2014 Eunice News top athletes named

For each of them, there were memorable events during their senior year - including playoff runs and standing on the podium at state track meets.
The 2014 Eunice News Athletes of the Year are Eunice High’s Kate McLemore and Jake Sonnier along with St. Edmund’s Jada Fontenot and Drake Dubois.
All four were nominated by their respective athletic directors as their school’s top athletes.
McLemore was a three-sport star at Eunice High with basketball, softball and track filling her schedule nearly the whole school calendar.
But it was track where she left her biggest mark with three straight state discus titles.
McLemore also helped lead the Lady Cats to their second-straight St. Landry Parish title.
The senior was also a part of their third-straight district championship.
She threw 113-3 1/2 at district after throwing 108-6 at parish.
McLemore finished her high school career with a discus toss of 119-4 for her third straight trip to the podium.
“This one was that meant the most,” McLemre said of the three titles.
“I competed and that was the best throw I ever had in competition.”
Her two other state titles, McLemore threw 116-9 (2013) and 103-3 (2012).
“When I was in the seventh grade I joined the track team where I threw the javelin and discus,” she said. “I threw the same size discus as the boys and I threw it farther than most of them.”
In basketball, the Lady Cats earned a play-off berth for just the second time in program history and the first time since 2005.
EHS finished 14-11 overall for the second-best record in Lady Cat history just behind the 2005 team that had a 17-9 record.
The Lady Cats fell 56-40 to Ellender in the opening round of the playoffs.
“I grew up playing basketball but I almost didn’t play my senior season,” McLemore said. “But I couldn’t leave my team mates. I gave it everything I had and prepared me for my whole senior year.”
The Lady Cat softball team fell short of the playoffs with a 8-16 overall, 6-6 District 4-4A finish.
McLemore spent time at short stop and the outfield for the Lady Cats this season.
She hit .339 with 10 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 19 RBI and 20 runs scored.
McLemore also had 13 walks and a .810 fielding percentage.
McLemore earned first team All-District 4-4A honors and was first team All-St. Landry Parish utility player.
“I loved centerfieled because I could show off my arm,” she said. “I liked short stop because I had to react very quickly.”
McLemore said her family helped her all the way through her career.
“They were always there for me and I thrived off of that,” she said.
“My dad always pushed me to be better when I was younger and I hated it,” she said. “But now that I achieved all that I did, I have to thank him for not letting me settle on being like the rest. He wanted me to be better.”
McLemore said she is heading to the University of Louisiana- Lafayette with a major in architecture.
Jada Fontenot spent the fall and winter as a St. Edmund cheerleader, but it was the spring where she was a stellar performer.
After three losing seasons, the Lady Jay softball team finished 12-9 overall and defeated South Cameron 10-2 in the opening round of the playoffs. St. Edmund fell 5-2 to Mangham in the regionals.
Fontenot hit. 328 this season with six RBI, 16 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .921 fielding percentage at second base.
She earned a Honorable Mention spot in the District 5-1A softball list.
“Softball was my favorite sport,” she said. “It was great to be close to my team mates - I am going to miss them.”
In the District 5-1A track meet, Fontenot finished second in the triple jump (32-5) and the 100-meter hurdles (18.94).
She finished fourth in the high jump (4-6).
At regionals, she finished second in the triple jump at 33-5 to earn her second straight trip to the Class 1-A state meet.
Fontenot finished third in the triple jump at the Bernie Moore track complex with a 35-5 leap.
“It was great to be on the podium to get my medal,” she said. “I missed my best jump by a half an inch.”
Fontenot said she plans to start at LSU and then transfer to UL-Monroe to major in pharmacy.
The daughter of Mitchell and ??, Jada said her family has been her strength.
“Whenever my dad was there, it made me feel more comfortable,” she said. “He taught me to give it everything I had.”
After hurting his elbow in summer baseball, Jacob Sonnier was limited throwing the ball at quarterback.
Sonnier completed 6-of-19 passes for 34 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions before moving from behind center.
“It was extremely difficult to throw the ball accurately so that led them to moving me to another position,” he said.
But that change opened the door for Sonnier to be involved with more plays on both sides of the ball.
“It was a blast to be more than just a quarterback,” he said. “I was having a blast and liked the game a lot more.
“I wanted to help the team in any way I could.”
He caught five passes for 75 yards and gained 264 yards on 63 carries with two touchdowns.
On defense, Sonnier finished with 23 solo tackles, 22 assists with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, three pass break-ups and two tackles for loss.
The Bobcats finished 6-4 overall, 4-2 in district and fell 23-7 to Westgate in the opening round of the Class 4-A playoffs.
Sonnier closed out his high school career on a high note as the Bobcats finished 25-8 overall, tied for the district title at 10-2 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
Eunice defeated Lutcher 8-1 before falling 8-6 at St. Michael.
Sonnier earned fist team All-District 4-4A honors and was named Honorable Mention Class 4-A All-State.
Sonnier hit .609 in district and .411 on the season with 18 RBI, 14 steals, 10 walks and two home runs.
“We maximized the potential of our team,” he said. “We played very well throughout the season and we won a lot of games.
“We did we could and that was the best we had.”
The son of Mike and Becky Sonnier, Jake said family was important to him, especially getting to play one last season with his brother AP.
“We have been playing together since we were 7-6 year’s old,” Sonnier said. “In high school it was like we were little kids again - we were having a blast every game. I am going to miss that.”
Sonnier credited his parents for helping achieve his dreams.
“They have supported me all the way,” he said. “They have made every game - they are always there.”
Sonnier plans to attend LSUE this fall and one day go to medical school.
It was not the way Drake Dubois wanted to start his senior season - tearing his ACL during the jamboree.
“It was very disappointing to go through the summer workouts and all the work to have it end at the beginning of the season.
“I wanted to play with my best friends in our last season together,” he said.
“But I wanted to make the year worth while,” he said of the recovery process. “I wanted to get back on the field.”
The Blue Jays finished 8-4 overall, 4-1 in District 5-1A and advanced to the Class 1-A semifinals with a 48034 win over Ascension Catholic before falling 28-7 at Cedar Creek.
Dubois rehabbed enough to join his baseball team mates.
“I was glad to be able to play and thankful to be out on the field,” he said. “The knee injury did keep me from playing 100 percent, but I gave it all I had.”
Dubois hit. 164 with 11 RBI, 10 runs scored and had a 1-1 pitching record this season with the Blue Jays.
Dubois closed out his senior year throwing the javelin, a sport he didn’t try until the final months of high school.
“Since I didn’t get to play football I wanted to add something to do as much as I could my senior year,” he said. “It was the first year I ever tried it. I wish I had done it sooner.”
Dubois won the district title with a throw of 154-5, but did not qualify for state in that event.
“I will miss the Blue Jay family,” he said. “Everybody had each other’s back and we worked through everything together.”
The son of Chris and Missy Dubois, Drake said he is grateful that he had the support of his family.
“Family means everything to me,” he said. “They were with me all the way.
“I am glad that my dad helped teach me to play ball and that he was there for me.”
Dubois is planning to attend LSUE and transfer to McNeese State to earn a degree in offshore safety.