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NV’s McKay Stevens

NV’s Stevens named Vermilion Parish Student of the Year

LEROY — When looking at candidates for Vermilion Parish Student of the Year, the numbers could simply speak for themselves.
There are dozens of students with 4.0 GPA’s and high scores on the ACT, among other accolades. With that said, North Vermilion High’s McKay Stevens did not put a great deal of pressure on herself when going through the process of the Student of the Year competition.
“I honestly did not,” Stevens said. “My ACT is a 24 and my GPA (3.85) is not a 4.0. I know other kids had way more to show on those aspects.”
What pushed Stevens to the top, earning her Vermilion Parish Student of the Year, is her ability to speak, something she does really well.
“One of my stronger suits is talking,” Stevens said. “I enjoy talking about leadership and there were some questions about that.
‘I think the interview process allowed me to showcase the things that I am OK at.”
North Vermilion Principal Tommy Byler said he agreed that Stevens’ strong suits did shine through.
“McKay is very goal
driven,” Byler said. “She is one of those kids that you can’t tell her that she can’t do something. She is going to set a goal and find a way to reach and accomplish it. She doesn’t just talk about ideas and then just let them go away. She talks about ideas and then her leadership skills allow that ultimate goal to come through.”
Stevens, the daughter of Brett Stevens and Joanna Sonnier, applies that work ethic to her grades, some she said she has to work harder on than others. Mixed in with all the studying, Stevens always finds time for extra curricular activities. Those include Beta, Campus Beautification, Band - Drum Major, National Honor Society, Girls State, Parish Government Day, FBLA, Friends Matter, Science Club, Science Club - Secretary, Class Officer - Reporter, Beta - President, National Honor Society - President and Campus Beautification - President.
“In my school life I value my extra curricular as much as anything,” Stevens said.
Stevens is not yet sure where her life will take her after she graduates from North Vermilion in a few short months. She toured LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge on Friday.
“I am really interested in LSU,” Stevens said. “I would love to be in their band. I think that would be a big honor.”
Stevens plans to major in business and minor in psychology. Her mother works as a psychologist for the Vermilion Parish School System.
“If I want to one day be a leader in business,” Stevens said, “then having a psychology background could help me better understand people.
“My mom got me interested in that in the first place.”
Another family member’s career, that of her grandfather, Charles Sonnier of Abbeville, has also piqued some interest.
“My grandfather is a lawyer and I have thought about that,” Stevens said. “Business and psychology could help me in that regard.”
What has helped Stevens in any regard is simply being herself.
“I am learning that,” Stevens said. “I always wish that my academics could be stronger. It’s important for everyone to realize that they have strong suits.”

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The window in the concession stand was broken and vandals went inside the concession stand. It was not known if anything was stolen or damaged.

Kaplan football stadium vandalized

For the second time in two months, the Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium in Kaplan was vandalized.
High school track coaches went to track practice Thursday after school when they noticed the damage.
The Kaplan Police were called to the scene.
A window, on the north side of the concession stand by the stadium, was broken. The vandals went into the concession stand but it was not known at press time if anything was stolen from the concession stand.
Last month, the vandals went into the concession stand and destroyed an expensive popcorn maker.
On Thursday, the coaches also noticed a Stihl Weed Eater and plastic gas tanks taken.
The vandals climbed a 15-foot fence and jumped over barb wire with the weed eater .
They walked into the bathrooms and created damage.
Kaplan Principal Dr. Janet Guerrini was upset with the discovery of the vandalism.
She has a solution to stopping it, but it will be one the public will not like.
Kaplan stadium is open to the public 24-7. Residents walk and run around the track for exercise.
Also, it is not uncommon to see students riding skateboards under the stadium after school.
If the vandalism continues, Dr. Guerrini will lock the gates of the stadium, closing off the track to residents.
Because of the most recent crime, Dr. Guerrini will begin looking into installing video cameras under the stadium and at the concession stand.
As of Friday, no arrests had been made.
If anyone knows anything about the vandalism at the stadium to call the Kaplan police or the school (643-6385).

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Dillon Dupree pitched the Eagles to victory.

VC opens with victory over Delcambre

The Vermilion Catholic Eagles scored six runs in the first inning and cruised to a 14-4 victory over Delcambre on Thursday.
Dillon Dupree got the victory on the hill for VC. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three hits and struck out three.
Hunter Bertrand closed for VC.
For DHS, Payton Deranger took the loss on the hill.
VC racked up 13 hits.

Matt Fonenot had a great game for VC. He was 3-for-4 and knocked in five runs. Gage Trahan had two hits and knocked in a run.
Austin Bellaire had had two hits and knocked in a run for VC.
Cole Delcambre and Kylan Verret had hits for DHS.

Catholic High..17
Kaplan............3

The Kaplan Pirates committed 9 errors in six innings to begin the 2017 season against Catholic High on Thursday.
Pitcher Kolby Bertrand started and went three innings and allowed two hits. Brayden Bass and Dylon Case pitched the final three innings.
Drew Winch, Noah Gaspard and Anthony Demarco had hits.

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Dylan Gaspard stands on second after hitting a double for NVHS.

NV pitchers combine for no-hitter

Two North Vermilion pitchers didn’t allow a single hit, as the Patriots defeated Highland Baptist Christian, 18-0, on Thursday played in Erath.
NV freshman Hayden Durke earned his first varsity win for the Patriots. He tossed three innings, surrendering zero runs, zero hits, and striking out eight.
Joey Russell closed the final inning. He struck out two and walked one.
The two pitchers combined to walk three batters.
At the plate, NV racked up 12 hits.
Charlie Galluser led the Patriots to victory by driving in seven runs. He went 3-for-3 at the plate, including two doubles. Galluser drove in runs on a double in the second and a stolen base in the third.
The Patriots took an early lead in the first inning. An error scored two runs for the Patriots. The Patriots scored eight runs in the third inning.
The Patriots’ big inning was driven by a stolen base by Galluser, a walk by Blake Hebert, a single by Luke Leblanc, a walk by Connor Dupuy, and a walk by Bryce Landry.
The Patriots stole six bases during the game as two players stole more than one. Dupuy led the way with three. The Patriots were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Garrett Becker had the most chances in the field with seven.
Dylan Gaspard and Tyler Broussard each had doubles for NV.

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Olivia Chiasson came off the bench for VC to score a team-high 14 points.

VC gets rid of jitters, downs Hanson

Things looked a little shaky at the start for the Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles in the first quarter against the Hanson Lady Tigers, but then VC settled down and played like they know how to play.
The end result was a 58-48 victory over Hanson and advancing to the final four of the Division IV playoffs.
VC will play Lafayette Christian Academy on Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. in the University Center at the campus of Southeastern Louisiana.
The winner of that game will play the winner of No. 1 Houma Christian/No. 4 Southern Lab winner on Friday.
The Lady Eagles fell behind 11-3 four minutes into the game because Hanson came to play and hit outside shots.
“I got worried because we were not stepping up on our defensive side that I thought we would have ready for,” said Guidry, who won her 800th game that night. “But then those outside shots quit falling and Vermilion Catholic’s inside shots began going in. But then we settled down when the jitters went away.”
In a span of a minute, VC went from being down by seven points to tied 14-14 with 35 seconds left to play in the first quarter. The VC crowd erupted when Kylie White made a layup and converted a free throw that tied the game 14-14.
Two minutes into the second quarter, Ainsley Mallet made a shot that gave VC a 22-16 lead. It capped off a 17-5 run by the Lady Eagles.
VC pounded the inside, which led to points. The Lady Eagles led 28-20 at half time.
Hanson opened the third period on fire.. The Lady Tigers trimmed VC’s lead to two points, 30-28, with 4:25 to play in the third period.
The legendary head coach called time out to settle her girls down.
“I told them they have to play defense and they have to rebound,” Guidry said. “You have to rebound every miss ball. That is our goal so they do not get second and third attempts.”
Once again, the Lady Eagles showed character and did not panic. Jay Demouchet and Ann Catherine Gallet nailed back-to-back buckets.
Gallet, who came off the bench as a back up guard, finished with seven points, six assists and three rebounds. She dished off to Kylie White under the goal, who made the shot but was fouled.
White converted the three-point play, and VC led 37-29 with 2:34 to play in the third period.
Olivia “O” Chiasson, a senior, came off the bench and provided the spark that VC needed. She finished with a team-high 14 points.
She made four free throws in the first half and connected on four baskets in the second half.
Guidry was proud that some players off the bench (Gallet and Chiasson) came through.
“I thought they did a heck of job coming off the bench,” said Guidry. “We talk about that all year - not everyone is going to be on all year. The key is can someone step up? Some players will have a good night and some will not.”
The Hanson defense shut down VC point guard Jay Demouchet by having a player in her face all night. Guidry said “O” stepped up and provided big points for VC.
Chiasson, who is the sister of former VC player Emile Chiasson, admits she was nervous coming into Thursday’s game.
“I was pretty nervous but we played Hanson before,” she said. We knew they could shoot outside, we tried to shut them down on the outside and have them go to their inside game.”
Frith, Gallet, White and Chiasson made shots that gave VC a cushion 47-33 lead with six minutes to play in the game.
This will be Guidry’s seventh trip to the semifinals. The team went two years ago and finished second in state.
Frith, a freshman, had 11 points for VC. Other VC scorers were Demouchet (7), Mallet (6), Bella Doucet (6) and White (7).

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Kendra Petry made six points in the second period for Gueydan.

Gueydan going to Final Four for the first time in 16 years

GUEYDAN - The Gueydan Honeybears are heading back to the Class A Final Four for the first time in 16 years.
On Thursday in front of a packed gym full of Gueydan fans, the Honeybears beat Homer, 56-45, in the quarterfinal round.
Gueydan plays No. 2 seed Merryville Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. in Hammond.
“It feels great,” said GHS head coach Randall Bertrand.”It has always been a dream of mine to either play or coach in the Top 28.”
Ashari Terry, who has been steady all year, set the tone for Gueydan in the first quarter by scoring 13 of her 16 points.
She made five two-pointers and one three. Then she hurt her shoulder late in the first period.
“She took control,” said Bertrand about Terry. “Then she got hurt but she wanted to go back in and gut it out.”
Gueydan led 18-12 after the first period.
Then in the second period, Ke’Ara Charles and Kendra Petry stepped up and combined for 11 out of Gueydan’s 18 points.
At halftime, the Honeybears led 30-20.
Homer caught fire in the third period and outscored Gueydan 15-6 and closed the gap to 35-34 heading into the final period.
But the Honeybears had the homecourt advantage and used it.
Cheyenne LaComb, who is known for her outside shot, nailed two big three pointers, sparking Gueydan in the fourth period. LaComb scored all of her nine points in the fourth period.
Charles scored seven points in the fourth frame and finished with 14 in the game.
Gueydan outscored Homer 20-10 in the fourth period.
T’Nia Leger, who finished with 10 points, scored six in the third period for GHS.
The Honeybears will leave on Monday for Hammond. They will practice in the UL girls gym Monday before heading out to the Top 28.

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Present and former VC players surround Kim Guidry to take a photo after Guidry won her 800th game.

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A special cake was made for Kim Guidry.

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Players of the past surprised Kin Guidry with a cake.

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Kin Guidry talked to the fans after the victory.

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The VC student body showed their support of Kim Guidry during the game.

VC head coach Kim Guidry gets her 800th victory

History was made Thursday night at Vermilion Catholic.
Long-time VC head girls coach Kim Guidry won her 800th career game, beating Hanson 58-48.
By doing so, she has by far the most wins of any other basketball coach in Vermilion Parish.
After the game, VC principal Mike Guilbeau had a small presentation to honor her accomplishment.
Former players and friends walked on the court pushing a cake with a VC jersey showing the number 800 drawn on top of the cake. Guidry thanked everyone, but she also reminded every player, she never played a game.
“It is all about the girls who come through the program,” she said.
When the gym emptied, Guidry began checking her cell phone and noticed she had around 20 texts and missed phone calls. When asked what the number 800 means to her, she politely said, “it is just a number. Kind of like my age.”
She was the last one to leave the gym, which by the way is named after her, and began preparing to get win No. 801.
The Lady Eagles will play Lafayette Christian Academy Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Hammond on Southeastern University’s campus.
The team will leave school Monday afternoon.
The Gueydan Honeybears, who is also in VC’s district, also made it to Hammond They will play Tuesday at 4:45 p.m.

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VC head coach Kim Guidry sits in an office surrounded by all of her accomplishments.

Vermilion Catholic's Guidry Going For 800th Win

And to think Kim “Gidge” Guidry almost did not become the head girls basketball coach at Vermilion Catholic High School. Guidry ...

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Richard Clarence Petry

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church honoring the life Richard Clarence Petry who died on February 17, 2017 after a lengthy illness.  He will be laid to rest at St Paul 
Cemetery with Father Gregory Cormier officiating the services.
Richard Clarence Petry was born in Abbeville, Louisiana to the late Laura Huntsberry Petry and Elsworth Petry Sr. on August 1, 1940.  He was the fourth of fifteen children. Richard had been an active member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, having been a 
Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister for several years.  He was also a member of St. Peter Claver Council #77 for many years.
Richard is survived by his  loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Zemma Bessard Petry.  He is also survived by eight sisters, Claudette (William) Simons, Lois (Eddie) Jordan, Leona (Fred) Hillman, Inolia (Paul, Sr.) Senegal, Carolyn Lucas, Lauren ( Mike) Brailey, Elsie Dora, and Verna Petry; and four brothers, Elsworth Jr. (Mary Eva) Petry, Alvin Petry, Mackolyn ( Vicki) Petry, and Teary (Chung) Petry; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elsworth and Laura Huntsberry Petry and two sisters Mary Petry Dozier and Linda Petry Pillette.
The family requests that visitation hours be observed at David Funeral Home on Saturday, February 25, 2017 starting at 8:00AM until time of service, with a rosary being recited at 9:00AM. 
The family would like to thank Inolia Senegal, Mackolyn Petry, Laura Petry, Mary Small, Monique Meaux, Marion Bessard, Sr., Emma Jean Landry and Phillip for their compassion and care during Richard's time of need.
Richard will be sadly missed by many family and friends.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org.
All Funeral arrangements are being conducted by David Funeral Home of Abbeville, 2600 Charity Street, 337-893-3777.
Reflection:“Blessed are the poor in Spirit for they shall see God”….

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