Sports

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.
Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson scrambles up the field as Columbia linebacker Chris Jordan runs in for a tackle during the teams’ spring game on May 17. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson scrambles up the field as Columbia linebacker Chris Jordan runs in for a tackle during the teams’ spring game on May 17. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White tasked with tougher schedule in 2024

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
FORT WHITE — The running-clock victories that were over before halftime may be a thing of the past. Fort White has officially released its schedule for the upcoming year.
Lafayette quarterback Tucker Higginbothom gets hit by a Taylor County defender after throwing a pass during the teams’ spring game on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Lafayette quarterback Tucker Higginbothom gets hit by a Taylor County defender after throwing a pass during the teams’ spring game on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Young O-line at Lafayette still a work in progress

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
MAYO — Everything looked good early last week. Lafayette took the opening possession of its spring game against visiting Taylor County at Dale Walker Field and proceeded to march right down the field.
Cade Frier runs up the field after a catch during Columbia’s spring game against Fort White on May 17. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Cade Frier runs up the field after a catch during Columbia’s spring game against Fort White on May 17. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: WRs Haywood, Frier leaving Columbia for other schools

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
A deep receiver room at Columbia got a bit thinner the past few days. Starting wideout Marlin Haywood, a rising senior, told head coach Brian Allen on Friday that he was transferring to Bradford.
Branford coach Oscar Saavedra meets with his team while Trenton celebrates in the background following the Class 1A state championship on Wednesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Branford coach Oscar Saavedra meets with his team while Trenton celebrates in the background following the Class 1A state championship on Wednesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Resiliency needed now more than ever for Branford after another state runner-up finish

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
CLERMONT — Allow me to paint a picture: A man wanders through a desert. Bereft of water, direction or shade, the man carries on, stumbling over sand dunes and ancient fossils despite all evidence of his imminent demise.
Branford coach Oscar Saavedra and players Madyson Sikes (from left), Morgan Brennan and Laila Arnold show their emotion after losing to Trenton in the Class 1A state championship on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Branford coach Oscar Saavedra and players Madyson Sikes (from left), Morgan Brennan and Laila Arnold show their emotion after losing to Trenton in the Class 1A state championship on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford suffers heartbreaking loss to Trenton in Class 1A state championship

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, May 25, 2024
CLERMONT — The Branford defense was the definition of “bend but don’t break.”  The Buccaneers allowed Trenton to load the bases twice in Saturday’s Class 1A state championship game, and twice the Tigers came away with nothing.