By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE – After a banner year across the board for Riverside athletics, three of its top performers earned the highest honors at the school’s annual athletic banquet.
Sophomore Von Julien and junior Kendra Turner were named Riverside’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year respectively, while senior Jonquial Sanders captured honors as Mr. Rebel, the highest honor awarded by the Rebel football program.
Julien stepped into the starting lineup as the team’s starting point guard last season, succeeding his brother, Lucas Martin-Julien. He hit the ground running, leading the Rebels to a Class 2A state championship victory and earning Class 2A Outstanding Player honors on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s All-State team. He averaged 14.1 points, 8.1 assists, 4.3 steals and 4.1 rebounds with less than two turnovers a game. He also earned honors as L’Observateur’s St. John Parish co-basketball MVP.
On the football field, Julien was second in the River Parishes with 778 yards receiving. He scored eight touchdowns as part of an explosive spread offense.
“He showed a lot of leadership,” said Riverside basketball coach and Athletic Director Timmy Byrd. “He’s a top notch athlete, but as good as he is, he’s an extremely hard worker. He doesn’t just do it at practice, he puts in a ton of work on his own time.”
Turner transferred to Riverside from Houma Christian and immediately gave a lift to three of the Lady Rebel programs, finishing as All-State in both volleyball and basketball while qualifying for the state track and field championships in two events.
The 6-foot-2 inch junior slammed down 256 kills this season to go along with 72 blocks and 40 aces in volleyball, earning honors as L’Observateur’s 2012 St. John Parish MVP and leading RA to the Division IV state semifinals. On the basketball court, she averaged a team-leading 16 points per game.
“She made a huge impact across the board,” said Riverside assistant Athletic Director Kristy Hebert. “To come in and be All-State in two sports and a state qualifier in another, you can’t say enough. She was just a big, big addition this year.”
Sanders was an impossible cover on the gridiron, rushing for 950 yards and 17 touchdowns while hauling in 669 receiving yards and eight more scores, helping to guide Riverside into the state quarterfinals of Class 2A.
“The one thing Coach (Bill) Stubbs and the football staff consistently say about him is how hard he practices,” said Byrd.
“He plays every down with intensity, full speed in practice and sets the tone. That sets him apart from everyone else. His coaches raved about that, and his work ethic led him to have a incredible season.”