Nearly 20 Pace flag football players are at Benny Russell Park on a week night in mid-July, the heat and humidity downright brutal, but it hasn’t deterred the Patriots from getting some extra work in. Turnout varies week to week, but overall, it’s been fairly steady.

In a way, Devin Tigano is carrying on a family legacy. His grandfather, Frank Tigano, a Vietnam veteran, was a champion in MMA and is in a hall of fame here in Northwest Florida as well as in his home state of Pittsburgh. More than 40 years later, Devin is now in the ring. He made his debut in kickboxing in February at Island Fights in Pensacola.

Reigning Gulf South Conference co-champion University of West Florida football is picked to finish in the preseason conference football poll this year. The Argos received two first-place votes and 56 points in all in the poll, second only to GSC favorite Delta State, which earned six first-place votes and tallied 61 points. West Georgia checks in at No. 3 and got one first-place vote.

Austin Reed was on fire. Not literally, of course, but in sports terms. He threw one touchdown pass. And then another. And another. And one more for good measure. Four in all to go along with a New Orleans Bowl-record 497 passing yards as he guided Western Kentucky to a 44-23 win over South Alabama on mid-December night in the Caesars Superdome.

Autumn Anderson has had a productive summer. Then again, it’s not a surprise. The rising junior for the Milton Panthers is always striving to improve as a softball player.

Javon Purvis started playing basketball because his dad inspired him to get into it. When he was younger, he used to watch his dad hoop with friends. It wasn’t long before Purvis decided to give it a shot and it’s a sport the rising senior for Pace has stuck with.

Brett Watson has always wanted to play softball at the University of West Florida. She calls it her ‘dream school.’ Earlier this month the rising senior for the Jay Royals made that dream come true, announcing her commitment to the Argos.

Ryan Hunt didn’t seem to be on track to one day play college football when he first started out in high school at Milton. He’s come a long way and is bound for Middle Tennessee State this fall to play offensive line for the Blue Raiders.

Paige Phillips has spent her high school career at Milton as one of the area’s best scoring threats. This fall, she’ll still be in the area as she takes the field for Pensacola State’s first-ever women’s soccer team.

Milton golfers Kayla Willis and Gabi Wright spent their summer on courses around the area while playing in the Great Pensacola Junior Golf Association Tour. It’s been a good experience for both rising seniors.