Sports

Columbia coach Brian Allen signals in a play against Oakleaf last season. (FILE)

Columbia coach Brian Allen signals in a play against Oakleaf last season. (FILE)

PREP FOOTBALL: Allen still holding off on summer workouts due to covid-19, optimism waning for start of season

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Coronavirus cases continue to rise in the state of Florida. As a result, the guidelines for high school summer workouts haven’t changed and Columbia coach Brian Allen is no longer optimistic about getting his players back on the field. He has serious concerns about the season, too.
FGC guard Tay Cobb puts up a floater against Webber International this past season. (FILE)

FGC guard Tay Cobb puts up a floater against Webber International this past season. (FILE)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FGC guard Tay Cobb commits to Benedict College

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Two years at Florida Gateway College prepared guard Tay Cobb for the Division-II level. Cobb committed to Benedict College in South Carolina this week, a D-II school in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Madison Plyn was the LCR's Volleyball Player of the year in back-to-back seasons to finish her career. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

Madison Plyn was the LCR's Volleyball Player of the year in back-to-back seasons to finish her career. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Volleyball All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE DECADE Madison Plyn, Columbia, 2017 class Not many volleyball players from Columbia went off to play at a four-year college. In fact, only two did, and Madison Plyn was the first. Plyn’s teams weren’t the best of the past decade but it wasn’t due to her lack of talent.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 29, 2019, in Jacksonville. (TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 29, 2019, in Jacksonville. (TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE)

NFL: Preseason cut in half, start gets pushed back

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
The NFL will cut its preseason in half and push back the start of exhibition play so teams have more time to train following an all-virtual offseason made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
Columbia quarterback Kade Jackson throws during conditioning last summer. (FILE)

Columbia quarterback Kade Jackson throws during conditioning last summer. (FILE)

CORONAVIRUS: FHSAA Task Force recommends delayed start for fall practices

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
The start of fall practices may begin in August instead of July. Maybe even in September. The Florida High School Athletic Association’s Fall Sports Task Force voted 8-7 on Wednesday morning to push back the start of fall sports two weeks to Aug. 10 at the earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lance Minson was a three-time LCR Golfer of the Year and he led Columbia to state as a team in his senior season for the first time since 1999. (FILE)

Lance Minson was a three-time LCR Golfer of the Year and he led Columbia to state as a team in his senior season for the first time since 1999. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Boys Golf All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
BOYS GOLFER OF THE DECADE Lance Minson, Columbia, 2020 class The best at Columbia came at the end of the decade. Lance Minson was a three-time LCR Golfer of the Year, including his senior season which made school history.
Gillian Norris was a two-time district runner-up and the county's lone state qualifier in the past decade. (FILE)

Gillian Norris was a two-time district runner-up and the county's lone state qualifier in the past decade. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Girls Golf All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
GIRLS GOLFER OF THE DECADE Gillian Norris, Columbia, 2015 class An impressive sophomore season was only the beginning of a stellar career for Gillian Norris, who was the only girls golfer in the county to qualify for the state tournament in the last decade.
Bridget Morse was a three-time state qualifier and has the school record in the 5K. (FILE)

Bridget Morse was a three-time state qualifier and has the school record in the 5K. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Girls Cross Country All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, June 29, 2020
GIRLS RUNNER OF THE DECADE Bridget Morse, Columbia, 2018 class Take a look at Columbia’s record book and it’ll take you a minute to find another name other than Bridget Morse. In her four-year career, Morse posted the 13 fastest times in school history with a personal-best of 18:31.
Evan Conklin was a state qualifier in 2018. (FILE)

Evan Conklin was a state qualifier in 2018. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Boys Swimming All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, June 26, 2020
BOYS SWIMMER OF THE DECADE Evan Conklin, Columbia, 2019 class There weren’t many state qualifiers for the boys swim team this past decade, but one swimmer near the end of it broke through to cap off his career. That was Evan Conklin, who made it to state in 2018 in the 100 freestyle.