Sports

Suwannee’s Madison Dear is the LCR’s Girls Tennis Player of the Year. (TAMMY JOHNS/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee’s Madison Dear is the LCR’s Girls Tennis Player of the Year. (TAMMY JOHNS/Special to the Reporter)

SPRING ALL-AREA: Suwannee's Madison Dear named LCR's Girls Tennis Player of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 21, 2024
LIVE OAK —  Facing Aucilla Christian’s Morgan McNeill in Monticello in February, Madison Dear’s senior season couldn’t have gotten off to much worse of a start. As Suwannee’s year was getting underway, Dear quickly found herself in a 6-3 hole against McNeill.
Columbia pitcher/infielder Ayden Phillips is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia pitcher/infielder Ayden Phillips is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

SPRING ALL-AREA: Columbia star Ayden Phillips named LCR's Baseball Player of the Year

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, June 20, 2024
It isn’t hard for Ayden Phillips to pick his favorite memory from his junior season at Columbia. Tasked with pitching against IMG Academy’s national squad on the road late in the season, Phillips rose to the challenge and delivered one of the biggest wins in program history.
Columbia football coach Brian Allen reacts to a missed call during his team’s spring game against Fort White on May 17. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia football coach Brian Allen reacts to a missed call during his team’s spring game against Fort White on May 17. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: Local coaches give mixed reactions to FHSAA approving NIL

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Tuesday’s landmark vote by the Florida High School Athletic Association’s board of directors to permit high school athletes to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness has left some local coaches questioning the decision.
Columbia's football team takes the field prior to a game against Ridgeview last season. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's football team takes the field prior to a game against Ridgeview last season. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: FHSAA board unanimously approves NIL for high school athletes

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
The Florida High School Athletic Association voted to allow student athletes to engage in Name, Image and Likeness deals in a historic decision Tuesday. The motion was unanimously approved by the FHSAA's board of directors in a 13-0 vote.
Suwannee’s Koy Frier scrambles up the field while playing quarterback during his team’s spring jamboree against Bradford on May 17. Frier split time at quarterback with Thomas Sikes during the spring but will now be used as an ‘athlete’ this summer. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee’s Koy Frier scrambles up the field while playing quarterback during his team’s spring jamboree against Bradford on May 17. Frier split time at quarterback with Thomas Sikes during the spring but will now be used as an ‘athlete’ this summer. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Frier to be used as an athlete at Suwannee, Sikes now starting QB

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
LIVE OAK — There won’t be a quarterback controversy at Suwannee this fall. As the Bulldogs began summer workouts this week, sophomore Koy Frier has moved to an athlete role and will be utilized all over the field with junior transfer Thomas Sikes getting the majority of snaps behind center.
Columbia guard Zamarion Jones drives to the basket against Suwannee on Nov. 28, 2023. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Zamarion Jones drives to the basket against Suwannee on Nov. 28, 2023. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: FHSAA releases new districts for winter sports

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, June 3, 2024
The Florida High School Athletic Association finally released new preliminary classifications for winter sports for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years on Monday. The classifications are subject to appeal through June 10.