Sports

Suwannee quarterback Thomas Sikes drops back to pass during practice on April 29. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee quarterback Thomas Sikes drops back to pass during practice on April 29. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee wrapping up spring with 3-team jamboree vs. Bradford, Buchholz

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
LIVE OAK — After identifying depth with a lot of young talent on the roster, Suwannee wants to close out the spring with a better idea of exactly where it stands. After Thursday’s spring jamboree, that shouldn’t be a problem for the Bulldogs, who open the 6:30 p.m.
Columbia’s J’Liyn Smith leads the pack during the 400m at the Region 1-3A meet on Wednesday. Smith won the race in 58.06 seconds. (NANCY SCOTT/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s J’Liyn Smith leads the pack during the 400m at the Region 1-3A meet on Wednesday. Smith won the race in 58.06 seconds. (NANCY SCOTT/Special to the Reporter)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: 9 from area qualify for state meets

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 10, 2024
J’Liyn Smith followed up a district title with a Region 1-3A championship in the 400m dash on Wednesday. Now she’ll take aim at the podium at the Class 3A state meet. Smith won the race with a personal-best time of 58.06 seconds, just edging Orange Park’s Kayleana Harry (58.
Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson rolls out to pass during practice on May 1. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson rolls out to pass during practice on May 1. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Jayden Jackson looking to make big leap in second year as Fort White’s starting QB

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, May 10, 2024
FORT WHITE — Jayden Jackson remembers his last football game well. In fact, he says he relives it often. “(I look at that film) every day,” Jackson said. “Finding the key details that I did that made that game the way it was and trying to fix those mechanics.
Suwannee High weightlifters Savannah White (left), Sam Wainwright (middle) and Will Wainwright (right) won their weight classes at USA Weightlifting’s Florida State Championships last weekend. (COURTESY)

Suwannee High weightlifters Savannah White (left), Sam Wainwright (middle) and Will Wainwright (right) won their weight classes at USA Weightlifting’s Florida State Championships last weekend. (COURTESY)

USA WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee’s Ischyros club team wins Junior Division Florida State Champions

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 10, 2024
LIVE OAK — Not only did Suwannee County host USA Weightlifting’s Florida State Championships last weekend, the locals ended up winning the event in the Junior Division.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates after finishing her complete-game victory over Madison County on Thursday in the Region 3-1A semifinals. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates after finishing her complete-game victory over Madison County on Thursday in the Region 3-1A semifinals. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White rides Compton's arm past Madison County in Region 3-1A semis

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, May 9, 2024
FORT WHITE — Stuck in their locker room for a half-hour weather delay just two batters into Thursday’s contest, the Fort White Indians decided to fall back on some team building exercises they’d gone through earlier in the season. “Circle sessions,” FWHS head coach Michele Padgett calls them.
Columbia coach Cindy Dansby meets with pitcher Harleigh Price after Middleburg took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning of Thursday's Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia coach Cindy Dansby meets with pitcher Harleigh Price after Middleburg took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning of Thursday's Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia lets lead slip away again against Middleburg in Region 1-5A quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, May 9, 2024
MIDDLEBURG — Harleigh Price was cruising right along. Columbia’s freshman pitcher had a no-hitter heading into the bottom of the sixth inning and had her team headed toward a huge upset of Middleburg in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals.
Branford's softball team celebrates with Mallory Blue at home plate after she scored the game-winning run in extra innings to defeat Aucilla Christian in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's softball team celebrates with Mallory Blue at home plate after she scored the game-winning run in extra innings to defeat Aucilla Christian in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford rallies twice, edges Aucilla Christian in extras to advance to Region 3-1A finals

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Thursday, May 9, 2024
BRANFORD — Branford's Mallory Blue was simply advancing to second base on a routine second-to-first groundout. Instead, an ill-advised errant throw followed and Blue made her way home for the extra-inning, walk-off run as top-seeded Branford survived a scare against No.