Steve Chard pulls up in his kayak to a boat ramp in Moore Haven, Florida, on Dec. 29 and a man who is fishing asks what he’s doing. Chard tells him about his journey and the purpose behind it and is offered a place to stay for the night. It’s day 166 of his Great Loop adventure.

There is a lot I could touch on this week in this space, but I’ve seen a few posts lately that have me thinking about what the current era of youth and high school sports.

Navarre, Pace and Milton head into the District 1-6A soccer tournament this week.

Another postseason is ahead for area high school weightlifting teams.
For 3A teams, the journey begins Monday at Pace with the District 1-3A meet. The 1A meet is on Wednesday at Baker.

Navarre’s girls basketball season is having one of its best seasons in program history.
The Raiders have thrived behind veteran talent and stellar play on both ends of the floor.

Navarre’s girls soccer team had an opportunity to perhaps steal the No. 2 seed from Pace for the District 1-6A tournament.
But a penalty kick late in the action, resulting from a questionable call that left head coach Rob Simon frustrated, proved to be the difference in a 1-0 loss to the Patriots on the road last Tuesday night.

Former University of West Florida quarterback Marcus Stokes has transferred to Division I Memphis.

Emily (Madril) Sams is headed to Los Angeles to play for Angel City after spending the first three seasons of her career in Orlando.
The former Navarre Raider is headed to a new team via a trade in exchange for $650,000 intraleague transfer funds.

Spring sports begin in less than a month and no time like the present to take a look at what’s ahead for the final season of the school year.

The latest regional rankings are out and a handful of teams in our coverage area are in the top eight of their respective regions.
In girls hoops, Navarre is third Region 1-6A, L.E.A.D. Academy is first in Region 1-1A and Laurel Hill is fourth in Rural Region 1.