SPORTS

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Two state champion track and field athletes stopped by the studio to share their experiences. Haydyn Ward, state Champion in pole vaulting, and Jonah Kirspel, state champion in the 800 m track run, both explained what it was like to earn their titles. Congratulations Haydyn...

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Bay High senior wide receiver and defensive back, Jayshawn Conerly signed to continue his football career at Birmingham Southern Wednesday afternoon. Conerly was a big-time playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Tornadoes this past season, helping lead the team into the playoffs. In his junior season, Bay […]

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -The Liberty softball squad proved to be a team that can overcome any kind of obstacle you put in its way, and that includes Mother Nature. Liberty and Branford playing in the 1A title game that began Tuesday, It was tied at four when bad weather forced them to postpone the finish of that game until ten eastern time Wednesday morning. Liberty had two on and nobody out in the top of the 5th as they resumed, and after an infield out, sophomore Chesnee Hires stepped up and belted one to left, and over the fence. The Bulldogs had a three run lead! Gabriella Flowers and Elizabeth Arnold trotted home and then became part of the greeting party for Hires! It was a 7-4 game. Lauren Grantham on the mound for Liberty, looking to close it out, in the bottom of the 5th she worked her way out of a jam, runners and second and third she ended the threat with a swinging strikeout. In the bottom of the 6th a clean inning for Grantham, again ending the frame with the K. So it was still 7-4 in to the bottom of the 7th, Buc’s did get a two out double, but Grantham able to get a fly ball to right to end it and give the Bulldogs the 7-4 win, and the program’s second softball state championship. I spoke with coach Jennifer Sewell as the team made it’s way back north on the bus Wednesday afternoon.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The Rutherford Rams are expanding their athletic program from within their school. Thanks to Hurricane Michael, Everitt Middle School was shut down, so some 700 6th, 7th and 8th graders were moved to Rutherford High School. For those middle schoolers to compete, well they had to do so at the high school level, but starting in the fall, that’s no longer the case!

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The FHSAA released its “Executive Directors Legislative Update” on Friday which included new rules that impact local high school athletes. Rule changes numbers two and four specifically affect local high school athletes in terms of transferring to different schools, and eligibility within sports. The attached video to this story further […]

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) — A new state-of-the-art attraction inside the Panama City Beach Sports Park is officially opening this week. The Bay County Skate Park’s soft opening is Friday, May 23rd at 2. But some skaters have already brought their boards out early to test the grounds. Team Pain, the designing team, is […]

Once home to the premier billfish tournament in the south, the Bay Point Billfish Open is proud to announce the return of an elite sportfishing tournament to the all-new Point South Marina at Bay Point on June 28 - July 1. The event will host live music, an in-and-out-of-the-water boat show, food and drinks, and some big-time sportfishing, including many of the best teams competing along the Gulf Coast each summer.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Bay High School officially introduced Jamie Bukowski as its new athletic director on Monday afternoon. Principal Blythe Carpenter and former A.D. Glenn Manley welcomed Bukowski after nearly a year of Manley serving in the interim position. Bukowski said his first order of business as A.D. is to fulfill the needs […]

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — The Bay County Disc Golf Club hosted the third annual Northwest Florida Disc Golf Championship at the Majette Disc Golf Course. This event creating the largest weekend of Disc Golf in Panama City History. 140 athletes from ages 11-73 competed in this years event. The tournament offers three different layouts […]

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The tournament has 184 players this year, the highest number since the hurricane, the majority returning players, here’s tournament director Mike Riley, on the brotherhood that has developed between the players over the 96 years. “It’s almost like a fraternity. A lot of the...

After three years as the junior varsity head coach for Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Harley is set to take over the Cougars’ program. Durant High School has officially announced the hiring of Mitch Harley, the next head coach for the Cougars’ basketball program. A Hillsborough...

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) — The longest running amateur golf tournament in the Southeast, The Sherman Invitation returned to the Panama Country Club. 185 golfers competing in the 96th rendition of the tournament where golfers from all different levels compete. There are two rounds each day with a morning and afternoon round. The invitational began […]

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - 184 golfers took to the course these past 3 days but only one could come out on top, who would it be??. The defending champ Brian Barth, getting a nice up from the sand but shoots it a little long as it rolls off the back of the green.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – Arnold senior, Eddie Kepran took home first place in the 800m dash at the Class 3A Track and Field State Championships on Friday. Kepran ran a blazing 1:52.92 which was nearly three whole seconds ahead of second place and his fastest mark in meets this spring. The University of Florida signee […]

Pensacola FC hosted Florida Roots FC in a key Gulf Coast Conference encounter. The visitors from Panama City, Florida were seeking their first points of the season after losses in their previous two encounters. For the Pelicans, they were looking to build off a good showing from their season opener. They were determined to walk away with all three points and record their first win of the season.

Adoption event with Beachy Beach Real Estate and Heartland Rescue Ranch. Beachy Beach Real Estate and Heartland Rescue Ranch are teaming up for an adorable adoption event. Starting Thursday drivers in Panama City Beach will have a new traffic pattern. Southbound traffic on Arnold Road is being shifted to the new pavement as work begins on the other side of the roadway.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – Rutherford junior, Shakirah Edwards won her second consecutive Class 2A Girls High Jump State Championship on Thursday evening. Edwards took her second gold with a 1.67m high jump, the same number she posted for gold as a sophomore. The rising senior will have one more track and field season to pick […]

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Head over to the Publix Sports Park on Saturday for a free youth sports equipment swap. Public Sports Park, Coastal Waste and Recycling, and United Way of Northwest Florida are partnering together to host this community event. From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. families can claim...

A nine run fourth inning led the Wakulla softball team to a 14 to 3 regional semifinal win over Arnold Thursday night, propelling them to the regional finals.

On May 13th, Jacksonville Armada FC U-23 and Florida Roots FC faced off against each other at the Tommy Oliver Stadium in Panama City, FL. The game was highly anticipated as both teams were looking to gain an advantage over the other in the early stages of the season. It was the Armada who emerged victorious, comfortably beating the Roots with a final scoreline of 7-2. The game began with a lot of energy, and it didn’t take long for the Armada to assert their dominance. In just the second minute of the game, Eduardo Coimbra opened the scoring for the visitors with a well-placed shot that found the back of the net. The early goal gave the Armada a lot of confidence, and they continued to push forward, creating chances, and testing the Roots’ defense.