Sports

Columbia swimmer Casey Fair at Tuesday’s Region 1-3A meet. (COURTESY)

Columbia swimmer Casey Fair at Tuesday’s Region 1-3A meet. (COURTESY)

PREP SWIMMING: Fair places 19th in 100 butterfly at regionals

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Columbia swimmer Casey Fair placed 19th in the 100 butterfly at the Region 1-3A meet on Tuesday at Morcom Aquatics in Tallahassee. Fair finished in a time of 1:07.58 to wrap up her junior season.
Branford players and coaches celebrate with fans after defeating Union County to win the Region 3-1A championship on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Branford players and coaches celebrate with fans after defeating Union County to win the Region 3-1A championship on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Branford tops Union County to win Region 3-1A title

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
BRANFORD — Buccaneers head coach Mendy Sikes wasn’t afraid to say it: She was nervous coming into Tuesday night’s regional final. After all, it was the culmination of another season of hard work, not to mention the opponent she and her girls would face.
Columbia head coach Sherman Reed (left) shakes hands with Columbia golfer Connor Williams (right) after Williams won the Region 1-2A title on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Columbia head coach Sherman Reed (left) shakes hands with Columbia golfer Connor Williams (right) after Williams won the Region 1-2A title on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

BOYS GOLF: Columbia golfer Connor Williams earns redemption with Region 1-2A title

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
PENSACOLA — One year after two putts cost him a regional title, Connor Williams wasn’t going miss his biggest pair 12 months later. Last season saw Williams enter the 17th hole tied for the lead only to fall behind with a bogey before missing a birdie putt on No. 18 that would’ve forced a playoff.
Columbia golfer Karlee Gainey poses with her Region 1-2A championship trophy on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Columbia golfer Karlee Gainey poses with her Region 1-2A championship trophy on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

GIRLS GOLF: Gainey wins Region 1-2A title for Columbia, Suwannee's Donaldson places third

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Chet Carter walked past Karlee Gainey on Tuesday morning and said a few words to his granddaughter before Columbia took the course for the Region 1-2A tournament at Quail Heights. “I said, ‘Karlee, 68,’” Carter recalls. “I just told her 68 as I walked by. And she just kinda said, ‘OK papa.’”
Columbia swimmer Casey Fair competes in the 100 butterfly at the District 2-3A meet on Oct. 23. (COURTESY)

Columbia swimmer Casey Fair competes in the 100 butterfly at the District 2-3A meet on Oct. 23. (COURTESY)

PREP SWIMMING: Columbia's Fair qualifies for regionals in 100 butterfly, alternate for 200 IM

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Casey Fair was Columbia’s lone regional qualifier, advancing to Tuesday’s Region 1-3A meet in the 100 butterfly and as an alternate in the 200 IM. The junior placed fourth in both the 100 butterfly (1:08.33) and 200 IM (2:28.72) at the District 2-3A meet on Oct. 23.
Columbia receiver Marlin Haywood catches a touchdown pass against Ridgeview on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia receiver Marlin Haywood catches a touchdown pass against Ridgeview on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia scores 6 TDs in first half, shuts out Ridgeview

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, October 28, 2023
ORANGE PARK — Bynton Edge leapt sideways with two defenders chasing him and reeled in a one-handed catch before getting his feet down in the back corner of the end zone. Yeah, it was that kind of night for Columbia. Only a running clock could save Ridgeview from much further embarrassment.