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American Press
22-07-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Long road to national title, Ty LaVergne tames bulls at NHSFR
Rodeo life means thousands of miles and countless hours on the road, but it allows for ample time for reflection. DeQuincy sophomore bull rider Ty LaVergne spent 15 hours and 1,000 miles from Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Rock Springs, Wyoming, thinking about his scoreless week at the International Finals Youth Rodeo. By the time he arrived at the National High School Finals Rodeo, he knew what he had to do and won his first high school national championship. 'I just knew I had to do my job,' LaVergne said. The championship came down to the final round on Saturday at the Sweetwater Events Complex. LaVergne watched the other 19 short-go round qualifiers make a run at the title before he got his shot close 10 p.m. that evening. He needed 63.5 points, but left no doubt that he is one of the rising bull riders in the country with a career-best 87-point ride. After a couple of leaps right out of the game, the bull didn't take it easy on LaVergne as he spun left away from his hand. He spun LaVergne round three times, but he held on for the highest-scoring ride of the week. He didn't show any nerves in his first NHSFR appearance and was the only bull rider to score 80-plus points in all three rounds. He won the first go-round with 86 points and was fifth in the second-go round with 80 points. 'It feels pretty good,' LaVergne said. 'I had a lot of fun. 'I drew really good (bulls) and executed. I drew to win.' LaVergne finished with 253 points while runner-up Wyatt Bowman (Plain City, Utah) had 229.5 points. Carter Shaw of Haughton was third with 228 points. LaVergne's championship at the NHSFR is the first for a Louisiana cowboy or cowgirl since 2020, when Sulphur's Kolby Stelly was the top bull rider and Josey Murphy won the breakaway title. LaVergne and his older brother, Wyatt, each won state championships in May at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. LaVergne beat defending state champion Brennan Polito 126.4-102.25. The elder LaVergne, the four-time defending Louisiana saddle bronc riding state champion, was looking to win his first NHSFR title, but got off to a rough start after his horse flipped over out of the chute in the first-go round and he was bucked off on his re-ride. He placed seventh in the second-go round at 75.5 but didn't make the short-go round. Wyatt was named as the 2025 recipient of the 35th annual Lane Frost Memorial Scholarship of $4,000. He placed third at the IFYR the week before. Also at the IFYR, Fisher Burnworth of DeQuincy won the bareback riding title with rides of 74, 78 and 83 points. Sulphur's William Gunter finished ninth in steer wrestling at the NHSFR with an aggregate time of 25.37 seconds. His top time was 5.25 seconds, the second-best time in the short-go round on Saturday. He placed third in the first-go round at 5.17 seconds before a 14.95-second time in the second-go round.
American Press
31-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Poised champ, Lavergne locks up fourth consecutive state title with strong bounce-back ride
DeQuincy senior Wyatt Lavergne clinched his fourth consecutive saddle bronc riding state championship on Friday, May 30, 2025, with a 75-point ride in the second-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) The first-go round Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum was a rare miss for DeQuincy's Wyatt Lavergne, but the seasoned cowboy was unfazed. He turned in one of his best rides of the season Friday in the second-go round and locked up his fourth consecutive saddle bronco riding state championship. 'It is a blessing to say (I have won four state championships),' Lavergne said. 'I don't know how many people have done it. I am sure there are a few. I am definitely proud of what I have accomplished.' He scored a 75-point ride Friday morning in the first session of the second-go round. 'I thought I did everything I could do with the stock that I drew,' Lavergne said. 'It was fun, and I had a good time.' In four trips to the state finals, Thursday's miss was Lavergne's first at the state rodeo, but his experience showed Friday. It was the eighth time in 11 rounds at the state rodeo that he scored more than 70 points. 'I knew what I did wrong,' Lavergne said. 'I just needed to go full throttle (Friday) morning and give it everything I had, and it ended up working out. 'I knew what I could do. I knew it didn't set me back yesterday. It was just a mental thing. I just had to overcome that challenge and forget about it. If you keep looking at the rear view you are going to run into something.' Rosepine's Austin James was the lone saddle bronc rider scheduled for the evening session. Even if James tops Lavergne's 75-point ride, the eight points for second place would give Lavergne 97 points and an insurmountable 34-point lead. The top 15 in each event will compete in the short-go round 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. First-go round Jeff Davis cowboy Cale Carpenter won the first round of steer wrestling with a stunning sub- 4-second time of 3.56 seconds on Thursday. Welsh High School's Wyatt Sonnier teamed up with Teddie Austin Guynn to win the opening round of team roping at 7.64 seconds and 0.15 seconds ahead of Stratton James and Gus Dorris. Sonnier and Guynn moved up to fourth place in the standings. In tie down roping on Thursday, Cougar Racca, the 2023 state champion, edged Cruz Melancon for the top time of the day at 8.41 seconds. Melancon posted a time of 8.57 seconds. The battle for the breakaway roping title remains tight after the first round. Kensley Mudge (Magnolia Bend Academy) and Jillian Fontenot (Beau Chene) lead with 41 points each, and Caroline Fontenot (Beau Chene, 36.1) and Saige (Sulphur, 36) Martin and Faith Dubois (34.5) were not far behind.
American Press
31-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
PHOTO GALLERY: Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo first-go round evening performance
Sulphur cowboy Bryer Prince won scored a 69 point ride in the second-go round of bareback riding at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) DeQuincy's Ty Lavergne had a 46 and 69 point ride in the first two rounds of the Louisiana High School FInals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. The LHSFR will close today with the short-go round at 5 p.m. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Welsh High School's Campbell Leblanc rounds the second barrel Thursday night during the second-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Cougar Racca won the first-go round on Thurday in tie down roping with a time of 8.41 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowboy Cale Carpenter won the steer wrestling first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on THursday at the Burton Coliseum with a time of 3.56 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Kinder High School's Cheyanne Jennings placed eight in the first-go round of breakaway roping with a time of 11.49 seconds on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Ava Nunez rounds a barrel during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. Nunez's time was 15.828 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Barbe's Shelbi Barker rounds the second barrel during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowgirl Kenzie King placed seventh in the first-go round of barrel racing with a time of 15.664 seconds on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Cruz Melanson of Vinton had the second fastest time (8.57 seconds) during tie down roping first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Emma Nunez was fifth in the breakaway roping first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.55 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Alex Poole was fourth in the breakaway roping first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.35 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Sulphur's's Saige Martin ropes a calf first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.35 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Ava Nunez ropes a calf in the first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.35 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Sulphur's Williams Gunter cowboy placed fourth the steer wrestling first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on THursday at the Burton Coliseum with a time of 6.43 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Jadon Leonard placed second in the steer wrestling first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on THursday at the Burton Coliseum with a time of 4.03 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Barbe's Ella Kay gets ready to tie a goat during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowgirl Makayla Stelly chase down a goat during the first-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Kacey Prince ties up a goat during the first-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Cruz Melanson and Abbey Anderson chase after a calf during the team roping first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bill Odell lides up the calf for heeler Tucker Wright during the team roping first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Trevor Trahan and K.J. Rideaux posted a time of 17.07 seconds on Thursday in the team roping first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Trevor Trahan and K.J. Rideaux posted a time of 17.07 seconds on Thursday in the team roping first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowgirl Kenzie King placed fifth (20.998 seconds) in the pole bending first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Lacssine cowgirl Lydia Touchet weaves through the poles during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Welsh cowgirl Campbell Leblanc weaves through the poles during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
American Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Oak Grove wins fifth consecutive title, blanks Welsh in finals
Welsh pitcher Ethan Beard tags Oak Grove's Jenson Hurley after he tried to score on a passed ball in the bottom of the third inning of the Non-select Division IV state championship game on Wednesday at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) SULPHUR – No. 2 Welsh had their chances Wednesday in the Non-select Division IV state championship game at McMurry Park but couldn't close the gap as No. 1 Oak Grove won 10-0 in six innings to win its fifth consecutive state championship. It was Welsh's first state championship game appearance since 2018 and third in program history. 'I am super proud of this group,' Hayes said. 'The seniors have been through a lot. 'They made it to three straight quarterfinals, and it had never been done before. This is tied for the best season in school history, the runner-up. They have a lot to be proud of.' Welsh (23-11) was coming off an emotional extra-inning win over No. 3 DeQuincy Tuesday night and got some base runners early. Nick Gillett and Grant Haydel hit back-to-back singles in the top of the second inning, and Ethan Beard and Dane Iguess opened the third inning with back-to-back hits. The Greyhounds were able to move the runners into scoring position, but failed to score each time. Welsh trailed just 3-0 at that point but couldn't get a runner past second in the final three innings. 'We competed against a very good Oak Grove team,' Hayes said. 'It didn't go our way. 'I feel like we hit the ball with them. The hits were six to seven. I think that we just ran out of some magic. Yesterday was a special game. We just ran out of juice today.' Oak Grove's (18-12) Jackson Bradley was named the game MVP after pitching a complete game and driving in two runs on a double in the third inning. Tanner Duff, who had the walk-off hit in the 12th inning to beat DeQuincy in the 2023 state championship game, opened the scoring with a towering solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning. Gaige Neal hit a two-run double in the second inning, and the Tigers added three runs on errors in the fifth inning.
American Press
14-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Iguess gets walk off hit, Greyhounds advance to finals
Welsh's Dane Iguess got a walk off hit Tuesday to give the Greyounds a 7-6 win over DeQuincy in eight innings in the Non-select Division IV semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) SULPHUR – Welsh senior Dane Iguess battled through illness on Tuesday in the Non-select Division IV semifinals, but he stayed in the game and got a walk-off hit to send the Greyhounds to the state championship game at the LHSAA state baseball tournament at McMurry Park. With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Iguess hit a line drive to center field to bring home Grant Haydel, and the No. 2 Greyhounds (23-10) defeated No. 3 DeQuincy (24-12) 7-6. Iguess started the mound and pitched six innings before being relieved. He had to be checked out more than once. He finished with three strikeouts and two walks and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. 'People that were here saw him throwing up his stuff, and he battled through it,' Welsh head coach Caleb Hayes said. 'I think adrenaline, just the moment, and he battled through it. 'He could hardly walk after the game. He's just the ultimate competitor. Just so proud of him and the team for the fight tonight.' Iguess came up big in the seventh inning as well. The Greyhounds were down 5-4 with one out when Iguess singled. He moved to second on Casey Cormier's sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored the tying run on Brecken Haydel's hit to right field. 'I mean, it's never over,' Hayes said. 'I feel like when they took the lead in the seventh, we were kind of hanging our heads. But we got six seniors that kind of took the fight and said, it's not over.' Welsh sophomore Cohen Fontenot's single tied the game at 6-6 with no outs. Welsh will play four-time defending state champion No. 1 Oak Grove in the finals at 2 p.m. today. It is the Greyhounds' first final since falling to Loreauville 12-5 in 2018. 'We're playing the juggernauts, Oak Grove, who are looking to win their fifth straight,' Hayes said. 'It's going to be another freaking battle. We're going to go to war and see what happens.' Welsh looked in control after scoring twice in the fifth inning on a walk and an error to take a 4-1 lead, but Grand Lake rallied twice to take a one-run lead. Andrew Dowden hit a two-run double for a 5-4 lead with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Dowden went 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI. DeQuincy out hit Welsh 11-7, but committed three errors and gave the Greyhounds six extra base runners on walks. Carson Rainwater started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched 6 2/3 innings before being relieved by Grant Rainwater, who ended up taking the loss, with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rainwater struck out six batters and walked four. DHS 000 012 21 – 6-11-3 WHS 020 020 12 – 7-7-2 PITCHING: W – Cohen Cormier (2ip, 4h, 3er, 0k, 2bb). L – Grant Rainwater (.1ip, 0h, 2er, 0k, 2bb). TOP HITTERS: DeQuincy – Noah Pettifield 2-4 (2 runs), Andrew Dowden 2-4 (3 RBI, 2 doubles). Welsh – Dane Iguess 2-5 (run, RBI), Brecken Haydel 1-3 (2 RBI). RECORDS: DeQuincy – 24-12. Welsh – 23-10. Baseball State tournament At McMurry Park in Sulphur Championship Best-of-3 series Non-select Division I No. 1 Live Oak (32-6) vs. No. 11 Sam Houston (35-7), Thursday 5:30 p.m., Friday 5:30 p.m., Saturday 5:30 p.m. (if necessary) Division II No. 1 Brusly (35-5) vs. No. 2 North DeSoto (27-13), 2 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday (if necessary) Division III No. 1 Sterlington (33-8) vs. No. 2 Erath (25-11), 11 a.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday (if necessary) Select Division I No. 1 Catholic-Baton Rouge (35-5) vs No. 3 Brother Martin (31-7), 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday (if necessary) Division II No. 1 Teurlings Catholic (32-4) vs. No. 7 E.D. White (23-18), 2 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday (if necessary) Division III No. 2 University Lab (27-9) vs. No. 4 Catholic-New Iberia (24-11), 11 a.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday (if necessary) Single elimination Semifinals Non-select Division IV No. 1 Oak Grove 4, No. 4 Mangham 2 No. 2 Welsh 7, No. 3 DeQuincy 6, 8 inns. Select Division IV No. 12 Ouachita Christian 12, No. 1 Covenant Christian 7 No. 2 Vermilion Catholic 9, No. 11 Riverside Academy 8 Class B No. 1 Pitkin 4, No. 4 Hicks 1 No. 3 Family Community 6, No. 2 Weston 2 Class C No. 4 Ebarb 18, No. 1 Family Christian 8, 6 inns. No. 2 Harrisonburg 15, No. 3 Maurepas 10 Finals Non-select Division IV, No. 1 Oak Grove (17-12) vs. No. 2 Welsh (23-10), 2 p.m. Wednesday Select Division IV, No. 2 Vermilion Catholic (24-7) vs. No. 12 Ouachita Christian (18-15), 2 p.m. Wednesday Class B, No. 1 Pitkin (22-7) vs. No. 3 Family Community (23-12), 11 a.m. Wednesday Class C, No. 2 Harrisonburg (18-2) vs. No. 4 Ebarb (15-10), 11 a.m. Wednesday
