2015 top athletes named

They all left their mark at their high schools as stellar athletes and quality individuals.
The Eunice News Athletes of the Year are Eunice High’s Beauhla Bradley and Cole Prudhomme and along with St. Edmund’s Heather Bieber and Ross LaFleur.
All four were nominated by their respective athletic directors as their school’s top athletes.
Standouts in several sports, track was the one sport all four excelled during their high school careers.
Prudhomme, Bieber and LaFleur all finished their senior seasons at the LHSAA state track meets, while Bradley was part of the Lady Bobcats’ four-time parish championships and three-time St. Landry Parish title holder.
Bieber was satisfied with her senior year, capped off by competing in the shot put in the Class 1-A state competition.
She threw 33-4 in the Blue Jay Relays before back-to-back 33-10 throws at district and regionals.
After winning district and a second-place finish in regionals, Bieber finished sixth in the state with a toss of 32-2.
“I started throwing the shot put for the varsity since eighth grade,” she reflected. “Coach Mike Yachera always had faith in us and pushed us to be the best we could be. That was the drive behind why I threw the shot put and why I really enjoyed it.”
Bieber spent her falls throughout high school as an athletic trainer for the St. Edmund football team.
“Helping the guys behind the scenes at the games and practices was something I fell in love with,” Bieber said. “I never wanted to be recognized I just wanted to help others behind it all.”
According to Bieber, being a trainer helped with her time management as well as work ethics.
“I learned never to give up on anything I want to do in life,” she said. “But I have to work for anything I want to do.”
Bieber said she was thrilled by every Blue Jay win and that helped motivate the trainers to help the team achieve their goals.
Bieber and the Lady Jays played this softball season on their brand-new field located at the St. Edmund athletic complex.
“We didn’t get to the state tournament but we definitely finished very strong and I was very excited,” she said. “It was the most fun I had playing softball as I had some pretty great teammates.”
St. Edmund finished 13-8 overall and third place in District 5-1A behind Catholic High of Pointe Coupee and Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.
The Lady Hornets advanced to the Class 1-A semifinals, while the Lady Trojans stole a 4-3 win over the Lady Jays to advance to the state quaterfinals.
The senior outfielder hit .529 with five doubles, five triples, three home runs, 32 RBI, 30 runs scored and six walks. She also finished with a .941 fielding percentage with just one error and 15 put-outs.
Bieber, a two-time District 5-1A First Team All-District selection, said she gave it her all on the field all season.
Bieber is planning to attend LSU and major in accounting.
Eunice High standout Beauhla Bradley spent her time playing basketball and running track and enjoyed the competition of both sports.
Bradley earned All-District 4-4A Defensive Team honors her senior season.
She averaged 10.8 points per game with 10 rebounds 60 assists and 10 steals this season.
She was All-District selection three times as a Lady Bobcat.
“I really enjoyed playing basketball as my teammates helped make it fun.”
It was on the track where Bradley excelled.
She ran the 100-meters, 200-meters and was part of the 4x100, 4x200 relays and the 4x400 meter relays.
Bradley won the 100 meters at the St. Landry Parish meet with a time of 12.84 and then captured the District 4-4A title with a time of 13.09.
The Lady Cats also won the 4x100 relay at Parish with a time of 51.93 and District with a finish of 51.47.
“Every thing as to be perfect for everything to work out well,” she said of the relays. “It is harder than it looks.”
Bradley said she was proud of what she accomplished, even though she missed her goal of making it to the Class 4-A state track championships.
“It was very dissapointing because I worked so hard,” she said. “I knew this was the end of my track career.
“Coach (Durell) Peloquin really pushed me,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t have made it that far with out him.
“There are plenty of times where I wanted to give up but he knew what I was capable of doing and he would not let me quit.”
Bradley said athletics taught her that if she gave
her best even if she lost - she won because she gave it her all.
“You are not always going to be the best,” she said. “There is always someone else better than you in something.”
“But at least I gave my best this year.”
Bradley plans to attend Southern University in the fall and major in criminal justice and law is pursuit of her goal of becoming a lawyer.
Prudhomme’s football career will continue at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette and he is excited about his future.
As a football player you always dream about playing in college,” Prudhomme said. “I am thrilled and real thankful for this opportunity.”
Prudhomme (6-3, 275) is expected to play center for the run-oriented Cajun offense.
Prudhomme was a two-time District 4-4A and All-St. Landry Parish teams selection.
Even with a 4-6 finish his senior season, Prudhomme said he was proud of his efforts on the offensive line.
“We wanted to play well for Coach Trosclair this season,” Prudhomme said of the Bobcat head coach who is battling multiple myeloma.
“It was a really good moment for us to him reach his 200th win and be part of him reaching a milestone in his life.
“He put in a lot of hard work with us and I am thankful.”
Prudhomme capped his high school career with a second place finish in the shot put at the Class 4-A state track meet.
“I had one goal and that was to go to state,” he said. “I was determined and my coach Ashlee McElroy helped me along the way.
Prudhomme won the St. Landry Parish title in both shot put (49-76) and discus (140-3) and then captured the District 4-4A title in the shot put (50-9).
Prudhomme advanced to state with a 51-8 throw to lead the regionals.
A 51-6 throw at state placed Prudhomme at second place and with a medal.
“It was kind of a letdown,” he said. “My best throw was 53-11 at Church Point.
“First place was right there at my fingertips and I missed it by just a little bit - I am thankful I still got second.”
Prudhomme said he was happy to be able to continue playing football at ULL.
“It is a great opportunity to have a scholarship and I want to seize the moment and keep working hard.
“Maybe I can to the pros,” he said. “I want to represent my school and my town.”
Prudhomme will major in excersize science before heading to physical therapy school.
LaFleur was a three-sport athlete at St. Edmund as he played football, baseball and threw the javelin.
The Blue Jays (7-4, 4-0) won the District 5-1A football title in 2014 and advanced to the regional round of the state playoffs.
LaFleur was a running back amd defensive lineman, but he preferred the defensive side.
“There was more contact and I liked that.”
LaFleur earned All-District 5-1A First Team defensive honors this season.
The Blue Jays baseball team finished (21-10) but made a strong run in the playoffs to advance to the Class 1-A title game in Sulphur.
St. Edmund defeated two district foes False River Academy (4-0) and Sacred Heart of Ville Platte (4-2) as well as Christian Life Academy (6-5) to earned a match-up with Central Catholic of Morgan City in the semifinals.
The Blue Jays cruised to a 8-1 win as LaFleur went 3-for-4 with a RBI before St. Edmund fell 12-0 to Ouachita Christian in the championship game.
“I was proud that we finished second,” he said. “There were a lot of teams who wanted to be where we were.”
LaFleur was a Class 1-A All-State honorable mention selection as he hit .379 with nine doubles, two triples, a home run, 19 RBI, 31 runs scored and 17 walks.
In the outfield, LaFleur had a .912 fielding percentage with just three errors and 29 putouts.
LaFleur won the district title with a 155-0 javelin throw and was second in the discus at 98-1.
He advanced to state with a third-place javelin toss at regionals at 161-9.
The senior closed his prep career with a 148-9 throw to finish fifth at the Class 1-A state meet.
“I was excited to make it to state,” he said. “I went up against some guys who could throw it a lot farther.
“But I did give it my all and I am satisified.”
LaFleur is starting at LSU Eunice before moving on to major in agriculture business.