Latest news with #BarbeHighSchool
American Press
17-06-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Fast track to gold: Cagle recipients driven to succeed
Kennedi Burks leaves Barbe High School as one of the fastest 400-meter runners ever in the state of Louisiana. At the same time, Hamilton Christian's Kaleb Bigwood overcame a trying sophomore campaign to shine on the track as a junior. Barbe pole vaulter Carter Hooks and Washington-Marion jumper Taylar Brown pushed themselves to the max as seniors and medaled at the state meet for the first time. They are this year's recipients of the 54th Cagle Award as voted by Calcasieu Parish high school track and field coaches. The award has been presented to the top track and field athletes in Calcasieu Parish since 1971. It is named for the late Kenneth 'Bobby' Cagle, a supporter of track and field and a former state legislator and businessman. Boys field – Carter Hooks, Barbe Hooks topped out at 13 feet as a junior last season and finished fifth at the Class 5A state meet, but became a state champion in his final season. He cleared 14-51/4 to beat defending champion Miller Malley of Benton on a tiebreaker. At the Division I indoor state meet in February, he was runner-up to Malley. 'He is just a fearless competitor,' Barbe boys head track coach Mitch Amy said. 'He has always been that. 'That, combined with a lot of practice and a lot of good coaching, is what got him to where he was this year. He always had the potential. He was willing to do anything, and it all came together this year. 'He actually could have been on our 4×100. He is fast. I didn't make him do that, and he just focused on pole vault. That just shows you what kind of athlete he is. He is explosive and fast. The light bulb finally went off, and he was really fun to watch.' He ranked third outdoor (15-0) and fourth indoor (13-111/4) in the state this season, and he did it all despite various injuries, including a broken arm before the 2024 football season. 'The kid is tough as nails,' Amy said. 'He came back and played the back half of the (football) season. That didn't stop him. 'He competed in indoor (track) and did really well. From there, he attacked outdoor and continued to get better. He battled some adversity along the way and was a little beat up with back issues, but the thing with Carter is, it didn't matter. He is going to fight through everything.' Boys track – Kaleb Bigwood, Hamilton Christian In 2024, the indoor and outdoor state meets didn't go the way Bigwood had hoped, but it didn't deter him from trying again in 2025, and it paid off to earn his second Cagle Award in three seasons. The junior won the Division II indoor 400-meter (50.36 seconds) state championship and the outdoor Class 1A 400 (48.82) state title, plus the 4×100 relay. Also at the state meet, he ran personal bests in the 100- (11.00) and 200-meter dashes (21.19) to place third and second, respectively. 'His season was in one word grateful due to his season last year with the back-to-back falls at indoor and outdoor state and being able to hit 47 at Leesville's track meet back in April,' Hamilton head track coach Aleyah Donald said. 'For him to come back and be able to even want to continue to run after two falls and the passing of his mother, I am just happy that this kid defeated all odds.' In three seasons, Bigwood has won nine medals at state meets, including six golds, and Donald said he hasn't reached his full potential yet. 'He is not even done,' Donald said. 'He has one more season left, and I am definitely excited to see what he has in store. I know we haven't unlocked all of his (potential) yet.' He ran the top 400 indoor time in the state this season at 48.79 seconds and recently ran a personal-best 47.51 to win the 400 at the Great Southwest meet in New Mexico, which moved him into second in the state this year. Bigwood is the third Hamilton Christian athlete to win a Cagle Award and the first since Ben Avery in 2015. Girls field – Taylar Brown, Washington-Marion Brown has won many medals in her career at Washington-Marion, and with a renewed focus as a senior, she won her first medal at the state meet and placed sixth in two other events. She was the Class 4A long jump runner-up at LSU in May with a distance of 18-71/4. She placed sixth in the 200 (25.91) and triple jump (35-61/2). Longtime head coach Gordon Thompson said running the 100 and 200 helped her improve overall. 'The amazing part about it is that she concentrated on it more this year,' Thompson said. 'She was determined. Once she cleared 17 feet, she started seeing 18 feet and saying, 'Coach, I am thinking 18 feet.' 'She and Coach Avery talked about it a lot. She started working on her technique, speed and running. We finally convinced her to get in the 200 and that helped her with her speed down the runway. Once she bought in, she just worked so hard.' She set a career-best mark of 19-51/2, the third best in the state this season, to win the Class 4A, Region I championship. Brown is the fifth athlete from W-M to win a Cagle Award and the first since Christian Edwards won in 2017. Girls track – Kennedi Burks, Barbe Whether it was indoors or outdoors, Burks was unbeatable in the 400. She won her third consecutive 400 outdoor state title and second consecutive indoor. She won her second consecutive Cagle Award. 'It was awesome,' Barbe girls track head coach Pricilla Ibarra said. 'She just had a very good, consistent season. 'Last year was when we really saw her take off. This year was about being consistent. She started the season off so strong. She started at 53.8, and that was the fastest season opener that I had seen before. It was incredible. She was very determined.' Burks also led Barbe to a gold medal in the outdoor 4×400 and finished her career with 12 medals at state meets. Her last outdoor 400 race was one of the closest of her career as she held on to beat Hahnville's Madison Bailey by 0.03 seconds with a time of 53.82 seconds. 'State was a very close finish, and she still found a way to break through and get that win,' Burks said. 'That shows a lot about her character the determination that she had.' Burks, an LSU signee, leaves high school with the state outdoor (53.44) and indoor (54.36) composite records. 'Every race she runs just reminds me how fast she is,' Ibarra said. 'I almost forget in the moment, but when she takes off you are reminded of it right then and there.'
American Press
31-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Cody Don Brock
Cody Don Brock, 35, born on Dec. 6, 1989, passed away May 26, 2025, Memorial Day, in Lake Charles as a result of a tragic accident. Cody was a lifelong resident of Lake Charles, a graduate of Barbe High School and Sowela Technical School where he studied Electrical Instrumentation. He had a gifted technical mind, enjoyed gaming, experimenting and designing and built his advanced computer and security systems. He also enjoyed his work in Marine construction and worked the past three years as a Marine carpenter for Kenny Cooley. An avid outdoorsman, Cody loved nature, being in the mountains, running his boat and fishing. His greatest times were shared with his family and friends, and his greatest joy was his children and 'fur babies'. As we remember Cody, we strive to celebrate his life, love and laughter. Cody was deeply loved by many, leaving to cherish his memory, his children, Gemma Ann Brock and Avery Van Jackson; devoted mother, Heather Brock LeJeune; sisters, Amber LeJeune and Katy LeJeune, as well as his brothers, Dustin LeJeune and Brandon LeJeune and fiancé, Mackenzie Webb. He also leaves his loving girlfriend, Alyssa Broussard; many dear friends, extended family and 'fur baby' Pitbull's, Rufus, Roxy, Rosie, Dottie and Chonk. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, David R. and Nina Neely Brock and father, Shannon Dale LeJeune. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025 in the Chapel of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation Monday will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service in the funeral home. Interment services will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Pallbearers for his services will be his brothers, and dearest friends, Dustin LeJeune, Brandon LeJeune, Mike Miller, Glen Verkler, Anthony Castille and Preston Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be Darryan Smith Myers, Jeremy Matte and Stephen Almirall. In respect of these unforeseen circumstances, donations to the family may be made through the donation tab (Resources- Make Payment) for Cody on the Johnson Funeral Home website. ments Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at
American Press
23-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Kay back to defend rodeo title
Ella Kay stormed onto the high school rodeo scene last year and won the goat tying state championship as a freshman, and she is back to defend her title. Kay, a multi-sport athlete at Barbe High School, is the favorite to win next week at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. 'I'm very excited,' Kay said. 'I've been working on staying mentally tough. 'I feel like sometimes I let other people get into my head and kind of mess with my brain a little bit, but I just worked on being consistent and playing my own game.' She won seven of the 10 high school rodeos she competed in this season, plus she was one of the semifinal winners at the Hooey Jr. Patriot rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas, in March. The LHSFR starts Monday with reined cow horse and cutting. All other events start Thursday with the first-go round split between two performances at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The second-go will follow the same schedule on Friday. The top 15 in each event advance to the short-go at 5 p.m. Saturday. The top four in each event qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 13-19. Kay owns a commanding lead in the standings with 102 points, followed by Briarfield Academy's Sage Raymond (75) and Abbie Savant (73.5). 'She is very consistent, and she'll come up on your heels,' Kay said of Raymond. 'I just got to watch her. 'I think that I need to be optimistic even if I don't draw exactly what I need and just go do my job, play my game and let them beat me.' Kay got her start in the sport at 6 years old despite what she said were reservations from her father, a former tiedown roper. She won three consecutive junior high state goat tying championships and a national before moving up to the high school ranks. 'At first, he told me I was too young to actually rodeo at the time, and I finally just convinced him,' Kay said. 'I was like, 'Dad, let me try,' and so we tried, and then I just took off with it. 'It came kind of easy, like just like natural athleticism, but it took me a hard time to get to where I am today, like lots of ups and downs and hard work.' Kay said she practices between eight and 10 hours a week while balancing school and playing for the Barbe softball team. 'I think staying healthy is a main thing, and your time, just because it's such a physical sport,' Kay said. Kay said she and her horse have to work together to be successful. 'Me and my horse are a team, kind of, so teamwork and understanding my horse and just hard work in general,' she said. 'I mean, rodeo is not a very easy sport.'
American Press
23-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Kelly Rae Elliott Boudoin
Kelly Rae Elliott Boudoin, born in Lake Charles on July 21, 1968, daughter of Jimmy and Mary Elliott, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the age of 56. A graduate of Barbe High School, Kelly worked as cafeteria manager for the Calcasieu Parish School Board. She enjoyed Mardi Gras, being with her family, loved spending time with her grandchildren, and going to the beach any chance she had. Kelly loved to get her graduating class of 1986 together for mini reunions. Left to cherish wonderful memories are her husband of 38 years, Gil Boudoin; mother, Mary Elliott; daughters, Victoria Rae Boudoin and Anna Jewel Boudoin; grandchildren, Kohen, Riggin, and Bellamie Boudoin; sister, Katie Elliott Diamond, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Jimmy Elliott Funeral services will be in Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 1 p.m. The Rev. Roland Vaughn will officiate. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery under the direction of Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. in the funeral home, with a rosary recited at 12:30 p.m. Pallbearers assisting in her service are Jacob Boudoin, Clark Diamond, Jude Broussard, Jaxon Moreaux, Marvin Cradeur, Thell Gillis, and Kohen Boudoin.
