Move to college arena a big jump

Theresa Plaisance, Rusty Borne and Trovon Reed. Shavon Coleman, Sierra Lyons, Grady Fagan and Brady Domangue.

These are the names that have become synonymous with athletic success in the past four years in the Tri-parish area, as they have compiled several state championships and countless All-District, All-State and even All-American accolades throughout their careers.

But all of that is about to be erased as they make the next leap in their careers – the jump to the collegiate level.

Everyone is back to square one.

“This will be very different, because it’s like starting all over again,” said South Lafourche’s Fagan, who is playing collegiate football at Rochester Community and Technical College in the fall. “Everyone is starting from the bottom and having to earn their spot and show their coaches what they can do.”

The former Tarpon said since he arrived in Rochester, he’s been working on a few parts of his skill set that coaches feel need improvement.

“I’m working on improving my speed and working on my vertical leap so I won’t have problems guarding those 6’4 recievers I’ll see in the fall,” he said.

Like Fagan, Coleman is also set to work his way from the bottom to the top collegiately, as he is set to enroll at Howard College in Big Spring, Texas.

Coleman said he has hit the gym all summer to build up his stamina so he will be better equipped to handle the “best of the best,” he will see in the next level.

“In high school it was really easy for me to score and rebound the ball because I was taller and stronger then most other players,” he said. “Now that I’m going play college ball, things will change, because I will not be the tallest player on the court. They will have players taller and as good and some might even be better.”

Playing against bigger and stronger players is something Plaisance is preparing to grapple with in the coming weeks. The Vandebilt Catholic McDonald’s All-American said LSU coaches have told her to work on her upper-body strength before the start of the season.

“Just do any and everything to make myself an all-around, better player,” she said earlier in the summer. “I really want to do the best I can to see the floor in my freshman season.”

But in addition to the athletic grind, there is also the struggle with being away from home – away from friends and family.

And probably, most importantly, away from Mom.

Not living at home means all of the athletes are likely to also begin their rookie seasons in the laundry rooms and kitchens in the coming weeks.

“It won’t be too much different other than my distance from home, my family and my boyfriend,” said Lyons, who will be playing volleyball at Loyola University in New Orleans. “Oh, and of course, the food. No home cooked meals and absolutely no fast food due to our team being placed on a meal plan.”

Lyons said she also will need to improve her study habits away from home without Mom’s watchful eye looking over her shoulder.

“I’m the person who’s 15 minutes of studying and put the book away,” she said. “I’m going to pick up a better study habit.”

Domangue, who signed with Southeastern Louisiana as a pitching propect, agreed with Lyons and said his biggest study sessions throughout the summer months have not come in a film room – but rather in the laundry room with Mom.

“Me and Mom, we’ve kind of been practicing with the whole washing of the clothes deal,” Domangue said. “That will definitely be a pretty big challenge for me initially to make sure all of my clothes stay the right colors.”

Borne, who is moving to Iowa Central Community College Aug. 9, was among those also not reporting success with his laundry experiences.

“Living alone will be a big difference,” he said. “I know I definitely won’t like doing my own laundry – it’s going to be hard. But I get used to everything and get to know people pretty quick.”

But despite the struggles and concerns, everyone traveling out of state has reported that they’ve been welcomed with open arms in their new digs.

“The players and the community here are all really nice people,” Fagan said. “They took me in with open arms, so I can’t complain.”

Reed is on the same page with Fagan and touted Auburn as his new home away from home.

“I just love it here,” he said earlier in the summer. “The people, the town, everything about it just feels like home.”

While some well-known Tri-parish athletes are ready for the next athletic level, others are simply chasing the next academic level.

For four seasons, former Vandebilt pitcher Saidee LeMaire mowed down hitters with the Lady Terriers’ softball team.

The hurler was named the top player in the state in Class 4A in her senior season – a season that ended with a state championship for Vandebilt.

But after looking through her options in the offseason, LeMaire opted against playing at the next level and will start a new chapter in her life and attend a cosmotology school in Baton Rouge.

“I had plenty of opportunities to keep playing, and it was probably the toughest decision I have ever made,” she said. “Sometimes, I regret not playing a lot, but I have to live with that decision. I love playing softball and everything about it. I’ve been playing ever since I was little … I started pitching when I was 6-years-old, so to actually stop playing and pitching – it’s killing me.”

The All-State pitcher said the most difficult thing to deal with is not having another game or another season to prepare for.

“It’s very weird to be preparing for school and not have a season ahead of me,” she said. “I’m so used to going pitching every day and working hard and trying to get better for the next year. But there is no next year now … I never knew this day would come.”

To combat the downtime, LeMaire said she is spending more time with friends and family – something she said she is definitely getting used to.

“In my spare time, I like to workout and stay active,” she said. “I like to hang out with my friends. I like to keep myself busy. I’m used to that.”

Fagan said he had a similar dilemma from LeMaire’s, but said things are so-far, so-good for him.

“I just want to tell who has the opportunity to play on the next level to take it, because this is one of the best decisions I could have made,” he said.

South Lafourche’s Grady Fagan flies through the air at a long jump event this past track season. Fagan is one of several locals set to leap into college competition in the fall. FILE PHOTO