Sports Archive

Jayden Heavener had no shortage of options when it came to deciding where to play college softball.

One of the nation’s best softball pitchers, the Pace standout was flooded with attention from coaches as soon as recruiting opened up on Sept. 1 for players in the class of 2024.

A picture-perfect November afternoon that began with hope and excitement ended in disappointment and disbelief as the University of West Florida football team saw its dream of a title run dashed in a 33-30 overtime loss to Newberry to end the 2021 season.

Wide receiver David Durden hasn’t forgotten that NCAA Division II playoff setback. But he also knows a new year brings new hope.

Hudson Trammel competed at the state swim meet a year ago and has every intention of getting back there again this year.

He’s off to a good start to achieving that goal after winning two events at last Tuesday’s meet against Navarre, Gulf Breeze and Washington at the Pullum YMCA.

In her first year as a head volleyball coach at Milton, Katie Jimenez knew going into the season that there were going to be challenges.

That includes last Tuesday’s opener against the Navarre Raiders, a team the Panthers beat twice last season but dealt with a different outcome this time, losing 15-25, 14-25, 15-25.

The Jay Royals opened the season with a pair of wins last week, knocking off Laurel Hill and Rocky Bayou.
Jay beat Laurel Hill in four games last Tuesday on the road.

The Royals lost the first game 18-25 but went on to win the next three by the scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-9.

Milton could have thrown in the towel when it trailed by two scores at halftime of last Friday’s season opener against Andalusia at Hurley Manning Field.

Instead, the Panthers kept pushing forward and nearly rallied for a win before falling 41-31 to the Bulldogs, who came in ranked 19th in the state of Alabama.

Pace’s success in the pool is as much about the bond that has been forged within the program as it is about talent.

“We like to say we are a family,” Pace boys swim coach Amy Wolfenden said. “Everyone comes in and has a role and has a part on the team.”

Reice Griffith put his hands on his side, took a breath and stayed focused. Choctaw had just committed its second straight offsides penalty, moving a potential game-winning field for the Pace kicker up 10 yards from its original spot.

Now, instead of a 39-yard attempt here on a muddy field soaked by a steady rain that fell most of the night in Fort Walton, Griffith was gearing up to attempt a game-winner from 29 yards away instead.

It’s a rebuilding year for the Milton swim team.

A total of 15 are on the roster and head coach Daisy Eddins said the group is working hard.

It’s safe to say that West Florida Baptist Academy’s volleyball team is picking up where it left off a year ago.

Winners of a conference and regional title last year, the Conquerors opened this season with a tournament championship in Georgia.