News4Jax and Graham Media Group

News4JAX Varsity 4

Sports EN ↓ 95 episodes

High school sports in the River City are some of the best in the country. We're also home to two Heisman Trophy winners and some of the most successful athletic programs in the nation. The Varsity 4 podcast brings great, in-depth coverage to that scene, with experienced contributors covering every angle. We’ll talk recruiting, spotlight the area's top performers and speak with the area's best players and coaches.

Author

News4Jax and Graham Media Group

Episodes

V4RSITY: Football is back! Looking at the 2022 high school football season 25.08.2022 29:12

Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin kick off the 2022 high school football season with a breakdown of their top 10 teams, preview our four best games of Week 1 and debate on whether teams like Nease and Jackson can keep their momentum going from last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring sports crank up practice, two big high school football coaching hires 28.01.2022 20:41

Justin Barney takes a journey around the area this week as high school baseball, softball and lacrosse kick off practices. Hear from St. Johns Country Day's Jordan Taylor and Bradley Hodges, and Bartram trail baseball coach turned softball leader Tony Sowers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could big changes be ahead for high school football in the state? 20.01.2022 32:06

Big changes are being discussed in high school football in Florida and they have the potential to be the biggest the state has ever seen. Justin Barney and Cole Pepper discuss the proposal and how it could shake up how things look for area teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's nothing like a packed gym during high school basketball season 14.01.2022 24:29

There's nothing like a good high school basketball rivalry. We don't have enough of those anymore. Justin Barney and Cole Pepper remember some of the big names of yesteryear, talk to Orange Park star Josiah Sabino and put Ponte Vedra volleyball coach Robin Mignerey's accomplishments in perspective as she calls it a career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picking our 22 best players of the high school football season 21.12.2021 29:45

The high school football season is in the books, now, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin pick out the best players that they saw this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trinity Christian puts a bow on high school football season with 9th state title 14.12.2021 32:12

It was the ninth state title in program history for Trinity Christian and longtime coach Verlon Dorminey. And it wasn't easy this season. The Conquerors were full of good storylines, especially for Dorminey and dominant running back Treyaun Webb. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look back on that 41-23 win over Champagnat Catholic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One team left standing. Can Trinity Christian bring home state championship No. 9? 07.12.2021 39:39

The Trinity Christian football team is chasing title No. 9. Can the Conquerors bring home the championship this week. Plus, looking back at great seasons by Bolles and Baker County, and a feel-good photo from the Bolles-Cocoa game that went viral. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin tackle the final week of the football season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High school football playoffs reach the state semifinals. What are Baker County, Bolles and Trinity's chances? 01.12.2021 27:17

The area had three Florida survivors after the third round. How many, if any, local teams will advance to next week's state championship games? Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look back and then look ahead to this week's showdowns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Playoff football fever! Five area teams headed to the third round. How many can move on? 23.11.2021 35:14

The second round of the high school football playoffs were unkind to area teams. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look at the playoff survivors, the feel-good story of the Nease Panthers and project how many teams will advance to the state semifinals next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Area swimming and cross country athletes shine and the football playoffs get cranked up 17.11.2021 35:30

What a week for area high school teams and athletes. Three team state championships in cross country. Another team title in girls swimming. And how about eight individual state championships in those sports. Plus, the high school football playoffs are in full swing. An exceptional time of the year for area high school sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Playoffs and state champions galore as fall sports head toward the finish line 11.11.2021 45:11

It's the busiest part of the fall sports season. High school football playoffs are here. We've got state champions galore in swimming. State cross country meet arrives. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin cover a lot of ground in a busy week of V4RSITY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost playoff time in high school football, and crunch time arrives in our other fall sports 04.11.2021 36:33

The final week of the regular season has arrived in football. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look back at Week 10, look ahead to Week 11 and start talking playoffs. Plus, it's postseason time in cross country, golf, swimming and volleyball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Closing stretch of high school football regular season arrives 27.10.2021 29:42

It's flown by in a hurry. The high school football regular season reaches Week 10. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin recap a big stakes Week 9, look ahead to two nights of football in Week 10, and discuss just how much the stakes are raised when public school teams battle private school powers like Bolles, Trinity Christian and University Christian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

More crunchtime football games in Week 9 and basketball season is on the way 20.10.2021 32:55

Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin recap a hectic and high stakes Week 8, preview the top games in Week 9 and take a peek at the upcoming high school basketball season, with one very big transfer on the girls basketball side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High school football playoff talk heats up, and, do streaks really matter? 13.10.2021 31:08

How much does history between two programs matter in high school? Is it bigger than we think or does that history, good or bad, matter when it comes to current high school teams? Plus, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look back on the games in Week 7, including a big collapse by Riverside, and look at the playoff implications in a jam-packed Week 8. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Trinity-Bolles game a blowout; handing out the mid-year football awards 06.10.2021 31:43

The game of the season turned into a running clock blowout between Bolles and Trinity Christian. We look back and look ahead as we reach Week 7 of the high school season. Plus, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin unveil their midseason top players honors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trinity-Bolles week arrives; record for Rheinhardt Harrison and more 29.09.2021 31:57

We recap the best of Week 5 of the high school football season, preview Week 6 and focus on the area No. 1-2 battle between Trinity Christian and Bolles. Plus, a meet record for Nease runner Rheinhardt Harrison at the Katie Caples Invitational. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milestone 300th win for Verlon Dorminey and looking ahead to Week 5 of the football season 22.09.2021 26:15

Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look back at a milestone week in high school football, preview Week 5 and cover the bases in cross country, volleyball and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprises from Week 3 of football, looking ahead to Week 4 and highlighting a week of volleyball milestones 16.09.2021 21:57

The third week of the high school football season saw the most upsets of the year. Our most surprising? Plus, we look ahead to Week 4 and highlight a a week of volleyball milestones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September is here, high school football is rolling, Ponte Vedra surging in volleyball 08.09.2021 19:36

We're headed into Week 3 of the high school football season. Surprises from Week 2. Looking ahead at Week 3. A milestone on the horizon for a high school football coach. Is Ponte Vedra the best volleyball program in area history? Justin Barney and Andrew "Sponge" Franklin cover all the ground in this week's V4RSITY pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices