former Fort White High star, gestures after a hit this spring with the Gators. Shelnut is awaiting a phone call this weekend of early next week letting him know he’s been taken in the MLB draft. (MADDIE WASHBURN/UF Athletics)

MLB DRAFT: Former Fort White star Tyler Shelnut ready for draft

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Tyler Shelnut is coming home. At least briefly. The former Fort White High School and University of Florida slugger will be surrounded by family in Lake City this weekend and, potentially, early into next week as the 2024 Major League Baseball draft gets underway Sunday.
Suwannee High School’s track is being replaced after the old asphalt surface was ‘completely destroyed’ by heavy equipment during the Hurricane Idalia response. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee High School’s track is being replaced after the old asphalt surface was ‘completely destroyed’ by heavy equipment during the Hurricane Idalia response. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP TRACK AND FIELD: Suwannee replacing ‘completely damaged’ track

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, July 13, 2024
LIVE OAK — Heavy equipment has replaced students at Suwannee High School — and other Suwannee County schools — this summer.