Sports

Suwannee swimmer Raegan Conklin placed second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle at the District 3-2A meet on Thursday. (COURTESY)

Suwannee swimmer Raegan Conklin placed second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle at the District 3-2A meet on Thursday. (COURTESY)

PREP SWIMMING: Conklin leads list of regional qualifiers for Suwannee

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 20, 2023
Raegan Conklin placed second in the girls 50 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle to lead a list of regional qualifiers for Suwannee at Thursday’s District 3-2A meet at Planet Swim in Fernandina Beach. Conklin’s 50 freestyle time of 27.
Columbia golfer Connor Williams (left) is above with tournament host Frank Anderson after winning the Ann/John Ives Alachua County Championship on Wednesday.

Columbia golfer Connor Williams (left) is above with tournament host Frank Anderson after winning the Ann/John Ives Alachua County Championship on Wednesday.

BOYS GOLF: Columbia's Williams wins Ann/John Ives Alachua County Championship

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Columbia golfer Connor Williams shot a 1-under-69 to win the Ann/John Ives Alachua County Championship on Wednesday, winning by 11 strokes as the only golfer to shoot under par.
Lafayette’s Jalen Hill scores a touchdown against Taylor County while Jordan Murphy (10) celebrates on Tuesday night. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Lafayette’s Jalen Hill scores a touchdown against Taylor County while Jordan Murphy (10) celebrates on Tuesday night. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Lafayette looks to rebound at Trenton after tough loss

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
MAYO — After waiting a while to make up one game, the Hornets now have a quick turnaround to prepare for another. Lafayette suffered a devastating 18-13 loss to Taylor County Tuesday night in a makeup game from the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
Lafayette quarterback Tywan Williamson can’t track down a loose ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Taylor County on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Lafayette quarterback Tywan Williamson can’t track down a loose ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Taylor County on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Early, late safeties doom Lafayette in second loss to Taylor County

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
MAYO —  After a high snap from Lafayette forced a scrum in its own end zone to start the game, the Hornets finished with another catastrophe on the same end of the field to stop any hopes of a comeback.
Columbia defensive end Au’vontae Smith makes a tackle against Middleburg on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia defensive end Au’vontae Smith makes a tackle against Middleburg on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia silenced doubters with another district title

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
All that outside noise? Columbia never listened to it. Even at 0-4, the Tigers kept believing they’d turn their season around. Fast forward three weeks, and Columbia is once again district champions and headed back to the playoffs.
Columbia middle hitter Cassidy O’Neal gets blocked by Vanguard middle hitter Lillian Hart during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia middle hitter Cassidy O’Neal gets blocked by Vanguard middle hitter Lillian Hart during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Vanguard upsets Columbia in District 2-5A semis

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Columbia had a chance to further improve its playoff resume. Vanguard kept its postseason hopes alive instead. Behind a strong front line, which was led by middle hitter Lillian Hart with 16 kills, the No. 3 seed Knights upset the No.