Sports

Columbia's Josiah Hopkins tries to maintain possession as Suwannee's Aksel Perez gives chase on Dec. 1. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Josiah Hopkins tries to maintain possession as Suwannee's Aksel Perez gives chase on Dec. 1. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOCCER: FHSAA rankings have Columbia squads on outside of playoff picture

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Time is running out for Columbia’s soccer teams to make a playoff push. As the calendar turns to 2026, there’s just two weeks left in the regular season and both CHS squads sit on the outside looking in on the Region 1-5A playoff picture.
The Columbia bench, alongside coach Steve Faulkner, reacts to a play during the Tigers’ 72-45 win over Suwannee on Dec. 12. CHS wrapped up its weekend at the Holiday Hoopfest in Fort Myers with a 2-1 record, beating Gateway Charter and Mater Academy Charter. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

The Columbia bench, alongside coach Steve Faulkner, reacts to a play during the Tigers’ 72-45 win over Suwannee on Dec. 12. CHS wrapped up its weekend at the Holiday Hoopfest in Fort Myers with a 2-1 record, beating Gateway Charter and Mater Academy Charter. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Holiday spirits lifted

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
FORT MYERS — Even a blowout loss wasn’t enough to dampen the post-holiday cheer for the Tigers. Columbia took two of three games at the Holiday Hoopfest, hosted by Bishop Verot High School.
Columbia guard Shaheed White, soaring in for a bucket against Suwannee on Dec. 12, leads the Tigers offensively heading into this weekend’s Holiday Hoopfest in Fort Myers. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Shaheed White, soaring in for a bucket against Suwannee on Dec. 12, leads the Tigers offensively heading into this weekend’s Holiday Hoopfest in Fort Myers. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Tigers eye consistency at Hoopfest

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, December 26, 2025
Steve Faulkner is looking for one thing, and one thing only, in his team’s upcoming “business trip.” Consistency. The Columbia coach said it’s been one of the missing ingredients in the early going of the Tigers’ season.
Suwannee lifter Felicity May strains as she competes Saturday at the Power of Christmas meet at SHS. May placed fourth in the 199 division. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee lifter Felicity May strains as she competes Saturday at the Power of Christmas meet at SHS. May placed fourth in the 199 division. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee places eighth at Power of Christmas

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee High’s Power of Christmas is about more than just lifting weights. The SHS girls weightlifting team’s annual December invitational is also about lifting up the community, donating proceeds from the meet to local organizations to give back. “That’s the No.
The Steve Claffey Memorial Game raises funds for the Steve Claffey Memorial Foundation, which provides a scholarship to a graduating Suwannee senior each year. The game was started in honor of a former middle school coach. (COURTESY)

The Steve Claffey Memorial Game raises funds for the Steve Claffey Memorial Foundation, which provides a scholarship to a graduating Suwannee senior each year. The game was started in honor of a former middle school coach. (COURTESY)

REC SOCCER: Suwannee hosting annual Claffey benefit tournament

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
LIVE OAK — A former Suwannee soccer coach’s memory will be honored again this holiday season. The 10th annual Steve Claffey Memorial Game will take place this weekend with events both Friday night at Langford Stadium as well as all day Saturday.
Columbia guards Kadrian Wilson (2) and Shaheed White (1) celebrate during the Tigers' win over Suwannee on Dec. 12. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guards Kadrian Wilson (2) and Shaheed White (1) celebrate during the Tigers' win over Suwannee on Dec. 12. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia tops Westminster Christian in OT in Battle on the Island finale

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Shaheed White scored 22 points as Columbia rallied to defeat Westminster Christian 75-66 in overtime in their final game of the Gold Championship Division at the Battle on the Island on Saturday at Fleming Island High School.
Fort White guard Desean Lally has his shot blocked by Newberry forward Brandon Kelly on Friday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White guard Desean Lally has his shot blocked by Newberry forward Brandon Kelly on Friday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Newberry hands Fort White fourth straight loss

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, December 19, 2025
FORT WHITE — The Indians could find the positives in their first three losses of the season: a young team searching for its footing and identity early in the year.  Friday’s loss, however, left Fort White coach Elven Sheppard searching for answers.
Columbia wrestler Bella Guerrier-Lajoir (left) won the 140 class title while Leah Brown (right) also medaled with a sixth-place finish in the 190 class at the Rumble on the Range at The Villages Charter on Friday. (COURTESY)

Columbia wrestler Bella Guerrier-Lajoir (left) won the 140 class title while Leah Brown (right) also medaled with a sixth-place finish in the 190 class at the Rumble on the Range at The Villages Charter on Friday. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 12/19/25

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 19, 2025
Columbia, Suwannee, Branford and Lafayette were in action in basketball, soccer and wrestling on Friday. Here are scores and stats for Dec. 19.