By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD – West St. John recently honored its top student-athletes at its annual athletic awards banquet, with two Rams highlighting the list with top honors.

Seniors Jordan Triche and Jasmine Young were honored with the Anthony Miller Award, the school’s honor for its top male and female athletes respectively. The award encompasses career achievements at West St. John in athletics and beyond.

Triche was an all-around performer with the Rams who competed in football, basketball, baseball and track. Over his career, he’s earned All-District honors in football, as a defensive back, and track and field. He earned All-Regional honors in the latter.

Triche was the school’s valedictorian and student of the year, so his efforts extended past just his athletic achievements.

“That’s what the award is all about. It encompasses your whole body of work,” said West St. John athletic director Robert Valdez. “It’s about athletics, academics and good citizenship by a student athlete.”

Valdez, who coached Triche on the football field, said Triche was a perfect fit for the Miller Award.

“He’s a tremendous young man,” said Valdez. “You could always count on Jordan. He was the first guy in and last guy out of every practice, every meeting. He’s always been that way and he’s a very, very humble young man. He’s got a team first attitude and wherever we needed him to be, he was ready to help us.”

Young was another multi-sport star, competing in basketball, volleyball and softball. Her play on the basketball court earned Young her highest accolades, as she helped the team’s turnaround over the past two seasons — the Rams won their first district crown and first playoff game in Young’s junior year, then won another postseason game in her senior campaign.

Young was named All-District 9-1A, and also All-St. John Parish (by L’Observateur) for her efforts on the court as a senior.

“She was probably the toughest athlete in the whole school,” said Valdez. “She played through injuries and never complained. She was one of the catalysts of the basketball teams’ turnaround. She was kind of like the team’s Dennis Rodman, doing the dirty work, getting rebounds and playing defense the way it’s meant to be played. She has a tremendous attitude and competitive fire.”