Navarre Raider cross-country coach James Fox said the Patriot Invitational over Labor Day weekend was an opportunity for the runners to set the tone for the season ahead.

He also liked the fact that the team didn’t have to run in the heat for once as the sky was cloudy and a light rain fell at Sims Middle School in Pace.

There was little doubt about the University of West Florida coming out on top in its season opener against Kentucky Wesleyan Friday night at Pen Air Field.

The Argos came in ranked in the top nationally and coming off a third NCAA Division II final four appearance in program history. Kentucky Wesleyan was unranked and won just two games in 2022.

Before the second set against Booker T Washington
Thursday night, the Navarre Raider volleyball team huddled up to talk strategy.

The Raiders had just lost a marathon opener 31-29 to the Wildcats and now it was time to get back on track.

Navarre’s swim team competed in a tri-meet with Milton and Fort Walton Beach last Wednesday afternoon at the Pullum YMCA.

Several Raiders finished in the top three, including Hayden Weber who was second in the 100 Breaststroke (1:08.51) and third in the 100 Butterfly (59.03).

In 2016, Kaleb Nobles was making his debut as the quarterback of a first-year University of West Florida football program.

Fast forward seven years and Nobles is now the head coach of the program that ushers in a new era Friday night when it hosts Kentucky Wesleyan in a 6 p.m. game at Pen Air Field.

Addison Danforth is a skilled volleyball player, but it’s something that doesn’t show up in the box score that may very well be her best asset on the court for the Navarre Raiders.