Scott, Lewis capture Advocate’s top high school athlete honors

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 21, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:10 a.m.

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Ryan Lewis of Catholic High and Jasmine Scott of St. Michael the Archangel were at different athletic crossroads before The Advocate’s 23rd Athlete of the Year/Star of Stars awards banquet.

Lewis just completed his senior year at Catholic and leaves for Houston and Rice University next month. Scott, a junior in 2007-08, still has one year of high school eligibility remaining.

The duo now has one important common bond after being selected as the winners of the Athlete of the Year awards that were announced to close out the banquet Tuesday night at Ashley Manor.

“For me, just being a finalist for this award was a humbling experience,” Lewis said. “I didn’t think about winning it. Now that I’ve won, I’m not sure I can tell you what it means to me in words. It’s that special.”

Scott added, “When it was in the paper that I was a finalist on Sunday my grandmother called to make sure I knew it. Coming here tonight I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous. This is such an honor.”

The annual event attracted more than 150 coaches, athletes and their families. Kelli Jenkins of Plaquemine High and Leigh Myers of The Dunham School were the other girls finalists. The other boys finalists were Ryan Thibodeaux of The Dunham School and Zack Von Rosenberg of Zachary.

In addition to naming Scott as its Girls Athlete of the Year and Lewis as its Boys Athlete of the Year, The Advocate sports staff honored 23 other athletes who were selected as the Star of Stars in their respective sports.

The crowd gave Gilbert and Adrianne Veal, the parents of the late Shannon Veal, a standing ovation when they accepted their daughter’s Star of Stars award from Publisher David Manship. Veal, a basketball star at Glen Oaks, collapsed and died at a regional-round playoff game in February.

Gymnast Chase Brown of Central became a four-time Star of Stars winner, while Denham Springs’ bowler Sarah Poche claimed her third Star of Stars honor during the 35-minute awards portion of the program.

Even though she has committed to LSU for volleyball and was an all-state player in both volleyball and basketball, Scott did not see herself as a favorite. In fact, she was pondering ways she can improve her performances after helping the Warriors to a runner-up finish in Division II-Class 4A volleyball and a 4A state title in basketball.

“Just everything … that’s what I need to improve on,” Scott said. “I’m not satisfied. I have work to do this summer.

“But this is probably the best award you could ever get. To be athlete of the year says something. Now I’m looking forward to next year.”

Lewis, a Rice football signee who led Catholic to a top five ranking in Class 5A football and a berth in the 5A baseball tournament for the first time since 2002, calls the award a perfect ending for his high school career.