SPORTS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Hawthorne, Bradford and Trinity Catholic football teams are on to state title games, while two other North Central Florida teams had their seasons come to an end on Friday night in state semifinal play. NCFL Football: State Semifinals. Class 1 - Rural. Hawthorne (12-0) def....

Hopes for a state title run are still alive as Marion County football teams enter the Final Four. Vanguard (11-2) is tasked with chopping down Mainland High School (12-1) on their home field. Trinity Catholic (5-7) heads to Fort Myers for a rematch of the 2022 1S state title with First Baptist Academy (9-2).

The last time Vanguard played in Daytona Stadium, it ended in heartbreak. The 1994 team, armed with Daunte Culpepper, fell short in the Knights’ only appearance in the state title game. On Friday night, history repeated itself with the 2023 team. In the state semifinals, Mainland won it’s highly...

This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser. No compatible source was found for this media. Session ID: 2023-12-02:98ddb832a3251bdb7af38a89 Player Element ID: 6342214325112. The First Baptist Academy Lions hosted the Trinity Catholic Celtics in the 1S state semifinals. This one was a rematch of last year’s state...

Discover the journey of Ocala horse trainer Jenna Antonucci, who made history by becoming the first woman to win a Triple Crown race. Now, she's the proud recipient of the Big Sport of Turfdom award, capping off a record-breaking year in thoroughbred racing.

It's all or nothing going into tonight's game at Daytona Municipal Stadium when the Mainland Buccaneers welcome the Vanguard Knights of Ocala in a Class 3S state semifinal.  On the line between the teams is a trip to Tallahassee and a berth in the Class 3S state championship. For Mainland, ...

Here is a counter-response to a recent letter regarding the lack of an ice rink in Ocala:. No, you may not suggest we head north to skate. Just because you don’t agree with the presence of an ice rink here, it doesn’t mean you should deny the experience to everyone else.

Root for your favorite local high school basketball team in Marion County, Florida today by tuning in and catching every possession. Details on how to watch all of the high-school action can be located below. Follow high school basketball this season on the NFHS Network! Keep tabs on your family...

Friday night football around Marion County is one week away from finishing. Before it does, we have to reflect on all Vanguard and Trinity Catholic have done to this point. While the Knights fell short in the state final four, getting there was an amazement in itself. Trinity Catholic won its matchup to return to the state title game. ...

Congratulations to McIntosh High School boys’ wrestling team member Brandon Petras, who has been named the school’s Athlete of the Week for the week of Nov. 27. “Brayden has stepped up, being a leader in the room and outside of the room. He leads by example and pushes the wrestlers to get better on and off the mat,” commented Coach Nick Bellantoni.

• It is state semifinal night for high school football teams. • The winners of the semifinals will advance to the state championship games. • Two Southwest Florida teams, Dunbar and Trinity Catholic, are still in the competition.

From sunrise to sunset, Trinity Catholic football coach John Brantley is hard at work. Most days, his routine extends far beyond those hours. Two weeks ago, as Trinity Catholic prepared to play Holy Trinity in the regional semifinals, the Star-Banner followed Brantley around on the day of the game to see what life was like for a head coach before an intense playoff game.

Marion County football is living up to its expectations, with two teams in the final four. Trinity Catholic will head southwest to combat First Baptist in Fort Myers while Vanguard heads east to take on Mainland. How will the Celtics and Knights handle their road tests? Who has more talent?...

After a win, whether at home or on the road, the First Baptist football team likes to smell victory. It involves three inhales, three loud roars, and a breakdown shortly thereafter. It's something the program has done nine times this season and hope to do it one last time on...

Jayden Repak, a senior swimmer at Steinbrenner High, did something remarkable. While he might have brought home two medals from the Class 4A state championship at Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training complex in Ocala on Nov. 10, he did so after breaking his finger and tearing some ligaments in an earlier race.

Golfers from seven member golf clubs throughout Marion County gathered Nov. 3 at Spruce Creek Preserve to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Nine Hole Ladies Golf Around Tournament league. The motto of the league, which is made up of golf groups from communities throughout the area, is to play...

Marion County athletes competed in the hardwood and on the field as turkey and gravy rushed through their veins. School may have been out, but it didn’t stop big-time performances. Vanguard senior quarterback Fred Gaskin III threw his team into the final four. Several basketball players dropped 20 or more points to start the season. Several Trinity Catholic football players turned in eye-opening performances for another deep playoff run. ...

Following a flawless season, Captains Lucas Porven, Kaitlyn Jorgensen, and Carolina Arguelles led Pines Charter’s Swim team to States! With swimmers—new and returning—getting to experience a remarkable competition at States in Ocala, the Swim Team got to compete in a new outdoor pool that they had never competed at. Ms. Calero shares on behalf of the swimmers, “It [the competition] was an amazing experience. Being able to swim alongside the fastest swimmers made it challenge themselves [swimmers] to do better. The swimmers also said that the experience of getting on the block and seeing all the spectators was awesome.”

Over 90 percent of e-bikes are mostly pedaling and not going near the speed limit.

RACHEL, W.Va. (WV News) – It will be an all-Marion County matchup in the Class AA title game…