Sports

Branford’s Justin Hernandez is the LCR’s Boys Runner of the Year. (COURTESY)

Branford’s Justin Hernandez is the LCR’s Boys Runner of the Year. (COURTESY)

FALL ALL-AREA: Hernandez named LCR's Boys Runner of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
BRANFORD — Justin Hernandez brought a different mindset with him to Branford this fall. A senior, Hernandez was determined to capitalize on his final opportunity to make his mark and leave a legacy as a Buccaneer.
Columbia’s Audrey Fender is the LCR’s Girls Runner of the Year again. (COURTESY)

Columbia’s Audrey Fender is the LCR’s Girls Runner of the Year again. (COURTESY)

FALL ALL-AREA: Fender named LCR's Girls Runner of the Year again

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
An early-season hurdle couldn’t slow down Columbia runner Audrey Fender. She overcame a knee injury, won three races and led her team to regionals as the fastest runner in the area, dropping her personal-best time by nearly a minute.
Columbia center Keturah Taylor fights for possession of the ball with Orange Park forward Nia Brown on Jan. 13. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia center Keturah Taylor fights for possession of the ball with Orange Park forward Nia Brown on Jan. 13. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: Columbia girls jump back into playoff field in latest rankings

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Welcome back ladies. Columbia’s girls basketball team (6-10) was back in the playoff field this week thanks to the fifth highest strength of schedule in Class 6A, which has its rating at 7.231. That’s just high enough ahead of District 3-6A counterpart Fleming Island (13-6) at 6.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford gestures during Monday's wild-card playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif.. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford gestures during Monday's wild-card playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif.. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

NFL: Stafford propels Rams past Cardinals in playoff rout

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, January 17, 2022
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Rams had a 20-point lead on Arizona with 4 1/2 minutes left at raucous SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford’s 13-year quest for his first playoff victory was all but complete after Los Angeles' dominant performance on both sides of the ball.
Suwannee’s Peyton Slaughter is the LCR’s Boys Swimmer of the Year. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s Peyton Slaughter is the LCR’s Boys Swimmer of the Year. (COURTESY)

FALL ALL-AREA: Slaughter named LCR's Boys Swimmer of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, January 17, 2022
LIVE OAK — Peyton Slaughter had his mind made up. The Suwannee senior was going to qualify for state. That no SHS swimmer had ever qualified for the state meet before didn’t matter. That was the goal in front of Slaughter.
Columbia’s Casey Fair is the LCR’s Girls Swimmer of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Casey Fair is the LCR’s Girls Swimmer of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

FALL ALL-AREA: Fair named LCR's Girls Swimmer of the Year

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, January 17, 2022
Casey Fair wanted to be a backstroker. Columbia head coach Shawn Rost had other plans. With last year’s top swimmer Mackenzie Conklin graduated, Rost needed someone new to compete in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. He saw Fair, even though she was a freshman, as the perfect fit to do so.