Tom Dodge
Their high school careers will be remembered for their accomplishments as stellar athletes and quality individuals.
The Eunice News 2019 Athletes of the Year are Eunice High’s Stacie White and Carlin Vigers long with St. Edmund’s Avery McGee and Brad Miller.
All four were nominated by their respective athletic directors as their school’s top athletes.
Avery Jade McGee, the daughter of Paige Pitre McGee and Donald Wesley McGee, was a member of the St. Ed’s cross country team for six years and was on the track team for four years.
“I always wanted to beat my best time everytime I ran,” McGee said. “It was a good feeling when I did well.”
McGee said the 3.2 miles of the cross country course was always interesting because of the scenery and terrain.
“The weather was always different in cross country,” she said. “It could be cold and raining but we would still run.
“Another race, it could be sunny and hot.”
McGee said at her senior state cross country meet, it was in the mid-30s they ran the course the day after a storm which left the course a muddy mess.
After trying the hurdles early in her track career, she moved to the mile and two-mile races for her junior and senior seasons.
“Cross country is more interesting than track,” she said. “Track is running around and around in circles, but in cross country you are secluded sometimes in the woods.
She also played tennis three seasons and served as a captain one year.
She was also a member of the SEH dance team three years.
“I started dancing when I was four or five,” McGee said. “Dancing helped me with conditioning and learning how far you can push yourself.”
She earned LHSAA All-Academic honors and was the 2019 SEH class salutatorian.
“I was busy the whole school year but academics was very important to me,” she explained. “Grades always came first before any sport, so I learned to balance my time to do both.”
McGee said she always wanted to make her parents proud and she was thrilled to see them at her meets.
“I started St. Ed’s in kindergarten and never left,” she said. “It was a special place for me as I had a very close relationship with all my teachers.
“I also learned about my Catholic faith which is important to me.”
Her plans are to attend LSU Eunice for one year, and then transfer to LSU to major in biology and become a dermatologist.
Stacie White, daughter of Stacey Stevens and Karla White.
“My mom was there every game since junior high,” she said. “Family means everything to me.
“But most of all I want to thank God because without him, none of this would have been possible.”
White played both basketball and ran track at Eunice High for four years.
She also played softball her sophomore year.
“I was pleased with my whole career,” she said. “It was great to see how we improved as a team pushing each other to move further.”
White scored 659 points and recorded 223 rebounds her senior season and was the District 5-3A MVP.
She finished with 2,113 career points to leave her mark on Lady Bobcat basketball.
White said she dedicated her time on the court to former classmate Asia Ledet, who died her freshman year.
“She was my friend and teammate in junior high,” White commented. “She was my motivation as she loved the game too.
“I did it all for her as we were supposed to win together.”
White earned all-district honors all four years and was named to the LSWA All-State list as a junior and senior.
Her final season with the Lady Bobcats, she was also named District 5-3A MVP, and was seleced to the All-St. Landry Parish team.
White competed in the javelin, high jump, hurdles and was a member o of the 4x400 meter relay team.
“I loved throwing the javelin the most,” she said. “It was more of an individual event.”
White said she was thrilled to be part of a track team that was the seven-time St. Landry Parish champions.
She won the 2017 Most Improved award and was named the 2018 Parish track’s Outstanding Female Performer.
White will attend LSU Eunice to play basketball and to major in psychology.
“I am looking forward to playing college ball,” she said. “I want to play on the next level and show what I can do.”
Car’lin Vigers, the son of Cristina Jones and Carl Vigers, played basketball and football at Eunice High.
Vigers said after dropping football his freshman season, he was glad he rejoined his teammates for the historic state championship run.
But it was off the field that his teammates helped him the most.
“I lost my uncle Jonas Vigers the second week of the season as he died in his sleep – the week when we were playing Jennings.
“We got a closer bond and they lifted me up when I needed them most.”
Vigers said he dedicated the season to his uncle and former classmate Asia Ledet, who died her freshman year.
Vigers said he regretted not staying with football his whole high school career.
“I think if I would have played all four years I would have been a better student and focused more on what’s important.
“I am glad that Coach (Paul) Trosclair gave me another chance,” Vigers said.
“He allowed me to prove myself on the field and the coaches never gave up on me.
Vigers was named the District 5-3A defensive MVP and earned first team All-state honors, helping lead the Bobcats to the Class 3-A football state title.
Vigers finished the season with 92 tackles, four interceptions, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
On offense, Vigers had seven catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
While he will always be remembered as part of the EHS football championship team, Vigers’ first love was basketball.
Vigers was a three-year starter for the Bobcats’ basketball team and earned All-District and All-Parish honors his junior and senior seasons.
“I like the excitement during as basketball game,” he said. “There is a lot of hustle, effort and intensity.”
His senior season, Vigers averaged 17 points, 9.2 rebounds, four assists and three steals per game.
“Basketball was my first sport and I put in a lot of work to get better,” he said. “I thought I would play basketball in college.”
Vigers will play football this fall for the Bayou Prep Gators and attend classes at Baton Rouge Community College.
“This was something I needed to do,” he said. “I need to develop as a football player and get my grades up so I can advance to a bigger program.”
Bradford Paul Miller Jr., is the son of Brad and Tonya Miller.
“I means a lot to me to see them at my games,” Brad said. “I know they care about me and are proud of my accomplishments because they were there with me the whole way.”
Miller was the District 4-1A Offensive MVP his junior and senior football seasons and was named to the LSWA Class 1-A All-state list.
“I loved the excitement of the game.” Miller said of his time on the Blue Jays football team. “It was huge to beat our biggest rival Basile two years in a row.”
Miller finished his senior season with 1,343 yards of total offense and led the team with 16 touchdowns.
He earned post season honors three times as a baseball player and helped the Blue Jays to back-to-back district titles.
Miller played outfield and also pitched this past season.
Miller was 4-2 overall with 22 strikeouts and 32 walks over 43 innings.
He hit .367 with four triples, 32 runs scored and 22 RBI.
Miller was a member of the Blue Jay track team for three seasons.
Miller ran track for three years, competing in the 4x100- and 4x200- meter relays.
He was also a member of the cross country team for two years.
Miller said growing up at St. Edmund is a blessing he will alwya appreciate.
“They are like my family,” he said of his classmates and friends. “They are always there when you need them.
“I will miss playing sports with guys like Brock Bieber, Drew Zaunbrecher and Jack Miller,” he said. “But I know we will be friends for life because of St. Ed’s.”
Miller plans to attend LSUE for two years and transfer to McNeese State to major in construction management.
Eunice News Athletes of the Year
2018
Eunice High: Robbi Palmer and Jaden Brasseaux
St. Edmund: Abby Miller and Murphy Richard
2017
Eunice High: Jyhreh Johnson and Georrien Dupre
St. Edmund: Lucy Brown and Peter Miller
2016
Eunice High: Mia Rougeau and Ajyh Johnson
St. Edmund: Sydney Thibodeaux and Gibson LaFleur
2015
Eunice High: Beauhla Bradley and Cole Prudhomme
St. Edmund: Heather Bieber and Ross LaFleur
2014
Eunice High: Kate McLemore and Jake Sonnier
St. Edmund: Jada Fontenot and Drake Dubois
2013
Eunice High: Abbey Hillman and Trenon Trosclair
St. Edmund: Olivia LaFleur and Perry Pitre
2012
Eunice High: Ona’Tia Winbush and Kourt Deshotel
St. Edmund: Brooke Fontenot and David Scott LaFleur