Sports

District 4-1A champion Suwannee and district runner-up Maclay pose with their district trophies on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

District 4-1A champion Suwannee and district runner-up Maclay pose with their district trophies on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee sweeps district titles again, Branford also claims crown

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 26, 2024
LIVE OAK — Another year and another pair of district titles for the Suwannee girls weightlifting team. The Bulldogs claimed their sixth straight district title Friday at SHS when they powered past Maclay to take home both the traditional and Olympic events in the District 4-1A meet.
Branford's Emma Soride dribbles while being defended by Fort White's Gabriella Serrano on Jan. 13. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's Emma Soride dribbles while being defended by Fort White's Gabriella Serrano on Jan. 13. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Lafayette boys win district quarterfinal, seasons end for Fort White boys & Branford girls

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, January 25, 2024
BOYS SOCCER — Williston 3, Fort White 0: The No. 6 seed Indians (5-9-2) were shut out by the No. 3 seed Red Devils (12-6-1) on the road Thursday night in the District 4-3A quarterfinals. The loss ends Fort White’s season. — Lafayette 4, Jefferson County 0: The No.
Columbia midfielder Bobby Shotwell shushes Middleburg after scoring a penalty kick during Thursday's District 2-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia midfielder Bobby Shotwell shushes Middleburg after scoring a penalty kick during Thursday's District 2-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS SOCCER: Columbia tops Middleburg in District 2-5A quarterfinals to keep season alive

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, January 25, 2024
After Bobby Shotwell’s penalty kick splashed into the back of net, he placed his finger over his mouth and shushed the Middleburg squad. “They definitely started getting chirpy at the end,” Shotwell said. In a game that was full of trash talk, Columbia got the last word and kept its season alive.
Columbia forward Mia Brasel celebrates one of her goals in the first half of Wednesday night’s District 2-5A quarterfinal against Rickards. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia forward Mia Brasel celebrates one of her goals in the first half of Wednesday night’s District 2-5A quarterfinal against Rickards. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS SOCCER: Columbia rolls to district semis with mercy-rule win over Rickards

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The best defense played against Columbia during Thursday night’s District 2-5A quarterfinals turned out to be from the Tigers themselves. Already up 3-0 with 20 minutes left in the first half, Columbia’s Mia Brasel fired off a shot from inside the 18-yard box of Rickards.
FGC forward Joseph Mitchell gets up a shot against the FSCJ defense on Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

FGC forward Joseph Mitchell gets up a shot against the FSCJ defense on Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FGC misses key free throws, falls to FSCJ in OT

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Florida State College at Jacksonville kept giving Florida Gateway College chances to take the lead. But the Timberwolves couldn’t make their free throws. As a result, the Blue Wave are in the driver’s seat early on in Region 8 in their first season as a conference member.
Columbia guard Mariah Cox dribbles up the court against Fort White on Jan. 16. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Mariah Cox dribbles up the court against Fort White on Jan. 16. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Fort White boys, Columbia and Lafayette girls drop hoops contests

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
BOYS BASKETBALL — Oak 50, Fort White 32: With Jayden Jackson out sick and Garrett Brady also sidelined, the Class 1A No. 4 Indians (13-5) were blown out by the Eagles (11-5) on the road Tuesday night. Tafari Moe scored 13 points to lead FWHS, which has lost three of its last four.
Suwannee receiver Noah Lopez is tackled by a pair of Wakulla defenders during last season’s meeting. Suwannee and Wakulla will be in the same district again next season. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee receiver Noah Lopez is tackled by a pair of Wakulla defenders during last season’s meeting. Suwannee and Wakulla will be in the same district again next season. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee granted appeal to Class 3A

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
The final tweaks to the FHSAA’s football classifications for the next two years led a welcomed change for Suwannee and an unwelcomed sitting still for Fort White.