Local athletes grateful to play close to home

September 15, 2016

For some Nicholls athletes, the only thing better than the opportunity to compete at the Division I level, while playing the sport they love, is being able to do it right in the comfort of their hometown with the support of familiar faces on the sideline.

Although Nicholls is home to student-athletes from far and wide, a large driving force in the motivation of local Colonel athletes comes from their support systems of family and friends who are just a stone’s throw away.

Junior volleyball players Emily Weimer and Sydney Lerille agree that they still receive unique college experiences as athletes even though they attend school in the same town they grew up in.

“I’m definitely glad to be a local athlete because of the support system I have around 24/7,” Weimer said. “It has become more important to me over time because I know I can expect my family to be at every game and I never have to look into the stands wishing I had a family member at a game.”

Growing up in Raceland, Lerille was happy to get the opportunity to move back to where she laid her roots after spending her first year of college at the University of West Alabama.

“I moved away for my freshman year to a school four hours away and I didn’t like it. I moved back because my family was not able to make every game at my old school and that was a big deal for me,” Lerille said. “Now that I am local, all my friends and family can come and watch every home game.”

Weimer still has ties to her high school volleyball at E.D. White where she helps out during the summer and makes an effort to attend at least one home game a year. Along with the new athletes at her high school, Weimer has stayed in touch with most of her coaches and alumni who get together to scrimmage over summer break. Vandebilt Catholic gets an occasional visit during the summer from Lerille as well, since it’s the only time her schedule allows.

For junior tight end Stephen LeBouef, also a graduate of E.D. White, being a local athlete gives him the privilege of being the go-to-guy for his teammates and people around campus who seek information about the area or need help finding their way around.

“A lot of my fellow athletes, if they have questions about Thibodaux, they come to me,” LeBouef said, “I think it’s pretty cool that I have that inside information and if anyone needs help, I can point them in the right direction around Thibodaux.”

Because LeBouef was strongly influenced by his high school coaches who taught him how to receive coaching and to play the game the right way, he tries to make it to as many football games as he can. LeBouef recently made an appearance as a guest speaker at E.D. White’s pep rally before they faced rival Vandebilt Catholic.

LeBouef has learned that communication is a two-way street; he realizes it’s special when his coaches make an effort to keep in touch with him through social media. The constant support from his old coaches is what keeps his relationship with his high school program strong.

One of LeBouef’s most memorable moments as a football player at E.D. White was in the playoff quarterfinal against Parkview Baptist. Although the Cardinals didn’t get the result they wanted, the fan support made all the difference.

“The game didn’t turn out that well but the crowd that was supporting us brought such an electrifying feel to it,” LeBouef said. “A lot of those people still talk to me and come watch Nicholls games. The fact that my friends get to see me play the sport I love brings joy to my heart.”

Redshirt junior Kirstie Champagne from Houma chose to stay local and carry on a family tradition after playing soccer at Terrebonne High School.

“In my case, my sister played here and it’s special because I wear her number,” Champagne said. “That’s one reason why I came here because family is huge for me and I always want their support at every game.”

Champagne notes that the opportunity to branch out and meet new people in college exists whether one decides to remain close to home or move far away. She said she was able to find a new family within the one she already had by staying local.

“A part of me always does wonder what it would be like if I went away, just because I’ve lived here my whole life. Then I think about after a game and my whole family being there and it makes me happy with my decision.”

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