Area 1A and 3A girls weightlifting teams are set to compete in their respective state meets Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Pace goes into it as the reigning two-time state champion in Olympic and traditional in 3A. Navarre and Milton are expected to have strong showings at state as well. Central, Crestview and Baker have lifters competing in the 1A meet.

The Jay Royals hosted Paxton Thursday night in a showdown to determine who would advance to the Rural Region 1 final.
The Royals would not be denied, breezing past the Bobcats for a 59-45 victory.

Keith Cone spent a while talking with his team in the locker room late Thursday night.
His Milton Panther girls basketball team had just watched the curtain lower on its season with a 46-28 loss to Niceville on the road in the opening round of the Region 1-6A tournament. 

Milton’s boys basketball team expected to have a home game after winning back-to-back district championships last week.
The Panthers didn’t get one despite boasting the third highest strength of schedule in the region, and yet, they went out and made a statement in their Region 1-6A opener against Oviedo.

Pace flag football standouts Amaya Pablo and Emily Good signed letters of intent Wednesday to continue their academic and athletic careers at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky.

Joshua Crandell made a little history earlier this month, becoming the first player in Central history to sign with a college football program.
The feeling is almost indescribable for the senior offensive lineman, who signed with Lighthouse Christian College on Feb. 7.

A group of ESE students couldn’t stop smiling as they walked up to the table where Pace’s Ben Tyner had just signed his national letter of intent to play football at Air Force and posed for photos with him.
It highlights the fact that Tyner is not only makes a difference on the field, but he’s pretty good at making one off it as well.

It’s just after 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning in early February and the Milton Panther boys basketball team has traded backpacks and books for travel bags and basketballs.
The Panthers (19-7) are gearing up to hit the road for the second consecutive year to play in the Region 1-6A tournament despite going back-to-back as district champs.

Jay’s girls basketball players stood on the court smiling, their excitement level undeniable, as they waited for the trophy they worked hard for all night.
Once they had it, the celebration started, the Royals jumping up and down, holding the hardware up high as they celebrated another district championship.

Milton’s boys basketball team is headed back to the Region 1-6A tournament.
The Panthers are the fifth seed for the tourney and will take on fourth-seeded Oviedo on the road Wednesday night.