Sports

Columbia receiver Zamarion Jones tries to escape a tackle from Suwannee linebacker Lan’darren Gross during last season’s Preseason Classic. The teams will meet in the season opener this year on Aug. 23. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia receiver Zamarion Jones tries to escape a tackle from Suwannee linebacker Lan’darren Gross during last season’s Preseason Classic. The teams will meet in the season opener this year on Aug. 23. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia unveils 2024 schedule filled with several contenders

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Typically around this time of the year, Columbia is scrambling to fill its football schedule. But not this year. The Tigers have finished their schedule for the 2024 season, and it’s once again ful of playoff contenders, as well as some familiar faces.
Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson scrambles up the field against Union County during the Region 3-1A semifinals last season. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson scrambles up the field against Union County during the Region 3-1A semifinals last season. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia, Fort White to meet in spring game next two seasons

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Fans have loved chirping back and forth about the two schools on social media. They can do so from the stands this spring too. Fort White will host Columbia in this year’s spring game on May 17, with next year’s spring game scheduled to take place in Lake City.
FGC’s Makenzie Phillian lifts the NJCAA championship trophy alongside Klaudia Taylor (7) and head coach Ricky Hufty after the Timberwolves won the inaugural NJCAA title on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (COURTESY OF NFL FLAG)

FGC’s Makenzie Phillian lifts the NJCAA championship trophy alongside Klaudia Taylor (7) and head coach Ricky Hufty after the Timberwolves won the inaugural NJCAA title on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (COURTESY OF NFL FLAG)

COLLEGE FLAG FOOTBALL: FGC aims to repeat as national champs in second season

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Florida Gateway College’s flag football debut couldn’t have gone much better. The Timberwolves won the inaugural NJCAA National Championship in a 15-1 season marked by a slew of blowouts, including three of their five games at the national tournament. What can FGC do for an encore?
Branford's Madyson Sikes high fives an assistant coach duirng a game last season. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's Madyson Sikes high fives an assistant coach duirng a game last season. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 2/20/23

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
BASEBALL — Newberry 4, Suwannee 2: Grayson Greene only allowed one hit but he walked four while his defense committed costly errors as the Panthers (1-0) scored three unearned runs and four total off Greene as the Bulldogs (0-1) dropped their season opener on the road.
Fort White guard Tafari Moe gets tied up with Hilliard’s Brandyn Seldomridge in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Region 3-1A championship. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Tafari Moe gets tied up with Hilliard’s Brandyn Seldomridge in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Region 3-1A championship. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Red-hot Hilliard ends Fort White's dream season in Region 3-1A final

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
HILLIARD — The game plan between the Region 3-1A semifinal and final matchups for Fort White remained largely unchanged: attack the basket, and get the opposing star in foul trouble. It worked against CJ Ingram and Hawthorne in the semifinal. It did not work against Kevin Thomas and Hilliard.
Columbia pitcher Grant Bowers winds up to pitch against North Marion on Tuesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Grant Bowers winds up to pitch against North Marion on Tuesday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia holds on to top North Marion in season opener

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
With the tying run on base and Columbia on the verge of blowing a 5-run lead, Ayden Phillips only had one thought on his mind. “Throw gas.” He, and the Tigers, had just enough left in the tank to escape with a victory over a defending state champion.
FGC guard Amayoa’ah Phillips pushes the ball up the court in transition against FSCJ on Jan. 24. (JORDAN KRORGER/Lake City Reporter)

FGC guard Amayoa’ah Phillips pushes the ball up the court in transition against FSCJ on Jan. 24. (JORDAN KRORGER/Lake City Reporter)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FGC reeling following 2 more conference losses

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
The No. 1 seed in the Sun-Lakes Conference is no longer within reach for Florida Gateway College. The Timberwolves (16-11, 5-5) dropped both of their conference games last week that had massive implications in the standings.
Suwannee’s girls weightlifting teams won the Class 1A state titles in traditional and Olympic on Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s girls weightlifting teams won the Class 1A state titles in traditional and Olympic on Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee adds 2 more state titles to growing dynasty

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
LAKELAND — Add two more titles to Suwannee High’s weightlifting dynasty. The Bulldogs won both the Olympic and traditional titles Saturday at the Class 1A girls weightlifting state meet at the RP Funding Center.