2016 Top athletes named

They will be remembered for their accompishments at their high schools as stellar athletes and quality individuals.
The Eunice News Athletes of the Year are Eunice High’s Mia Rougeau and Ajyh Johnson along with St. Edmund’s Sydney Thibodeaux and Gibson LaFleur.
All four were nominated by their respective athletic directors as their school’s top athletes.
Thibodeaux was busy from her first cross country meet until that final out of her senior year in the softball playoffs.
Thibodeaux, the daughter of Stacey and Steven Thibodeaux was a five-year letterman in cross country and softball and spent four seasons in basketball and track.
“I was injured as a junior and so it showed me I couldn’t take anything for granted,” she said of her basketball career. “I tried to play with all I had every game.”
She was named to the District 5-1A All-Defensive team as a senior for her hustle.
Thibodeaux earned First team All-District honors as a catcher to close her athletic career.
While many students are multi-sport athletes, Thibodeaux did it while overcoming a life-long battle with asthma.
“I have had it since I was a little kid,” she said of her asthma. “It was very frustrating whenever I had an attack.
“I didn’t want others to think I was slacking or wanted to get out of a workout.”
Thibodeaux was also a 4.0 GPA student and earned Composite Academic All-State honors, which put her among the top in all seven LHSAA classifications.
“If you don’t manage your time wisely then you won’t do well in either school or athletics,” she said.
Besides athletics and academics, Thibodeaux also played in the Blue Jay drumline.
“I never thought I would do that,” she said. “But after I didn’t make the cheerleading squad as a freshman, but I found something that I enjoy.”
She said the one constant in athletics was her parents and family.
“I have one the best support systems.” Thibodeaux said. “My family was at every event and was there for me.”
Thibodeaaux plans to attend Louisiana Tech and major in Civil Engineering.
Rougeau played softball and basketball all four years of high school, while spending one year in track and volleyball.
She said she wanted to be on the new volleyball team to help it begin its development.
“I had played years before and so why not,” she said. “I was fun to be on the court.”
In basketball, Rougeau was selected on tbe District 5-3A All-Defensive team.
“I tried to hustle and fight for the ball every game,” she said. “I wanted to give my best.”
Rougeau said softball was her favorite sport while sharing time at catcher and centerfield.
She was selected All-District 5-3A second team outfielder.
“I will always remember hitting a grand slam as a freshman,” she said. “That helped begin my high school athletics.”
Rougeau was named Class 3-A Academic All-State with a 3.85 GPA.
“I managed my time to do sports and school,” she said. “I will miss being around my teammates.”
Rougeau said one constant through school was knowning her mother Mary and grandmother Jeanne were always there.
“It was great to see them there every game supporting me,” she said. “I was blessed to have them close.”
Rougeau plans to attend McNeese and major in physical education.
Lafleur was a three-sport star at St. Edmund as he played football, baseball and track.
He was named to the All-District 5-1A first team on both offense and defense hi senior season.
He gained 847 yards on 140 carries at runningback with 14 touchdowns.
Lafleur added 943 yards on 65 receptions with five more touchdowns.
“Coach told me I would have a big role but I never expected it to turn in to all that it did.”
Lafleur also earned Louisiana High School Footbal Coaches Association first team honors.
“I don’t have any regrets,” he said. “I left it all on the field.”
As a junior, Lafleur was the catcher on the Class 1-A state runners-up team.
“We had great expectations heading into our senior year because of making to the state tournament,” he said. “Things didn’t really work out as we planned.
The Blue Jays grabbed a 5-4 win over Ascension Catholic to open the playoffs as Lafleur struck nine and allowed four hits while going 3-for-4 at the plate.
St. Ed’s then stunned No. 2 Covenant Christian 6-2 as Lafleur earned another victory on the mound.
The Blue Jays fell 11-1 to Oak Grove in the state quarterfinals.
Lafleur said he was part of the track team because he liked to compete.
“I am very satisfied about my high school career,” he said. “I loved football but going to state in baseball was the highlight - I am going to miss high school.”
Gipson, son of Clark and Dayna Lafleur, will attend LSUE as a member of the Bengal baseball team and major in business with a career in construction management.
Ajyh Johnson spent all four years on the football and track teams, but his career was motivaed by a tragedy.
Ajyh was 12 when his father, Ken LaVallis Johnson died of a heart attack.
“I started playing football because my dad played at Eunice and I wanted to memorialize him after he died.
As senior, he led the team 119 total tackles, incuding four caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
“We worked hard for a goal that helped motivate us and push us beyond our own limits,’ he said. “I had fun but I pushed hard every single play.”
Johnson earned All-District 5-3A first team honors at linebacker and was also named to LFCA Class 3-A second team.
“I wanted to live up the defensive standard that has been set at Eunice High,” he said. “I didn’t want to let the team down.”
Johnson finished third in the javelin as a senior at the St. Landry Parish track meet.
“I am proud of what I accomplished in high school,” he said. “I gave it my all.”
He earned Class 3-A Academic All-State honors with a 3.92 GPA.
Ajyh, the son of Anita Johnwell Johnson, will attend Washington College in Maryland and major in neurobiology.