Sports

Columbia’s Kenney Gaines (4) goes up for a basket against Dillard during the second half of their Class 6A state semifinal at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Kenney Gaines (4) goes up for a basket against Dillard during the second half of their Class 6A state semifinal at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia seniors leave behind program-altering legacy

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, March 6, 2020
I know it hurts.  I know you’re devastated. You’ll feel that way for a while, but not forever. What will last forever is the legacy you’ve left behind at Columbia High School. Say what you want about Ivan Reynolds’ buzzer-beater at the end of the first overtime.
Columbia’s Charleston Ponds (3) and Darrien Jones (5), right, show their emotion after their double overtime loss to Dillard in the Class 6A semifinals at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Charleston Ponds (3) and Darrien Jones (5), right, show their emotion after their double overtime loss to Dillard in the Class 6A semifinals at The RP Funding Center on Thursday, in Lakeland. (MICHAEL WILSON/Special to the Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia falls to Dillard in double overtime in 6A state semis following controversial buzzer-beater

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, March 5, 2020
LAKELAND — Dillard believes the shot was good. Columbia coach Steve Faulkner says otherwise. The result led to a heartbreaking 71-66 loss for the Tigers in double overtime in the Class 6A state semifinals at the RP Funding Center.
Columbia guard Jordan Smith is lifted up by students and teammates after the Tigers defeated Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in last Friday's Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Jordan Smith is lifted up by students and teammates after the Tigers defeated Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in last Friday's Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Smith hopes to end career with state title in basketball after falling short in football

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
To this day, Jordan Smith still feels he had a state title taken away from him. In his junior season as Columbia’s quarterback, he led the football team to a 9-1 regular-season record, a district championship and the No. 1 seed in the region. But in Round 2 of the playoffs against Robert E.
Columbia’s Nate Walsmley finishes his clean and jerk during Wednesday’s meet against Buchholz. Walmsley won the heavyweight class with a 600-pound total. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Nate Walsmley finishes his clean and jerk during Wednesday’s meet against Buchholz. Walmsley won the heavyweight class with a 600-pound total. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia lifts past Buchholz; softball jumps into state poll

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Columbia won seven of 10 weight classes to defeat Buchholz 50-17 in a dual meet at home Wednesday evening. Nate Walsmley lifted a meet-best 600 pounds to win the heavyweight class.
Columbia shortstop Kade Jackson applies the tag late as Forest's Bradley White II slides safely into second base. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia shortstop Kade Jackson applies the tag late as Forest's Bradley White II slides safely into second base. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Forest run-rules Columbia in six innings; CHS softball & girls tennis, FW baseball pick up victories

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
A seven-run sixth inning did Columbia in Tuesday night as Forest won 12-0 in Lake City in District 2-6A action. Only six of those 12 runs came via RBIs as the Tigers made a bevy of errors to allow the Wildcats to roll to the run-rule victory in six innings.
Columbia forward Marcus Peterson (1) celebrates with guard Amare Ferrell (14) after the Tigers beat Daytona Beach Mainland in last Friday’s Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia forward Marcus Peterson (1) celebrates with guard Amare Ferrell (14) after the Tigers beat Daytona Beach Mainland in last Friday’s Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia prepares for Dillard big man Jalen Haynes in 6A semifinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
There’s the 11-time state champions from Dillard. Then there’s little old Columbia from the small town of Lake City. The Panthers have the pedigree, the top-10 state ranking and the 6-foot-8, 210-pound terror down low in Jalen Haynes. But the Tigers aren’t afraid.
Columbia wrestler Alex McGuigan on the medal stand after winning the Region 1-2A title in the 138-pound weight class on Saturday. (COURTESY)

Columbia wrestler Alex McGuigan on the medal stand after winning the Region 1-2A title in the 138-pound weight class on Saturday. (COURTESY)

WRESTLING: Tigers tie a program record with five state qualifiers at the Region 1-2A Tournament

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, March 2, 2020
It’s been one of the best seasons in recent memory for Columbia. The Tigers won their first district title in nearly 30 years last week. Now they’ve tied a school record for most state qualifiers with five after their performances this past weekend at the Region 1-2A Tournament.
Columbia coach Steve Faulkner reacts as his team closes out a victory over Daytona Beach Mainland in Friday night’s Region 1-6A final. The win sent the Tigers to their first Final Four since 1968. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia coach Steve Faulkner reacts as his team closes out a victory over Daytona Beach Mainland in Friday night’s Region 1-6A final. The win sent the Tigers to their first Final Four since 1968. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Faulkner has made basketball matter at Columbia with run to Final Four

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, March 2, 2020
Football has always come first at Columbia. Aside from the softball team’s state championship in 2013, football has reigned supreme. Columbia’s been a football school — simple as that. Well, not anymore.