2018 top athletes named

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Their high school careers will be remembered for their accomplishments as stellar athletes and quality individuals.
The Eunice News Athletes of the Year are Eunice High’s Robbi Palmer and Jaden Brasseaux along with St. Edmund’s Abby Miller and Murphy Richard.
All four were nominated by their respective athletic directors as their school’s top athletes.
Palmer and Miller were both selected as homecoming queens during the 2107 football season.
“I was very surprised when they named me Miss Blue Jay,” Miller said. “I didn’t think I was going to get that award.”
Miller stayed busy all school year as a cheerleader as well as playing basketball and softball.
“Being in sports helped me bond with a lot of people and build friendships.
She was also part of the 4x400-meter relay team for two years before competing in the 4x100 and the 4x200-meter relays as a junior and senior.
“Staying involved all year also helped me with my grades as I it made me work harder.
“I am thankful for how all my coaches pushed me to work harder and helped me become a better person.”
Miller was named to the LHSAA Academic All-State list with a 3.52 GPA.
“I liked cheering the best because of all of my best friends were on the cheer squad with me.”
Miller was named to the All-District 4-1A basketball third team this past season as the Lady Jays advanced to the second round of the Division IV playoffs.
She also earned second team honors in softball as the Lady Jays won its first district title since 2004.
As a student at St. Edmund since kindergarten, Miller said she will always cherish her catholic education.
“At a small school, I loved it because everyone is like family to me now,” Miller. “They are always there to support you through any hard times.”
Miller will attend LSU Eunice and plans to become a registered nurse.
“Ever since I was younger, I always wanted to help others in need.”
The oldest daughter of Brad and Tonya Miller, Abby has 10 other brothers and sisters.
“I knew they would always be there for me,” she said. “It made my day every time I would see them at my games.
“I knew the sacrifice it took to send me and all my siblings to catholic school.
With such a big family, I know they make many sacrifices because it takes a lot of their time to make it to all of our sporting events.
“I know they are proud of me and I am very thankful to have them as my parents.”
Palmer was part of the Lady Bobcat track team that won its sixth straight St. Landry Parish championship.
“I was in track since the sixth grade,” she said. “Track gave me the opportunity to work hard and get better each year.
“Running was fun but I really liked high jumping.”
Palmer won the parish title in the high jump with a leap of 4-10.
She was also part of the 1600-meter relay that finished third at the parish meet with a time of 4:26.
Palmer won the District 5-3A high jump title with a leap of 5-2.
She went on to finish second at the Region II 3-A meet with a height of 4-10.
Palmer finished fifth at the state meet with a leap of 5-0.
“The high jump is all mental,” she explained. “I made it to podium when I was a sophomore but then my junior year I set the school record (5-4) but I didn’t even make it to state.
“This year I made it to state but I didn’t medal.”
As a dancer for 14 years, you would have expected Palmer to be on the EHS Emeralds dance team, but she spent her four years of high school as a cheerleader.
“I love cheer,” she said. “Each year we would have a new group of girls come in that we wouldn’t know them at all – but then by the end of the year we were all best friends.”
Palmer joined the basketball team for the first time her senior year.
“I played basketball in middle school but I didn’t have the time in high school because of dance.
“This year I had a lot more time so I tried out for basketball.”
Palmer will be a cheerleader at Grambling and major in computer information systems.
“If it doesn’t interfere with cheering then I may try out for the high jump,” she said of her college plans.
“They held me to a high standard,” Palmer said of her high school coaches and teachers. “I had to strive to be the best.
Palmer is the daughter of Fran and step dad Chad Lemelle. Her father is Robert Palmer from Lake Charles.
“My family was at every track meet and every football game,” she said. “They were there for me.”
Palmer also excelled in the classroom with a 3.5 GPA.
Richard was named Mr. Blue Jay to complete a memorable senior year.
It started off with the St. Edmund football team rolling to a 10-2 overall record and winning the district championship with a 7-0 record.
Richard won All-District 4-1A and All-St. Landry Parish honors on defense.
“I played defensive line and linebacker,” Richard said. “It was fun to be on defense and I liked playing on the D-line.
“I am going to miss football the most as it was my favorite sport,” he said. “It was great just being on the field with my team.”
Richard’s highlight of his senior year was his performance at the state power lifting competition.
“I was the only boy on the team last season, but I liked it because it was a sport I could do on my own.
Richard won the regional title at Abbeville High before advancing to the state meet.
In Alexandria, Richard then set the state record in his 181-pound weight class in the squat (550) and the bench (370) and then had a dead lift of 475 pounds.
He finished with 1,395 pounds and was tied for the title.
“If your total ended up the same, then the guy then guy who weighs less gets ranked ahead of you,” Richard said.
“I broke the squat and bench press state records, he set the dead lift record and we ended up with the same total with a new state record.
“He was weighed a pound-and-a-half less than me so I finished in second – It was pretty upsetting.”
Richard also threw the javelin his senior year – his first year of throwing.
Richard is the son of Michele and Donnie Richard, the third of 10 children.
“My parents were always there for me,” he said. “It was always a good feeling to know they are supporting me as I played.”
Richard said he was blessed to be involved with St. Edmund and the friendships built will be cherished for a lifetime.
“It was great to be a part of St. Edmund,” he said. “I appreciate the tradition it has as you see the older graduates still supporting the present players at the games.”
Richard said he plans to attend LSU in accounting and then head to law school.
For Brasseaux, his senior year ended with a strong performance on the baseball field after being the quarterback on the football team.
“I always loved football because you can’t beat the Friday night lights, but baseball has always been my stronger sport.”
He earned first team All-District, All-St. Landry Parish and Class 3-A All-State honors in baseball as he finished with a .459 batting average as he saw action as a pitcher, an outfielder, and a pitcher.
“I always dreamed of being an All-State player,” he said. “I am proud that I made all-state but I am more proud that we will be remembered as one of the best Bobcat baseball teams. I am glad to be part of that team and I always remember this team.”
The Bobcats finished with a 29-10 overall record, the most wins in program history.
Eunice opened the playoffs with a 15-5 win over Avoyelles. The Bobcats then rolled to a pair of 12-2, 6-2 victories
over North Vermilion in the best-of-three regional round games.
Eunice’s season ended in the Class 3-A quarterfinals as the Bobcats fell 12-2, 12-3 to the eventual state champions Berwick.
“Coach (Scott) Phillips gave us all he had – that’s all you can ask for from a coach,” Brasseaux said. “He always treated the seniors as his sons.”
Brasseaux completed 72-of-125 passes for 948 yards with eight touchdowns in his senior football season.
“I played quarterback all four years but I didn’t start until my junior year,” Brasseaux said. “I learned toughness and how to handle the mental part of the game from Coach (Paul) Trosclair and Coach (Andre) Vige. “If you are pressing and being too anxious, then you can’t get the extra yards or plays you need to make.”
The son of Kristy and Ramsey Brasseaux, Jaden will head to Baton Rouge Community College to play baseball and study to become a physical therapist.
“I have always wanted to play college baseball,” he said. “I don’t care what position I play as long as I get my chance.”