Sports Archive

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.

Sixteen consecutive wins. That’s the streak Milton’s volleyball team rode into the district tournament a year ago.

And then, just like that, the season was over, a crushing five-set loss to eventual district champ Niceville ending an impressive run for the Panthers.

Bailee Sproat has spent the summer getting ready for a new volleyball season.

The junior standout for the Pace Patriots feels good about the progress she’s made and is set to provide leadership as well.

Milton’s football team walked away from last season knowing its win-loss record reflected opportunities missed and potential unfulfilled. The Panthers finished 5-5 and were winless in the district.

Quarterback Emory Williams and wide receiver Raymond Cottrell discussed that after the Panthers wrapped up their season with a 30-16 win over Fort Walton Beach.