Sports

Columbia will send five wrestlers to the Class 2A state meet next weekend. (COURTESY)

Columbia will send five wrestlers to the Class 2A state meet next weekend. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia sends 5 wrestlers to state; baseball falls to Santa Fe

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Columbia finished fourth as team at the Region 1-2A Meet in Saturday and will send six wrestlers to state next weekend. Alex McGuigan won the team’s lone regional title in the 138 class while Ian McGuigan (132) and Matthew Smith (152) we’re both runner-ups.
Columbia’s Anissa Penniman (12) high fives Zoryana Hughes after Hughes scored the game-winning run on a passed ball against Lafayette on Friday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Anissa Penniman (12) high fives Zoryana Hughes after Hughes scored the game-winning run on a passed ball against Lafayette on Friday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: CHS softball walks off against Lafayette; baseball rallies past Baker Co.

NEWS STAFF
Friday, February 28, 2020
Zoryana Hughes scored on a walk-off passed ball to lift Columbia to a 6-5 win over Lafayette at home Friday afternoon. Hughes was also 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI and picked up the win in the circle, striking out five batters over the final 2.2 innings in relief.
Columbia guard Tray Tolliver celebrates after defeating Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in Friday night’s Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Tray Tolliver celebrates after defeating Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in Friday night’s Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Faulkner’s Tigers fulfill Hosford’s dream of state-tournament berth

ZACH ABOLVERDI
Friday, February 28, 2020
The Columbia faithful swarmed coach Steve Faulkner with hugs and high fives Friday after his Tigers beat Mainland to advance to the Class 6A state semifinals. In the midst of the post-game celebration came an embrace from CHS principal Trey Hosford.
Columbia’s basketball team celebrates with students after defeating Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in Friday night’s Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s basketball team celebrates with students after defeating Daytona Beach Mainland 70-65 in Friday night’s Region 1-6A final. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia beats Mainland to clinch first berth in Final Four since ’68

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, February 28, 2020
Kenney Gaines took only two shots and scored zero points in Columbia’s regional semifinal win over Lincoln. That wasn’t going to cut it in the Region 1-6A finals against Daytona Beach Mainland. So with a state semifinal berth on the line, Gaines took shot after shot to bury the Buccaneers.
Florida forward Keyontae Johnson scores against LSU on Wednesday night. (AAU COMMUNICATIONS)

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson scores against LSU on Wednesday night. (AAU COMMUNICATIONS)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Johnson reaches rare air vs. LSU

ZACH ABOLVERDI
Thursday, February 27, 2020
GAINESVILLE — Heading into Wednesday’s crucial contest against LSU, Florida’s Keyontae Johnson had scored in double figures for 10 straight games. UF coach Mike White noted that Johnson’s confidence was improving, but still had room to grow.
Columbia’s wrestling team celebrates winning the District 2-2A IBT championship on Saturday. (COURTESY)

Columbia’s wrestling team celebrates winning the District 2-2A IBT championship on Saturday. (COURTESY)

WRESTLING: Tigers eager for regionals hot off district title

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Saturday was a day Columbia will never forget. The Tigers won their first district title in nearly 30 years, edging Lincoln by 18 points. It came as a bit of a surprise for Columbia, which was projected to finish third in the tournament behind not just the Trojans but also Chiles.