SHARKS

OCEARCH, the largest shark-tagging and oceanic research organization in the world, will make an announcement Tuesday morning at JU after receiving "generous contributions" from the city and the state.

The Jacksonville Sharks are gearing up for a transitional season as they segue into a new arena league with the same championship-sized expectations.

Pembroke Pines Charter jumped all over Ponte Vedra early and ended the Sharks’ season in the boys basketball state semifinals on Thursday night.

The Ponte Vedra girls soccer team is on top of the state again.

The Ponte Vedra girls soccer team will play for a state championship.

The News4JAX Super 6 girls soccer rankings will be published every Thursday during the regular season — except during Christmas week. Records are through Nov. 29 games.

The Ponte Vedra girls are building a swimming powerhouse, and the Nease boys are getting in the swing of things, too.

In a game featuring a 200-yard running back, another with 34 carries and several gambles and big plays on special teams and defense, it was a junior tight end who entered Friday with 15 receptions who gave an extra push to Ponte Vedra’s playoff hopes.

There’s no slowing down the Ponte Vedra boys golf team, and there’s no more overlooking thew newest school on the St. Johns County block, Beachside.

Seven area teams remain standing entering the third round of the state playoffs.

After Bryce Frick transferred to Nease, all the quarterback wanted was an opportunity. With his team trailing late in the game Friday night, he just wanted one more.

An always excellent rivalry clash. Can Nease get over the hump against rival Ponte Vedra in our Football Friday Game of the Week? The game will streamed on News4JAX.com and on the News4JAX+ app. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Eleven area high school volleyball teams won their first-round matches and are headed to the regional semifinals.

It’s Week 7 of the high school football season. We take a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Aug. 29 games.

The Jacksonville Sharks are taking their championship and moving on.

The Jacksonville Sharks are champions once again. The Sharks overcame a 17-point deficit and roared back to beat the Carolina Cobras 54-45 on Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena to win their third National Arena League title.

The Jacksonville Sharks are ready for their championship moment.

The Jacksonville Sharks crushed the rival Orlando Predators in the National Arena League playoffs on Saturday night, rolling to a 62-18 win that sends them into next week’s championship game.

Ponte Vedra's Maddox Johnson leads the inaugural All-News4JAX boys lacrosse team.

Five swimmers are recovering from shark bites in New York, and new video of a huge hammerhead shark near Pensacola beach has gone viral. The uptick of shark encounters have a lot of swimmers wondering about what’s really in the water.

It was a golden night for the Ponte Vedra boys track and field team.

The Bartram Trail girls lacrosse team is headed back to defend its state championship after knocking off Tampa Plant 13-6 in the Class 2A state semifinals on Friday afternoon in Naples.

Bartram Trail (17-4) will face Tampa Plant (18-3) at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon in the Class 2A state semifinals in Naples. Five hours later at 7:30, Ponte Vedra (14-4) collides with Lake Highland Prep (19-3) in the Class 1A semi. That the area has teams in both classifications still alive and chasing championships is a testament to just how much the sport has grown in the area.

The new era for the Jacksonville Sharks begins on Saturday night.

The Rivalry on the River is back with its best field yet.

The News4JAX boys lacrosse Super 6 will be published Tuesday through the end of the regular season. Records are through March 20 games.

The News4JAX girls lacrosse Super 6 will be published Monday through the end of the regular season. Records are through March 18 games.

The ride for the Ponte Vedra boys basketball team ended on Saturday night in the Class 6A state championship game in a 51-40 loss to Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer.

The News4JAX Super 6 softball rankings will be published each Monday through the end of the regular season with the exception of March 16. Results are through March 1 games.

The News4JAX boys lacrosse Super 6 will be published Tuesday through the end of the regular season with the exception of March 14. Records are through Feb. 27 games.

Florida accounts for seven of the top 10 deadliest beaches in the United States. Travel blog, “Travel Lens”, says Jacksonville Beach is ranked seventh in the nation.

From Nature Coast and back to the First Coast, the Bears announced the hire of Cory Johns on Thursday morning.

Brock Blais, the All-News4JAX boys golfer of the year, has been a major piece of Ponte Vedra's continuing tradition.

Zeta Washington made her mark as a freshman and kept right on making it through her final season at Ponte Vedra.

The Ponte Vedra boys golf team just doesn’t know how to lose.

The second round of the high school volleyball playoffs are set, while one area coaching legend is heading into retirement after an iconic career.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Sept. 13 games.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season.

It was quite a discovery in tropical waters to bring in a Greenland shark, which can live for more than 500 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It was a weekend of shark sightings at area beaches.

As friends and families flock to the beaches to celebrate the fourth of July, one Flordia family is in the hospital with 17-year-old Addison Bethea after she was attacked by a shark Thursday off the coast of Keaton Beach, Florida.

Eight area high school softball teams were in action during the second night of the opening round of the state playoffs. Only four managed to move on.

Same opponent. Same score. Same result. State champions.

Two area lacrosse teams remain standing in the state playoffs.

Ponte Vedra is the only area boys lacrosse program to make an appearance in the state finals and the only one to win a state title in the sport.

The Ponte Vedra boys lacrosse team is a public school team trying to muscle its way into a private school’s domain.

The News4JAX boys Super 6 lacrosse rankings will be published weekly through the end of the regular season. Records are through April 5 games.

The Sharks made a furious rally at the finish but couldn’t clear the final hurdle in a 53-49 loss to Stuart Martin County in the Class 6A state championship game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Saturday night.

JT Kelly hit the biggest shots of his career on Thursday night for the Ponte Vedra boys basketball team.

Only four boys basketball teams remain standing.

Five games, including an all-local blockbuster between Creekside and Mandarin in Region 1-7A, highlight a big night for boys soccer.

Ten girls high school basketball teams from the area remain standing after the opening round of the state playoffs on Thursday night.

Shark bites are on the rise around the world, according to data published this week by the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.

Robin Mignerey is calling it a career. The most successful high school volleyball coach in area history is stepping down as the Sharks’ leader after 13 seasons, nearly 300 wins and three state championships.

Ponte Vedra's Zeta Washington leads the All-News4JAX volleyball team.

Ponte Vedra's Carson Brewer is the All-News4JAX boys golfer of the year.

The News4JAX Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season with the exception of a break for the holidays. Records are through Dec. 14.

Fleming Island and Nease punched their tickets to the Fortegra High School 9:12 Basketball Invitational championship game with victories on Friday night.

The News4JAX Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season with the exception of a break for the holidays. Records are through Dec. 7.

The beat goes on for the Ponte Vedra golf team.

Mater Academy stunned Ponte Vedra, sweeping the nationally ranked Sharks in the Class 6A state championship match at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers.

To see the big picture, Jessica Shattles said the Ponte Vedra volleyball team starts small.

The excellent week for the Ponte Vedra athletic program continued.

The Ponte Vedra volleyball team is headed back to familiar territory.

The Ponte Vedra volleyball team is chasing history.

Ponte Vedra is the lone area volleyball survivor after Saturday's regional finals.

The high school volleyball playoffs have arrived.

Caroline Hughes became the first girl to ever play football at PVHS. She added to that history on Thursday night by becoming the first girl to ever score a point in a game.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball poll will be published each Thursday during the regular season. Records are through Oct. 7 games.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball poll will be published each Thursday during the regular season. Records are through Sept. 8 games.

Quarterback Danny Southwick led the Sharks to their first win of the season last week. If the name doesn’t sound familiar to Sharks fans, there’s good reason for that. He had joined the team just a week earlier. But just who is Danny Southwick? Probably just the most interesting guy in arena football.

The Jacksonville Sharks look for the first win of the season as they host the undefeated Albany Empire Saturday at the Vystar Veterans' Memorial Arena.

Summer is here and people flock to the beach AKA the home of sharks! Sharks are truly remarkable creatures but should we fear them? Our Friend Jodi Leafer, a member of Shark Angles stopped by the studio to educated us on sharks and shark attacks. Shark Angles mission is turning fear into fascination and passion into action. They are all about sharks and our oceans. Their goal is to inspire the protection of both through innovative education and advocacy programs.

The Shark Tank has been empty since the end of the 2019 season. But get ready, arena football fans. The Jacksonville Sharks are back.

Spring football is in full swing and the News4Jax sports team is making stops at high schools across the area in its annual Spring Swing tour. One of Wednesday's stops: Ponte Vedra.

Ponte Vedra went back and finished the job this time. The Sharks found their redemption on Friday afternoon, knocking off Archbishop McCarthy 2-0 in the Class 5A state championship game at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. That made it a 2-for-2 day, and a sweep by area girls teams in state championship games this week. AdAs it had been throughout the latter of the season, the Ponte Vedra defense was wicked. Ponte Vedra followed with four consecutive shutouts, the final one of those against the country’s 29th-ranked team by MaxPreps.

She moved from Virginia to Ponte Vedra before the season and had only heard stories from her cousins, who were exceptional volleyball players in town during their eras. Burkhardt said the process was smooth because her Ponte Vedra teammates made her feel welcome and wanted. Of their 27 matches, Ponte Vedra swept 26 of them. FIRST TEAMPosition, player, school, classOH Amy Burkhardt, Ponte Vedra, Sr.All-News4Jax player of the year. MB Zeta Washington, Ponte Vedra, So.

The Ponte Vedra volleyball team completed the most dominant run in area history on Saturday, sweeping Jensen Beach to win the Class 5A state championship in Fort Myers and capping a back-to-back quest that is unprecedented in area volleyball history. Mignerey has led Ponte Vedra to three championships, the most by a team in area history. To hang with the Sharks, Jensen Beach needed something to go its way. It found very little rhythm against Ponte Vedra. Ponte Vedra and Christ’s Church won championships in 2017, the first time that area programs had brought home titles in the same season.

On to the state volleyball championship go Bishop Kenny and Ponte Vedra. The Crusaders punched their seventh trip to the state title game with a 3-0 rout of host Tampa’s Academy of the Holy Names on Saturday in the Class 4A state semifinals. Ponte Vedra rolled on in its quest to defend its state championship with a sweep of Ocala Vanguard in the Class 5A state semis. Sandalwood (1979, Class 4A), Fletcher (1981, Class 4A), Bolles (1989, Class 2A), Nease (2008, Class 4A) and Christ’s Church (2017, Class 3A) are the only other area programs to bring home volleyball state crowns. This is the fourth trip to the state championship game for Ponte Vedra and coach Robin Mignerey.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nationally ranked Ponte Vedra and perennial power Bishop Kenny are headed to the volleyball state semifinals. Amy Burkhardt had 13 kills, with Kyle Mignerey and Rachel Johnson adding seven apiece for Ponte Vedra. Ponte Vedra has been untouchable for more than a year. Alongside Ponte Vedra at the next top will be Bishop Kenny, the area’s volleyball headliner for years running. Region 1-2AChrist’s Church came close but the Eagles came up short in a marathon 3-2 regional final loss to St. John Paul II.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Only two volleyball programs from St. Johns County are left standing in the Class 5A-7A state playoffs. Bartram Trail bounced Mandarin 3-1 in Region 1-7A and nationally ranked Ponte Vedra swept Ridgeview in Region 1-5A on Wednesday night. Those teams join Bishop Kenny (Region 1-4A), Christ’s Church (Region 1-2A) and Union County (Region 3-1A) in advancing to Saturday’s regional final for a berth in the state final fourPonte Vedra (24-0) knocked off Ridgeview 25-14, 25-19, 27-25. In Region 1-7A, Bartram Trail (14-7) knocked off Mandarin 3-1 to advance to Saturday’s regional final against Lyman. In Region 1-6A, Creekside’s season ended with a 20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 15-10 loss to Leon.

Ponte Vedra is the first team in boys golf history to capture four consecutive team state championships and now has six overall, tying it with Nease and Tampa Plant for the most in state history. Ponte Vedra wound up winning by three strokesSharks golfer Scotty Kennon finished runner-up with a 1-under 143 to Heritage’s Luke Clanton. Ponte Vedra and Heritage had identical totals both rounds — 301 and 296. Last year’s duel, a six-stroke Ponte Vedra win, was tight. On the girls side, Ponte Vedra finished fourth with a 666.

The quest for four consecutive boys golf championships is entering the final round for Ponte Vedra. Ponte Vedra is vying to become the only boys golf team in state history to win four straight golf state championships. Bradenton Prep (1998, 1999 spring, 1999 fall) and Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (2011-13) are the only others to threepeat in boys golf. As a program, Ponte Vedra has five state titles. In the girls 2A field, Ponte Vedra is fourth with a 338.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first night of high school volleyball playoff action is in the books and five local teams are moving on. The Mustangs (11-9) advanced to the Oct. 28 regional semifinal at Bartram Trail. Bartram Trail 3, Sandalwood 0The Bears (13-7) swept the Saints 25-18, 25-23, 25-11 to advance to the regional semifinals on Oct. 28. The 18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 win sends the Knights (17-2) to the second round on Oct. 28. Tallahassee Leon 3, Fleming Island 2The Golden Eagles pushed host Leon to the limit, but couldn’t get over the hurdle in a 26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 14-16 loss.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ponte Vedra will have a new face on the football sidelines after head coach Jeff DiSandro stepped down for “personal reasons.”Athletic director Eric Frank confirmed that to News4Jax Tuesday, saying that DiSandro resigned for “personal reasons” but would remain teaching at the school. It was a sudden end for DiSandro, who left Bishop Kenny last year for the position at Ponte Vedra. He led Ponte Vedra to a 7-3 record last season and reached the state playoffs before losing to Columbia. Ponte Vedra was out to a 4-1 start this year, with its lone loss coming last week to Super 10 No. DiSandro was the third coach in program history following Mike Loyd (2008-13) and Matt Toblin (2014-18).

(1) Ponte Vedra, (14-0, Class 5A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Creekside, Fleming Island (twice), Fletcher, Florida High, Mandarin, Middleburg, Ridgeview, Santa Fe. (2) Creekside (13-1, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail (twice), Bishop Kenny (twice), Bolles, Florida High, Ridgeview (twice), Santa Fe, Trinity Christian. (5) Fleming Island (13-6, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Mandarin (twice), Middleburg, Ridgeview (twice). (6) Bishop Kenny (10-7, Class 4A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Episcopal, Fleming Island, Middleburg, Providence, Ridgeview, Yulee. (3) Fletcher (15-2, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bolles, Mandarin, Middleburg (twice), Ridgeview, Sneads, Stanton, Yulee.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball poll will be published each Thursday during the regular season. (1) Ponte Vedra, (5-0, Class 5A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Fletcher, Middleburg, Ridgeview. (2) Creekside (5-0, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Ridgeview, Trinity Christian. (3) Bishop Kenny (4-4, Class 4A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Yulee. They get the edge over Bartram Trail and unbeaten St. Johns Country Day due to a pair of victories over teams in our Super 6.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Sharks season ended before it began when the National Arena League canceled the schedule due to the coronavirus, but wide receiver Devin Wilson isnt letting that keep him from the field. Wilson is joining the staff at Andrew Jackson High School as the teams new wide receivers coach. Wilson was on the Sharks teams that won the NAL championship in both 2017 and 2019. Last season, he caught 102 passes for 1,179 yards and 29 touchdowns. The 2021 NAL season is expected to kick off in April 2021.

Shark attack numbers have sunk to dramatic lows, likely a side effect of closed beaches and widespread quarantines, according to experts at the University of Floridas International Shark Attack File. Only 18 unprovoked shark bites have been confirmed globally from Jan. 1 to June 18, down from 24 over the same time period in 2019 and 28 in 2018. Three unprovoked attacks resulted in fatalities, two in Australia and one in California, an increase from last years total of two deaths. The East Coast has been pretty quiet, and thats where we pick up blacktips and the occasional bull shark, Bowling said. While the chances of being bitten by a shark are minimal, the ISAF offers recommendations on how to lower the risk of a shark attack or fend off an attacking shark.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The shark research group OCEARCH embarked on its 37th expedition right off our coast on Thursday. Now is the time of year when white sharks concentrate around the Florida-Georgia area to forage on right whales. National scientists will join forces with the Jacksonville University-based OCEARCH team on a three-week survey between Brunswick and Savannah Georgia. White sharks tagged last year close to Nova Scotia have been tracked close to the Florida coast. JU Professor Dr. Bryan Franks plans on tagging new sharks with satellite tracking devices to learn more about their movements and behavior.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida continued its reign as the global leader in shark attacks last year. According to an annual report from the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File, there were 21 unprovoked shark attacks in 2019 which represented 51% of the U.S. total and 33% of unprovoked attacks worldwide. “We’ve had back-to-back years with unusual decreases in shark attacks, and we know that people aren’t spending less time in the water,” Naylor said. ISAF confirmed 64 unprovoked shark attacks on humans and 41 confirmed provoked attacks. Australia had the second-most shark attacks globally with 11, a decrease from the country’s most recent five-year average of 16 bites annually.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Ponte Vedra volleyball team is in position that few area teams have been in before. Ponte Vedra faces defending state champion Ocala Vanguard (16-10) at 1:30 p.m. in Fort Myers, with its sights set on bringing home just the ninth title by an area team. Only one area team has won multiple state titles, Bishop Kenny. That’s set a good bit of expectations at Ponte Vedra. Saturday’s title match will be just the fifth game for Ponte Vedra since Oct. 23.

Ponte Vedra will play in its third state volleyball championship match on Nov. 16 against Ocala Vanguard. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - The Ponte Vedra volleyball title punched its ticket to the state championship match on Saturday. The Sharks swept visiting Port Charlotte in the Class 5A state semifinals (25-21, 25-15, 25-21) to advance to its third state title match since 2016. Ponte Vedra (24-6) will face Ocala Vanguard (16-10) for the state title on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers. Ponte Vedra has finished the season on a blistering pace.

It was a good day for area boys golfers in the state tournament, especially for those from St. Johns County. Ponte Vedra carded rounds of 298 and 306 in the event. The Sharks have won state titles in 2013, '15 and 17-19. Justin Ortiguera of Ponte Vedra had a 73-75 for a 148 to finish in a tie for fourth. For the girls, Ponte Vedra took fourth with a 665, 22 strokes behind winner Archbishop McCarthy.

Christ's Church volleyball players Julia Mangum (7) and Virginia Hudson (8) block a shot during a Region 1-2A final against Seven Rivers Christian on Tuesday night. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Three area high school volleyball teams were in action on Tuesday night chasing spots in the state semifinals. Ponte Vedra was the lone area survivor, sweeping Wakulla 26-24, 25-13, 25-16 to win the Region 1-6A final. In Region 1-2A, Christ's Church, state champions in 2017, came up short in five games to Seven Rivers Christian. The Warriors topped the host Eagles 13-25, 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13 to advance to the state semifinals.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The News4Jax Super 10 high school football poll will be published each Tuesday during the regular season. The Bears look to close out their first unbeaten regular season in program history when they host a very good Vikings team in the finale. (2) Columbia (7-2), Class 6ALast week: d. Middleburg, 48-23This week: vs. North Marion (7-2), 7:30 p.m.Glance: Tough regular season finale for the Tigers, who are probably looking at a No. (5) Trinity Christian (5-5), Class 3ALast week: d. Raines, 17-14 (OT)This week: Off, regular season completeGlance: Very nice victory for the Conquerors to enter the state playoffs on. Others: Baker County (6-3, Class 5A), Baldwin (7-2, Class 3A), Flagler Palm Coast (7-2, Class 8A), Fletcher (6-3, Class 7A), Parker (6-2, Class 5A), St. Augustine (5-4, 6A), Raines (5-3, Class 5A), Westside (7-2, Class 5A), West Nassau (7-2, Class 4A).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A glance at the top high school football games in Week 10 of the regular season. Menendez (5-2, 3-0) at Orange Park (5-3, 3-0)*: The winner of this game will grab the District 5-5A championship and one of the top four seeds in Region 2-5A. OP is ranked 11th in RPI in the region this week and won't make the playoffs if it doesn't win here. St. Augustine (5-3, 2-0) at Ponte Vedra (6-1, 2-0)*: A game for the District 3-6A crown. Who's already in the playoffs: Bartram Trail (1-8A district champ), Fleming Island (2-7A district champ), Raines (4-5A district champ).

FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. - On a busy day of volleyball across the First Coast, Fleming Island and Bartram Trail rose to the top. Fleming Island, the No. 1 Ponte Vedra 2-1 on Saturday morning in a battle between the area's best. It a 21-match Ponte Vedra winning streak against local programs. But after a brief discussion between the main official and the back judge, it was ruled that Ponte Vedra touched the ball before it went out of bounds.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The News4Jax Super 6 volleyball poll will be published each Wednesday through the end of the regular season. (1) Ponte Vedra (9-2), Class 5ANotable wins: Divine Savior, Episcopal, Fletcher, Fort Myers, Menendez, Middleburg, Nease, Pine Crest, Providence. (6) Fletcher (8-1), Class 6ANotable wins: Bartram Trail, Mandarin, St. Augustine, Trinity ChristianA big jump for the Senators, who knocked off Bartram (3-2) and Mandarin (3-1) since our last Super 6. Christ's Church won the Gulf Division at the JJVA River City Classic. 6 spot this week, but Christ's Church has been on a tear.