Sports

Columbia swimmer Mackenzie Conklin competes in the 500-yard freestyle during Tuesday’s meet against Suwannee. She won the event. (SHELBY CONKLIN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia swimmer Mackenzie Conklin competes in the 500-yard freestyle during Tuesday’s meet against Suwannee. She won the event. (SHELBY CONKLIN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia & Suwannee split swim victories in dual meet

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Columbia’s swim teams split their matchups with Suwannee on Tuesday, with the girls winning 76-55 while the boys lost 85-41. Individual winners for the Lady Tigers included Mackeznie Conklin (200 free, 2:27; 500 free, 5:43.80) and Kaydence Clark (200 IM, 2:44.70; 100 butterfly, 1:09.38).
Instead of participating in the first college football game of the season, as Florida did last year, the Gators have been on the sidelines for the first two weekends. (TAMPA BAY TIMES/TNS)

Instead of participating in the first college football game of the season, as Florida did last year, the Gators have been on the sidelines for the first two weekends. (TAMPA BAY TIMES/TNS)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mullen's Florida staff receives nearly $500K before pandemic

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Dan Mullen didn’t get a raise or an extension after his team’s 11-2 finish last season. His staff got the money. Mullen’s assistants got bumps totaling $490,000, according to contracts released by the school Tuesday.
Florida Gators running back Malik Davis, right, carries the ball up the field against Tennessee last season. (CARMEN MANDATO/Getty Images/TNS)

Florida Gators running back Malik Davis, right, carries the ball up the field against Tennessee last season. (CARMEN MANDATO/Getty Images/TNS)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEC to use devices to aid with contact tracing

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
The Southeastern Conference says it is providing its 14 schools wearable technology for football players intended to aid with covid-19 contact tracing. The SafeTags made by Kinexon can be worn like a wristband at team facilities or attached to equipment when used in games or practice.
Florida head coach Mullen is still wary about what lies ahead as the Gators prepare to open the season at Ole Miss on Saturday. “Obviously, all the covid stuff makes you anxious,” Mullen said. (MARK BROWN/Getty Images/TNS)

Florida head coach Mullen is still wary about what lies ahead as the Gators prepare to open the season at Ole Miss on Saturday. “Obviously, all the covid stuff makes you anxious,” Mullen said. (MARK BROWN/Getty Images/TNS)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: No. 5 Florida settles into normal routine, braces for chaos

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Dan Mullen is finally settling into a somewhat normal routine. He’s back to the game-week schedule he has used for more than a decade. Meetings, practice, treatment. Scouting, video study, game-planning.
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy makes the save against Joe Pavelski of the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on Monday, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Lightning won 3-2. (BRUCE BENNETT/Getty Images/TNS)

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy makes the save against Joe Pavelski of the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on Monday, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Lightning won 3-2. (BRUCE BENNETT/Getty Images/TNS)

NHL: Lightning beat Stars in Game 2, get even in Stanley Cup

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, September 21, 2020
EDMONTON, Alberta — Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning got themselves up off the ice to get even in the Stanley Cup Final.
Branford’s Cera McElreath sends a shot over the net against Columbia on Monday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Branford’s Cera McElreath sends a shot over the net against Columbia on Monday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Branford sweeps season series over Columbia

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 21, 2020
Branford swept Columbia for the second time in the last week on Monday, coming away with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-20) win in Lake City. The Lady Buccaneers (5-1) also beat the Lady Tigers 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-13) at home last Thursday.
Fort White defensive back Najeeb Smith returns an interception against Santa Fe on Friday night. Smith also caught four passes for 113 yards while playing receiver. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White defensive back Najeeb Smith returns an interception against Santa Fe on Friday night. Smith also caught four passes for 113 yards while playing receiver. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Plenty to fix but also some bright spots in Fort White’s loss to Santa Fe

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, September 21, 2020
FORT WHITE — It was an up-and-down season opener for Fort White on Friday. Head coach Demetric Jackson had plenty to shake his head about after his team’s 26-14 loss to Santa Fe.
Columbia’s Audrey Fender runs during Saturday’s 12th Annual Alligator Lake Invitational. (SHELBY CONKLIN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Audrey Fender runs during Saturday’s 12th Annual Alligator Lake Invitational. (SHELBY CONKLIN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Fender leads the way for Columbia at Alligator Invitational

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 21, 2020
Audrey Fender was Columbia’s top runner Saturday at the 12th Annual Alligator Lake Invitational, placing 27th with a time of 22:24.20 for the best mark in the area. Mackenzie Conklin also managed to post a sub-25 time, crossing the finish line at 24:43.
Florida Gateway College runner Merlin Leal (left) runs alongside a Pasco-Hernando State College runner during the Alligator Lake Invitational on Friday. (COURTESY)

Florida Gateway College runner Merlin Leal (left) runs alongside a Pasco-Hernando State College runner during the Alligator Lake Invitational on Friday. (COURTESY)

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Leal leads FGC at Alligator Lake Invitational

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 21, 2020
Florida Gateway College competed Friday at the Alligator Lake Invitational.  The top finisher for the Timberwolves was Merlin Leal, a Suwanne grad, with a personal-best time of 24:20 to finish 21st overall. FGC’s Savana Thomas also placed 27th (25:14.