Sports

Cody Ogburn, No. 58, and Jaison Brown, No. 8 celebrate in a game during the 2025 season. Both Ogburn and Brown will be seniors this Fall. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Cody Ogburn, No. 58, and Jaison Brown, No. 8 celebrate in a game during the 2025 season. Both Ogburn and Brown will be seniors this Fall. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Hornets emerge in Spring

The Yulee Hornets triumphed in their spring football contest on the road over Tocoi Creek last week, providing coaches a chance to see what they’ll be working with in less than three months time.
The Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) officially announced and honored its 2026 college scholarship recipients which included two Nassau County golfers: Brady Steffen of Fernandina Beach High School, left, and Harrison Grunewald of Yulee High School. Submitted photo

The Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) officially announced and honored its 2026 college scholarship recipients which included two Nassau County golfers: Brady Steffen of Fernandina Beach High School, left, and Harrison Grunewald of Yulee High School. Submitted photo

Fore the future

The Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) officially announced and honored its 2026 college scholarship recipients as awardees at its annual scholarship awards dinner Tuesday evening, May 19, at Deerwood Country Club.
The Hammerhead Lacrosse U14 girls team at their final game of the 2026 Spring season. Submitted

The Hammerhead Lacrosse U14 girls team at their final game of the 2026 Spring season. Submitted

‘Girls lacrosse is thriving’

Lacrosse is fairly new to Nassau County. Youth boys teams were formed less than two decades ago with the formation of Hammerhead Lacrosse.
Fernandina Beach High School’s quarterback Talan Van Delinder waits for the snap in Wednesday’s off-season matchup against Menendez. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MEGAN LOUISE PHOTOS

Fernandina Beach High School’s quarterback Talan Van Delinder waits for the snap in Wednesday’s off-season matchup against Menendez. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MEGAN LOUISE PHOTOS

Springboard: Pirates football put the reps in at Menendez

High school spring games function as a tuneup, a chance to give players game-time reps and for coaches to impart some wisdom to players before summer. Despite a 31-24 loss at Menendez on Wednesday, Fernandina Beach High football coaches left St.
Clay Hicks, left, came in third in Traditional for the 154-pound weight class. Submitted photo

Clay Hicks, left, came in third in Traditional for the 154-pound weight class. Submitted photo

Marquez, Hicks podium at State Championships

Gabe Marquez and Clay Hicks earned a spot on the podiums at the recent High School Weightlifting Championships. Both Pirates placed third in Traditional in their respective weight classes.Marquez came in third place in Traditional for the 219-pound weight class with a 575-pound total.
Journey Flannery shows off her hardware after winning two of her three divisions at at the Father Devine National Team Qualifier & Championship and making Team Florida. Submitted photo

Journey Flannery shows off her hardware after winning two of her three divisions at at the Father Devine National Team Qualifier & Championship and making Team Florida. Submitted photo

Yulee wrestler makes Team Florida

Journey Flannery is making a name for herself in girls wrestling.At a recent qualifying tournament, Flannery made Team Florida, in her second year competing in the sport.
Fernandina Beach High School’s Maya Kovalcik (1600m race), finished seventh at the State Championships in Track and Field last week. Photo by Cedric Gillette

Fernandina Beach High School’s Maya Kovalcik (1600m race), finished seventh at the State Championships in Track and Field last week. Photo by Cedric Gillette

FBHS track celebrates state placers; pivot to new track in ’27

Two Fernandina Beach Pirates Track & Field put in strong performances at state championships in Jacksonville last week. At the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium, freshman Maya Kovalcik (1600m race) and junior Samuel Colwell (high jump) both placed.
Yulee High School’s Turtle Ricks competes in the FHSAA Weightlifing State Championships last week. Ricks placed first in Olympic Weightlifting and third in Traditional Weightlifting. Photos by Hitsquad Media

Yulee High School’s Turtle Ricks competes in the FHSAA Weightlifing State Championships last week. Ricks placed first in Olympic Weightlifting and third in Traditional Weightlifting. Photos by Hitsquad Media

Ricks snatches state title

Yulee High School’s weightlifting squad left Polk County with a state title and multiple strong performances at the state championship last week. Senior Turtle Ricks won the unlimited weight class by 55 pounds in the Olympic category and finished third in traditional, 35 points behind first place.
Lady Hornet softball players await Carmen Overstreet at home plate after she knocked a homerun in Wednesday’s regional tournament win over the West Nassau Warriors.Photo by Amanda Bishop/Nassau County Record

Lady Hornet softball players await Carmen Overstreet at home plate after she knocked a homerun in Wednesday’s regional tournament win over the West Nassau Warriors.Photo by Amanda Bishop/Nassau County Record

Lady Hornets head to regional semis

The Yulee High School softball team traveled across the county Wednesday to West Nassau High to face off for the third time this season in the regional quarterfinal.
Game One of the Pirates three-game regional tournament series against Suwannee. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Game One of the Pirates three-game regional tournament series against Suwannee. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Pirates fall to Suwannee Bulldogs in three-game Regional Semifinal

Fernandina Beach dropped a three-game series in the 3A state Regional Semifinals against the Suwannee Bulldogs (19-12), with a 5-1 defeat in the third game on Sunday ending the Pirates’ season.The series featured a doubleheader on Friday night.