Sports

Enzo Gamba, a senior at Fernandina Beach High School, won the state championship in the 157-pound weight class Saturday during the 1A wrestling championships at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. Gamba’s coaches celebrate in the background. FBHS PHOTOS BY ERIN MAHONEY AND STORMY KUBATZKE/SPECIAL

Enzo Gamba, a senior at Fernandina Beach High School, won the state championship in the 157-pound weight class Saturday during the 1A wrestling championships at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. Gamba’s coaches celebrate in the background. FBHS PHOTOS BY ERIN MAHONEY AND STORMY KUBATZKE/SPECIAL

State champion

Enzo Gamba capped a perfect senior season by clinching the state title in the 156-pound weight class of 1A wrestling tournament Saturday in Kissimmee. He’s just the fifth state champ from Fernandina Beach High School, and is the school and Nassau County’s first in wrestling.
region champs Kubatzke, Cole Misciagna, Enzo Gamba and Nolan McKelvy; Misciagna; Gamba; and McKelvy. PHOTOS BY ERIN MAHONEY AND STORMY KUBATZKE/SPECIAL

region champs Kubatzke, Cole Misciagna, Enzo Gamba and Nolan McKelvy; Misciagna; Gamba; and McKelvy. PHOTOS BY ERIN MAHONEY AND STORMY KUBATZKE/SPECIAL

Four Pirates crowned region champs

The Pirates have four region champs, and all four qualified for the state tournament this weekend.
Tiger Tale, Misty and Valkyrie in the second race on Feb. 17. The next race is March 16. Submitted photo

Tiger Tale, Misty and Valkyrie in the second race on Feb. 17. The next race is March 16. Submitted photo

Amelia Island Sailing Club holds three-race event

The Amelia Island Sailing Club held its second race day of the 2024 season on Saturday, Feb. 17, in Cumberland Sound. Sailing a different format than usual, there were three shorter, 2.4-nautical mile length races rather than the normal single long race of approximately 9 nautical miles.
The Lady Pirate beach volleyball team. Photo by Beth Jones

The Lady Pirate beach volleyball team. Photo by Beth Jones

Beach volleyball debut

The Lady Pirate beach volleyball team made its debut Monday during a high school preseason tournament at Sports Edge Beach in St. Johns County. “We are very excited about the start of the season,” said Brian Evatt, head coach of the Fernandina Beach High School inaugural beach volleyball team.
Yulee High Schools’s Marathon High team includes, front row from left, Nicolas Faulk, Lynette Brosius (Coach) Amelia Burbo, Debbie Hoffman, Myka Gray and Thomas Faulk; back row, Jaxen Brewer, Jonathan Smyth, Peyton Gibbs, Carter Parent, Luke Paxton and Jerin Shellenberger. Submitted

Yulee High Schools’s Marathon High team includes, front row from left, Nicolas Faulk, Lynette Brosius (Coach) Amelia Burbo, Debbie Hoffman, Myka Gray and Thomas Faulk; back row, Jaxen Brewer, Jonathan Smyth, Peyton Gibbs, Carter Parent, Luke Paxton and Jerin Shellenberger. Submitted

Yulee High School marathon high team triumphs at Donna Half Marathon

Heartfelt congratulations to the remarkable team of 16 dedicated runners and their coaches from Yulee High Schools’s Marathon High program for their incredible achievement in completing the Donna Half Marathon on Sunday, Feb. 5, at Jacksonville Beach.
Opening day for flag football. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Opening day for flag football. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Opening day for flag football

Saturday was opening day for youth flag football in Fernandina Beach. Coaches and fans cheer on the Manta Rays, in blue, and the Yellowtails in their matchup Saturday morning at Buccaneer Sports Complex, top. The Arsenal battles the Superstars and the Bucs take on Prime Time. 
Hornets edge Pirates in district semifinal match. Photos by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Hornets edge Pirates in district semifinal match. Photos by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Hornets edge Pirates in district semifinal match

The Pirates are hosting the District 3-4A boys soccer tournament this week. The Fernandina Beach High School boys team (the No. 3 seed) was eliminated by No. 2 Yulee 2-1 in Monday’s semifinal round. Stanton (the top seed) beat Raines 7-0 in the other semifinal match. Yulee takes on Stanton at 6 p.m.
Valkyrie, Morning Glory, Tiger Tale, Salty Sally and Misty beat towards Cumberland Island. Submitted photo

Valkyrie, Morning Glory, Tiger Tale, Salty Sally and Misty beat towards Cumberland Island. Submitted photo

Sailing club holds Ice Bucket Challenge

The Amelia Island Sailing Club held its first race of the 2024 racing season on Saturday, Jan. 20. It was a gorgeous sailing day. The mid-40s cold temperature and variable northwest winds of 10-15 knots under clear sunny skies was suit-able for this annual race, the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Capt. Scott Barmby is pictured sending a favorite fly pattern from the bow while locating schooling winter sea trout. Photo by Terry Lacoss

Capt. Scott Barmby is pictured sending a favorite fly pattern from the bow while locating schooling winter sea trout. Photo by Terry Lacoss

Hunt for winter specks

Trolling with both hard and soft lures is a deadly winter fishing tactic for Northeast Florida sea trout, but it is now a seldom-used fishing tactic for saltwater fishermen. Cold water tempera-tures, a full moon and heavy rains will often shut down the once-active schools of area sea trout.
PHOTOS BY STORMY KUBATZKE AND ERIN MAHONEY/SPECIAL

PHOTOS BY STORMY KUBATZKE AND ERIN MAHONEY/SPECIAL

Pirates host Senators

The Fernandina Beach High School wrestlers hosted a dual match against the Fletcher Senators on Jan. 20. Fletcher beat the FBHS Pirates 56-16.