Sports

The 16th green and marsh view at the Oak Marsh golf course at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa. Submitted photo

The 16th green and marsh view at the Oak Marsh golf course at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa. Submitted photo

Oak Marsh course reopens at Omni

Beth Jones
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
When Beau Welling agreed to renovate Oak Marsh, it wasn’t just his next project. It was personal. The 18-hole, Pete Dye-designed course opened in 1972 at the resort on the south end of the island, and Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa decided last year it was time for a makeover.
Victoria Rushing, Levi Hutchinson, Jesse Basse, Cael Kubatzke and Callie Brackens, front row from left, signed national letters of intent Wednesday to compete on the college level. Pictured, back row from left, are athletic director Mike Woodard, beach volleyball coach Brian Evatt, baseball coach Jon Shave, basketball coach Matt Bringman, wrestling coach Eric Kubatzke and volleyball coach Paige Subjinski. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special

Victoria Rushing, Levi Hutchinson, Jesse Basse, Cael Kubatzke and Callie Brackens, front row from left, signed national letters of intent Wednesday to compete on the college level. Pictured, back row from left, are athletic director Mike Woodard, beach volleyball coach Brian Evatt, baseball coach Jon Shave, basketball coach Matt Bringman, wrestling coach Eric Kubatzke and volleyball coach Paige Subjinski. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special

5 Pirates pen to play

Beth Jones
Friday, May 2, 2025
It’s the day they’ve worked toward their entire high school careers. Wednesday was signing day for five Fernandina Beach High School seniors who’ve chosen to stick with their sport on the college level.
Overall low gross winners include, from left, Judy Stiber, Vickie Galpin, Mia Fitzgerald and Claudeen Lindberg. Submitted

Overall low gross winners include, from left, Judy Stiber, Vickie Galpin, Mia Fitzgerald and Claudeen Lindberg. Submitted

Member-Guest held at GCAI

Beth Jones
Friday, May 2, 2025
The Ladies Golf Association at the Golf Club of Amelia Island held its fourth annual formal Member-Guest April 24-25. Kicking off the event with a cocktail party Thursday night, awards were given for “Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses” attire.
Coen Brehmer, a senior at Yulee High School, defended his title at the state weightlifting championships last week. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Coen Brehmer, a senior at Yulee High School, defended his title at the state weightlifting championships last week. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

2 state titles for Brehmer

Beth Jones
Friday, April 18, 2025
State titles are rare. Coen Brehmer has two. The senior weightlifter at Yulee High School won the Olympic title in the 119- pound weight class with a 400-pound total. Brehmer defended his title with a 175-pound snatch and a 225-pound cleanand-jerk.
Submitted photo

Submitted photo

Twardy top javelin thrower in Class 2A

Beth Jones
Friday, April 4, 2025
Luke Twardy, a senior at Fernandina Beach High School, is currently the top ranked javelin thrower in Class 2A in Florida. He’s the 15th best in the state in all classifications. His best throw is 179 feet. Twardy also competes in the triple jump, and his best leap is 41 feet 7.25 inches.
Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

In photos: Nassau County Showdown

Beth Jones
Friday, April 4, 2025
The Fernandina Beach Middle School softball team hosted Hilliard’s Lady Flashes on Wednesday evening.  “Seventh-grader Kendylle Brown delivered a standout performance for the Lady Pirates, both on the mound and at the plate,” assistant coach Willalee Smith said.
Pinson, the area’s first Game Changers, talks skateboarding with the Littles, right, on March 1 at Main Beach. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Pinson, the area’s first Game Changers, talks skateboarding with the Littles, right, on March 1 at Main Beach. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Pinson named a Game Changer

Beth Jones
Friday, March 21, 2025
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida recently launched a new initiative, and its first Game Changer is Fernandina Beach skateboarder Poe Pinson.
Victoria Rushing at the net Tuesday in the Lady Pirates’ season opener at Main Beach. This is the second season for beach volleyball at Fernandina Beach High School, and the first for Yulee High School, which will also play its home matches at Main Beach. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special

Victoria Rushing at the net Tuesday in the Lady Pirates’ season opener at Main Beach. This is the second season for beach volleyball at Fernandina Beach High School, and the first for Yulee High School, which will also play its home matches at Main Beach. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special

Beach volleyball season opens

Beth Jones
Friday, February 28, 2025
The Lady Pirates opened the season Tuesday, their second season of beach volleyball. Fernandina Beach High School hosted Clay County, and the hosts were victorious. The Lady Pirates won 4-1. “We had a great first match against Clay,” said Brian Evatt, head coach at FBHS.
Vic Garvin (father of the late Patrick Garvin, a member of the team who wore No. 24), coach Jon Anderson, players Tai Alford and Terin Dallas, coach Shane Talbert, players Jake Brogdon and Carlos Holcey, team scorekeeper Jim Corbett and head coach Matt Schreiber. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special for the News-Leader

Vic Garvin (father of the late Patrick Garvin, a member of the team who wore No. 24), coach Jon Anderson, players Tai Alford and Terin Dallas, coach Shane Talbert, players Jake Brogdon and Carlos Holcey, team scorekeeper Jim Corbett and head coach Matt Schreiber. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special for the News-Leader

A blast from the past

Beth Jones
Friday, February 7, 2025
The 2008-09 Fernandina Beach High School boys basketball team, the last team to win a district championship for the school, was honored Jan. 31 before the Pirates’ matchup with Yulee. The Pirates upset top-seed Ribault in the district championship game in 2009.
Front row from left, Kyleigh Golden and Ava Martyn (softball at Edward Waters University), Peyton Tharp (softball at South Georgia State College), Ethan Myers (football at Hutchinson Community College) and Braelyn Jones (football at St. Thomas University). They are pictured with their coaches and athletic director, back row from left, John Kent, Cristyn Gaynor, Chris Hicken, Casey Erb, Josh Burch, Jamari Rauls and Kyle Dougherty. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Front row from left, Kyleigh Golden and Ava Martyn (softball at Edward Waters University), Peyton Tharp (softball at South Georgia State College), Ethan Myers (football at Hutchinson Community College) and Braelyn Jones (football at St. Thomas University). They are pictured with their coaches and athletic director, back row from left, John Kent, Cristyn Gaynor, Chris Hicken, Casey Erb, Josh Burch, Jamari Rauls and Kyle Dougherty. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

5 Hornets sign to play on college level

Beth Jones
Friday, February 7, 2025
Five Hornets will leave the nest after graduation, and on Wednesday, they chose where they will land. Yulee High School celebrated its latest round of student-athletes signing national letters of intent to play in college. Three will be playing softball.