Sports

Freshman Omar Payne posted his first career double-double in Florida's win over Auburn on Saturday. (ALEX DE LA OSA/UAA Communications)

Freshman Omar Payne posted his first career double-double in Florida's win over Auburn on Saturday. (ALEX DE LA OSA/UAA Communications)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Payne an X-factor for Gators with down-low presence

ZACH ABOLVERDI
Saturday, January 18, 2020
GAINESVILLE — It wasn’t until Omar Payne’s eighth basket Saturday that former Gator Patric Young took notice.  Following Florida’s 69-47 win over No. 4 Auburn, the 2013-14 SEC Defensive Player of the Year ran over to the scorer’s table and checked the stat sheet just to be sure.
Columbia linebacker Le'vontae Camiel on his visit to USF last month. (COURTESY)

Columbia linebacker Le'vontae Camiel on his visit to USF last month. (COURTESY)

PREP FOOTBALL: CHS 3-star linebacker Le'vontae Camiel shuts down recruitment, reaffirms commitment to USF

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Columbia linebacker Le'vontae Camiel shut down his recruitment on Saturday, officially announcing that he will be signing with South Florida on National Signing Day on Feb. 5. Camiel, a 3-star prospect, has been committed to USF since June but has kept his recruitment open.
Rebecca Golden (from left), FGC athletic coordinator, sits with Rob Chapman, FGC coordinator of enrollment and marketing and webmaster, and Lawrence Barrett, FGC president, as the three hold a fishing rod and reel during the school’s announcement on Friday that it will launch a competitive bass fishing team. The FGC Bassmasters plan to compete during the 2020-21 school year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rebecca Golden (from left), FGC athletic coordinator, sits with Rob Chapman, FGC coordinator of enrollment and marketing and webmaster, and Lawrence Barrett, FGC president, as the three hold a fishing rod and reel during the school’s announcement on Friday that it will launch a competitive bass fishing team. The FGC Bassmasters plan to compete during the 2020-21 school year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

OUTDOORS: Florida Gateway College launches competitive fishing team

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 17, 2020
It’s all about the bass at FGC. Florida Gateway College is going to launch a competitive fishing team, as a club sport, at the college later this fall with hopes of vying for a national title against some of the nation’s elite college fishing programs.
Columbia’s Tanner Pierce looks to make a play against Suwannee on Friday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Tanner Pierce looks to make a play against Suwannee on Friday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS SOCCER: Columbia ties again, this time with Suwannee

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 17, 2020
A determined Columbia team, which hasn’t tasted victory in its last four outings, toed the line and played Suwannee to a 0-0 tie Friday night. Columbia (6-5-6) is now winless in its last five contests — finishing with three ties and two loses.
Columbia weightlifter Miracle Rentz-Black finishes her clean and jerk during Thursday’s meet against Santa Fe. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia weightlifter Miracle Rentz-Black finishes her clean and jerk during Thursday’s meet against Santa Fe. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Lady Tigers power past Santa Fe in weightlifting; CHS girls fall to Nease in hoops

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Columbia’s girls weightlifting team defeated Santa Fe 65-15 at home on Thursday. The Lady Tigers won nine of the 10 weight classes, led by Reece Chasteen in the 199-pound weight class. Chasteen posted a meet-best 300 total despite pulling a hamstring, benching 190 pounds with a 110 clean and jerk.
Columbia’s Ember Russell-Martinez gathers possession of the ball against Suwannee on Thursday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Ember Russell-Martinez gathers possession of the ball against Suwannee on Thursday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS SOCCER: Columbia shuts out Suwannee again

ZACH ABOLVERDI
Thursday, January 16, 2020
The Columbia girls soccer team posted its sixth shutout of the season Thursday, and the second against Suwannee. After defeating their rival 5-0 on the road in December, the Lady Tigers held the Lady Bulldogs scoreless once again in a 4-0 victory. CHS made all four goals in the first half.