Sports

Fernandina Beach’s No. 1 and 2 boys tennis players, Jacob Kovalcik and Peter Colwell prepare for a match in Yulee. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Fernandina Beach’s No. 1 and 2 boys tennis players, Jacob Kovalcik and Peter Colwell prepare for a match in Yulee. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Pirates eye districts after mid-season wins over Hornets, Crusaders

Ashley Chandler
Friday, March 6, 2026
Yulee and Fernandina Beach high schools faced off in boys and girls tennis this week for the second time this season. The Pirates brought the same high level of play to Yulee on Tuesday that they have had all season.
Weightlifters from Nassau County high schools met up at Fernandina Beach High School on Feb. 25 to get reps in ahead of the meet today in Yulee. Photo by Nick Blank/News-Leader

Weightlifters from Nassau County high schools met up at Fernandina Beach High School on Feb. 25 to get reps in ahead of the meet today in Yulee. Photo by Nick Blank/News-Leader

Getting in reps

Nick Blank
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Nassau County weightlifters from Fernandina Beach, Yulee and Hilliard hit the platforms last week to prepare for the Nassau County meet today. On four platforms in the Fernandina Beach gym, groups of athletes separated by weight class tested themselves on bench press, snatch, and clean and jerk.
Sloan Denison and Lincoln Brehmer are heading to the State tournament in wrestling for Yulee High School after they placed during the regional tournament. Submitted

Sloan Denison and Lincoln Brehmer are heading to the State tournament in wrestling for Yulee High School after they placed during the regional tournament. Submitted

Two Hornet wrestlers head to state

News Staff
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Yulee High School is sending two wrestlers to the state tournament, Sloan Denison and Lincoln Brehmer. “They didn’t get there by accident,” said Head Coach Michael Blasucci.
Fernandina Beach High’s Trace Farmer pitches in a game earlier this season. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Fernandina Beach High’s Trace Farmer pitches in a game earlier this season. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Squads prep for Friday Battle of the Bridge

Nick Blank
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The Yulee Hornets and Fernandina Beach Pirates will face off on the mound this week, almost at the halfway point in the season. The Pirates (7-1) beat Wolfson in Southside Jacksonville 10-1 on Feb. 24 and blew out Keystone Heights 17-4 on Feb.
The Fernandina Beach Police and Fire departments hosted the Beyond the Badges Charity Golf Scramble on Saturday to raise money for scholarships for seniors at Fernandina Beach High School. submitted

The Fernandina Beach Police and Fire departments hosted the Beyond the Badges Charity Golf Scramble on Saturday to raise money for scholarships for seniors at Fernandina Beach High School. submitted

Beyond the Badges Charity Golf Scramble raises money for local scholarships

News Staff
Friday, February 27, 2026
The Fernandina Beach Police Department said the 2026 Beyond the Badges Charity Golf Scramble, held last Saturday, “was nothing short of spectacular.” The event was hosted by the FBPD and the Fernandina Beach Fire Department at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club.
Fernandina Beach’s Olivia Rousselow serves the ball in a beach volleyball match Monday against Clay. Photo by Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Fernandina Beach’s Olivia Rousselow serves the ball in a beach volleyball match Monday against Clay. Photo by Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Lady Pirates open beach volleyball season with a win over Blue Devils

News Staff
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Fernandina Beach High School beach volleyball opened its season on a crisp and windy day at Main Beach. The Lady Pirates beat out the Clay Blue Devils 4-1. Beach volleyball is played in 2 vs. 2 matches. Each doubles match competes for best two of three matches.
Dalton Janey celebrates as he reaches third base on a triple in a game against Sandalwood on Feb. 17. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Dalton Janey celebrates as he reaches third base on a triple in a game against Sandalwood on Feb. 17. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Hornets, Pirates tested early this season

Nick Blank
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
More than a week out from the battle of the Bridge, Fernandina Beach Pirates (5-1) and Yulee Hornets (4-2) are finding their feet early in the season. The Pirates won three times last week, beating Sandalwood 2-0, Hilliard 11-5 on the road, and Bishop Kenny 9-1.
YHS and WNHS softball faced off in Yulee on Feb. 19. The Warriors beat the Hornets 4-0. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

YHS and WNHS softball faced off in Yulee on Feb. 19. The Warriors beat the Hornets 4-0. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Warriors down Hornets in softball

News Staff
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
The Yulee High softball team hasn’t had the opening it hoped for. The Hornets are 0-2 heading into a Thursday night matchup against Beachside at home. The Hornets lost on Feb. 17 at Baldwin 5-3; and again in its home opener last Thursday against West Nassau, 4-0
The Fernandina Beach High School softball team beat Raines on Feb. 17, 22-4. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Fernandina Beach High School softball team beat Raines on Feb. 17, 22-4. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Lady Pirates start season with high scoring win over Raines

News Staff
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
The Fernandina Beach softball team opened its season with a 22-4 win over Raines. The Feb. 17 game featured tons of highlights for the Lady Pirates, including an inside-the-park homerun from Alivia Brown. Several Lady Pirates put the ball in play.

Sermadevi first Lady Pirate district wrestling champion

Ashley Chandler
Friday, February 20, 2026
Fernandina Beach High School wrestling had a good showing at districts, most notably, the Pirates have their firstever female district champion wrestler, Anjana Sermadevi. “Anjana has done really well this season and is an extremely hard worker in the wrestling room.