Sports

Members of the Fort White baseball team show off a number of the sandbags they helped fill at the South Columbia Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon. The Indians helped fill and load sandbags for area residents in prep for Hurricane Ian. (COURTESY)

Members of the Fort White baseball team show off a number of the sandbags they helped fill at the South Columbia Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon. The Indians helped fill and load sandbags for area residents in prep for Hurricane Ian. (COURTESY)

PREP BASEBALL: FWHS helps fill, load sandbags ahead of Hurricane Ian

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
FORT WHITE — Rick Julius knows a thing or two about not wasting opportunities. The head coach for Fort White baseball learned exactly that while guiding his team toward its first state Final Four appearance.
Columbia’s swim team held Senior Night on Tuesday. Pictured are head coach Shawn Rost (from left), Izzy Glenn, Seth Grubb, Abby Schuler, assistant coach Ryan Shoemaker and Columbia Principal Trey Hosford. (COURTESY)

Columbia’s swim team held Senior Night on Tuesday. Pictured are head coach Shawn Rost (from left), Izzy Glenn, Seth Grubb, Abby Schuler, assistant coach Ryan Shoemaker and Columbia Principal Trey Hosford. (COURTESY)

PREP SWIMMING: Columbia girls win on Senior Night, Suwannee boys grab victory

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Columbia’s girls swim team defeated Suwannee 132-95 on Senior Night, while the SHS boys squeaked out a 101-87 victory on Tuesday. Here are the event winners from each team: Columbia — Girls 200 medley relay: Casey Fair, Izzy Glenn, Calle Lones, Annabelle Glenn (2:17.
Columbia receiver Tray Tolliver returns a kickoff against Trinity Christian on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia receiver Tray Tolliver returns a kickoff against Trinity Christian on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: CHS, LHS, BHS & FWHS all hold playoff spots in first FHSAA rankings

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Playing a tough schedule pays off in Florida. Columbia found that out when the FHSAA released its first playoff rankings on Tuesday. Despite a 2-3 start to the season, the Tigers were ranked second in Region 1-3S and first in District 3 thanks to a strength of schedule rating of 9.
Florida head coach Billy Napier watches his team Saturday's game against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. (WADE PAYNE/Associated Press)

Florida head coach Billy Napier watches his team Saturday's game against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. (WADE PAYNE/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UF, UCF, USF move home games ahead of Hurricane Ian

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
GAINESVILLE — Three Sunshine State universities took steps Tuesday to salvage home football games as Hurricane Ian approached. Florida moved its game against Eastern Washington from Saturday to Sunday. Central Florida did the same with its game against SMU.
CHS, FWHS, LHS, SHS, BHS, HCHS

CHS, FWHS, LHS, SHS, BHS, HCHS

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats for Monday's volleyball/golf matches

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Here's are the results and stats for Monday's volleyball and golf matches in the area: VOLLEYBALL — Baker County 3, Columbia 1: The Tigers (15-6) fell to the Wildcats (9-6) in four sets (24-26, 25-12, 25-22, 25-20)  on the road Monday night. — Branford 3, P.K.
Columbia receiver Camdon Frier fights off Trinity Christian defensive back Kyle Boylston after a reception during Friday’s game. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia receiver Camdon Frier fights off Trinity Christian defensive back Kyle Boylston after a reception during Friday’s game. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Hurricane Ian postpones CHS-Orange Park; 4 points of interest from Week 5

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, September 26, 2022
Columbia’s football game scheduled for this Friday at Orange Park has been moved to Oct. 7 at Ridgeview High School due to the threat of Hurricane Ian, which continues to inch its way closer to Florida.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) walk off the field after Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif. (MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/Associated Press)

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) and linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) walk off the field after Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif. (MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/Associated Press)

ANALYSIS: Jaguars silence most doubters with back-to-back blowouts

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, September 26, 2022
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Jaguars might still have some doubters, a few holdouts who view the past two weeks as more of a fluke than a factuality.
Jimmie Johnson sits in his pit box before the final practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27 in Indianapolis. (AP FILE)

Jimmie Johnson sits in his pit box before the final practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27 in Indianapolis. (AP FILE)

AUTO RACING: Jimmie Johnson to retire from full-time racing

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, September 26, 2022
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is retiring from full-time racing and will turn his focus toward spending time with family.