Dr. Lauren Heinen Theriot is a Eunice, Louisiana native and a 2011 St. Edmund graduate. She received her bachelor’s degree from LSU Baton Rouge and her medical doctorate from LSU School of Medicine - Shreveport. She is currently in the last year of her Emergency Medicine residency and is excited to finally become an official adult and have a real job as an ER doctor afterwards! Lauren attended Oliva Dodd’s Studio of Dance where she spent most of her childhood and teenage years when not studying for Ms. Fullilove’s English tests or jumping with Coach Yachera. Despite Lauren’s awkwardness as a young dancer, Mrs. Oliva stuck with her and helped to achieve her dreams of becoming Miss Dance Texas 2010. Lauren was a St. Edmund cheerleader and later went on to dance as an LSU Golden Girl. While in college, Lauren met a man that could rival her own moves while underneath the Christmas lights at Fred’s and went on to marry her college sweetheart, Dr. Tyler Theriot. Although it’s been a while since Lauren has been on the big stage, she’s excited to steal the show and support her Alma Mater!
John Baham, Jr.
A native of Eunice, he arrived uphill by boat, and was soon tested by the Sanders, Fullilove, Swan, and Smith endurance test. Heads were stuck in desks, laps were run, and a dog may have been shaved. He was known. Fate shined on our Hero and he was deemed worthy to leave St. Edmund in 1999. At Louisiana State University he joined forces with a merry band of brothers at D-K-E, and specialized at getting his friends INTO Bogies, and keeping his friends IN Bogies; eventually he earned a Political Science degree. With the help of Craig Soileau, he moved on to the Gulf of Mexico where he logged, and completed, oil and gas wells using explosives and radioactive material. He had a license. He has all ten fingers; does not glow in the dark. Fate and Sub-Prime credit swaps would change his life forever. A return to LSU for a degree in Civil Engineering would introduce him to his future wife, Leeann. Leeann would play a key role in his greatest accomplishment yet, producing a Mini-Me, Tripp (11 months). When asked the obvious he responded, “Yes, he completes me.” They reside in Baton Rouge where he is Co-Owner, and Principal Engineer, of Novus Reb Engineering. He is honored to be under the tutelage of his dance partner, and choreographer. He would say he’s still got it! They would say that work needs to be done. At least he now knows a doctor in the ER. To recap: Shaved dogs, Bogies, explosives, radioactive material, 2 stints at LSU, a Wife, a Mini-me, two new friends, an ER Doctor. Life is good!
Team Aucoin/Feucht
Karen Aucoin
Karen Verzwyvelt Aucoin is a 1977 graduate of St. Edmund Catholic School and earned her Bachelor of Interior Design from LSU in 1981. St. Edmund has been a home for Karen and her entire family for over half a century. She still remembers the daily drive to school with her four siblings in their bright orange Volkswagen van before all joined the ranks of St. Edmund alumni. Karen is the mother of four St. Edmund graduates: Tracey Brown (Class of 2002), Amber Kearney (Class of 2004), Stewart Aucoin (Class of 2006), and John Christian Aucoin (Class of 2008). Karen has been abundantly blessed with 10 beautiful grandchildren, 3 of whom presently attend St. Edmund: William, Alice, and Laura Brown, with Hannah waiting in the wings to begin her blue jay journey. Hazel, Annabelle, Luke, Mark, and Benjamin support their Eunice blue jay cousins from afar, along with their beloved Audrey Brown, giving her heavenly support. Together with Joe, Jack, and Jude Aucoin, the St. Edmund family continues to grow. As a young girl, Karen joined her sister in dance lessons and upon discovering she would have to perform for an audience, she graciously bowed out. Fast forward 50 plus years, and Karen is trusting her talented sister and choreographer, Brenda Core, to guide her to confidently take the stage alongside her dance partner, Charles Feucht. She is thrilled to celebrate and support St. Edmund and looks forward to performing for the phenomenal blue jay audience! “Oh Christ and Mary keep St. Ed’s close to your loving hearts!!”
Charles Feucht
Charles Feucht is a 1969 graduate of St. Edmund High School. He attended St. Edmund his first 8 years then was on to Immaculata Seminary his freshman and sophomore years returning to St. Edmund for his junior and senior years. Charles attended LSU-E and LSU attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. Continuing on to LSU-NO graduate school then to Pharmacy School at Northeast Louisiana State completing that in 1976. He married Lynette Young in 1977. They are the proud parents of Charles Stanislaus, Laura Elizabeth and Leslie Katherine and grandparents of eleven grandchildren. Seven of those grandchildren reside here in Eunice, and three in New Orleans.He returned to school in 2005 to attain his doctorate in pharmacy (Pharm.D.). He has practiced as a clinical consulting pharmacist since 1986.
Team Christ/Richard
Lisa Christ
Lisa Duplechin Christ- is a native of Eunice and a 1979 St. Edmund graduate. She received a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Louisiana. She taught school for 28 years and is currently retired. She is married to Roderick Christ and together they have six children and fourteen grandkids. She is happy to see four generations of her family attend St. Edmund. Lisa’s mother, Vernell Fontenot Duplechin graduated from St. Edmund in 1957, Lisa, Lisa’s children, and now Lisa’s grandkids. Three of her children graduated from SEH, Ceslie Habetz (2004), Meredith Himel (2007), and Anne-Marie McGee (2009). Four grandchildren presently attend St. Ed’s, Zoie (4th grade), Mary-Katherine (3rd grade), Lillian (1st grade), and Olivia (kindergarten), and three more future Blue Jays on the way. Her fondest memories are the years her children were students at St. Ed’s watching and rooting them on at all their high school events such as cheerleading, basketball, and softball. Lisa is excited and grateful to be dancing at this year’s event; Lisa is a “Proud Blue Jay”!
Tad Richard
Tad Richard, a native of Eunice, was destined to become a St. Edmund Blue Jay. His oldest sibling enrolled at St. Edmund in 1961, and by the time Tad started attending St. Edmund, all four of his siblings were enrolled and would eventually become Blue Jay alumni. Since graduating in 1985, he and his wife, Tricia, would return to Eunice to continue the Blue Jay tradition. Tad taught at St. Edmund for 4 years and coached for 8 years; followed by his wife teaching at St. Edmund for 13 years. Their 4 children would attend and eventually graduate from St. Edmund; Danielle (2010), Katie (2013), Drew (2015) and Kelli (2017), along with all 11 other grandchildren of Ira and Pat Richard. Tad, known for his skills on the football and baseball fields, said yes to dancing with the stars, not because of his rhythm or smooth moves, but out of obligation to save his siblings due to the fact that he and his sister, Nanette, are the only ones physically capable due to Ken, Scotty and Jan being on injured reserve from knee replacement surgery. His hope is that his dance partner and first cousin, Lisa Christ, will take it easy on him and not send him to surgery as well.
Team Pere/Mystery Dancer
Phyllis Pere
Phyllis Caswell Pere is an honorary graduate of SEH class of '66. She attended USL in Lafayette where she finished with a degree in Social Work. While working as a social worker in Lake Charles, she met & married her husband of 48 years, John Pere. Together they have two children, Simone Pere O'Connor '94 SEH graduate and Dom Pere '98 SEH graduate. Phyllis and John are now retired and enjoying their 9 grandchildren ranging in age from 18 years old to 2 year old twins! Phyllis recalls receiving the title of "Queen of the Twist" back in the day of Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again" at her 8th grade graduation party. Dance parties were all the rage back in the '60's when we danced to Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, The Platters and The Supremes. But the best ever was the Record Hop held every Saturday night right here in Eunice in the National Guard Armory Building. Live music was performed by the likes of Lil' Bob and the Lollipops and Irma Thomas, and teens came from all the surrounding towns to dance. We were the "bomb"! Then came the Purple Peacock where we, again, danced to live music and of course there were weddings where we "line danced" ourselves right into the next morning. After the many years of dancing to such names as the Jitterbug, the Twist, the Hully Gully, the Jerk, the Mashed Potato and the Monkey, Phyllis looks forward to participating in DWTS Blue Jay Style while she still can!!!
Mystery Dancer
???
Team Zaunbrecher/Trosclair
Erica Zaunbrecher
Erica Andrus Zaunbrecher is a 1995 graduate of St. Edmund. After graduating from McNeese State University and marrying her high school sweet-heart, Wayne, she came back to St. Edmund to begin teaching in 2003. Erica began to follow in her parents’ footsteps in 2011 when she began coaching. Their children, Julia (11th grader), Nathan (8th grader) and Scott Thomas (3rd grader) can often be found in the gym with their mom. The importance of a catholic education was instilled in Wayne and Erica from their parents and grandparents, as Erica’s parents coached on staff and as volunteers collectively for 42 years! They are proud to continue this tradition, and their love for this school keeps them busy supporting their three blue jays. In 2018, Erica worked with other alumni to form an alumni association, and bring back the SE Blue Jay Alumni Co-Ed softball tournament. When Erica was asked to participate in DWTS, she responded with, “You do remember I twirled a baton in high school!” Dancing may not be her forte but helping to raise money for St. Edmund is worth any embarrassment she may face. Erica is excited that she, her partner, Nick Trosclair, and choreographers, Angelle Fruge’ Driggs and Mandy Miller Zaunbrecher, are representing the class of 1995. “Alive in ’95” hopes to bring the crowd lots of enjoyment and money for the Blue Jays!
Nick Trosclair
Coach Nick Trosclair grew up in Eunice, La where he attended St. Edmund’s from Kindergarten through graduation in 1995. During his time at St. Edmund, he lettered 4 years in football, basketball, baseball and track. Upon graduation Coach Trosclair attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana as a preferred walk on with the Ragin Cajun baseball team. He is married to Lacy LaGrange and has three children; Wyatt, Madeline, and Beau Trosclair. In September of 1996, Coach Trosclair reported for boot camp in the United States Navy where he served 20 honorable years as a Hospital Corpsman, reaching the rank of Petty Officer First Class. His duty stations include Navy Reserve Readiness Center Portland, ME; Naval Air Station New Orleans, LA; Navy Reserve Center Quincy, MA; 4th Landing Support Battalion Charleston, SC; Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit SIX Charleston, SC; Expeditionary Support Unit TWO Little Creek, VA, Fox Company 4th Anti-terrorism Battalion Lafayette, LA; and Navy Operational Support Command New Orleans, LA. Deployments include a combat tour while assigned to Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit SIX to Forward Operating Base DELTA in Al Kut, Wassit Province of Iraq. Military decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, seven Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. After attending countless dance recitals in supportof his classmates from the class of 1995, Coach Nick is looking forward to the reversal of roles for the upcoming DWTS Blue Jay Style! While dancing in front of a crowd might be a little out of his comfort zone, he did spend an entire semester at UL learning various traditional forms of dance. Coach can be quoted as saying “I can’t wait to perform under the big spotlight and display my passion in the art of DANCE in front of my Blue Jay family!”
Team Fontenot/Walker
Paige Fontenot
Paige Fontenot is a 2008 St. Edmund High School graduate. She is the daughter of Dr. Bob and Toni Guillory. She graduated from LSU and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Austin, Texas. She is married to Branson Fontenot of Vidrine and is a proud mother of two sons, Sebastian and Isom. When asked to participate in Dancing with the Stars, she was even shocked when she said “YES”. She’d like to thank her family, friends, Christain and Michaela for their support and fun times preparing for this event! “I am super excited for this opportunity to allow me to break out of my shell and be part of such an amazing and fun night while supporting our Blue Jays!”
Christain Walker
Christain Walker is a 2014 St. Edmund High School graduate. He is married to his beautiful wife, Candace Winters Walker. Together they have one perfect dog, Gus. Christain is currently employed by the Eunice Fire Department, where he has been a fireman for 7 years. After graduating high school, he began volunteering his time coaching St. Edmund elementary and junior high baseball and football. When Christain is not washing fire trucks or taking Gus on a walk, you can find him behind the concession stand frying for the Blue Jay football games on Friday nights. Out of all the things Christain has ever volunteered for at St Edmund, Dancing with the Stars was the easiest “yes”. GO BIG BLUE!
Team Mire/Soileau
Alicia Mire
Alicia Smith Mire grew up in Eunice attending St. Ed’s and later graduated from Eunice High in 2009. She attended LSU and completed her college education at UL obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. After Hurricane Laura, Alicia and her family returned home to Eunice. Alicia was excited to share her passion for event planning with the city in which she grew up in and loves dearly. She is currently employed by the city of Eunice as the Director of Tourism and Main Street Director and Event Coordinator for St. Landry Parish. In her first year she chaired city events such as Fall into Downtown, Sip & Stroll, and the Eunice Christmas Parade of Lights. Alicia also works with the Eunice Chamber of Commerce and assists local brides as a wedding planner. Alicia has been married to Kacey Mire for seven years. Together they have three little Blue Jays, Ella (2nd grade), Mary Grace (1st grade), and William (Prek-4). Alicia enjoys volunteering her time for the St. Ed’s PTC, and says she has always been a Blue Jay at heart and is happy for her children to experience the closeness of the Blue Jay family. She is an active member of the Eunice Rotary Club and was their most recent recipient of the Citizen of the Year. Alicia is looking forward to digging up some old dance moves and sharing this experience with her partner, Andre Soileau.
Andre Soileau
Andre Soileau was raised in Eunice where he still resides with his wife and children. After graduating from St. Edmund in 1988, he obtained a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Business Administration from LSU. He is the President of Gulfgate Construction in Lafayette where he has worked for the past 23 years. Andre and his outgoing wife, Beth, (past DWTS winner) have 3 sons: Jacques – SEH ’19, Philippe – EHS ’22, and Emile – SEH ’25. He enjoys all outdoor activities especially hunting and fishing with his sons and working on his property. Andre grew up listening to 80’s rock and was responsible for the popularity of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” at St. Ed’s High School his senior year. He has no formal dance training other than Cajun dance lessons while at LSU and later with his wife through the Cajun French Music Association. He is excited to be dancing with the talented Alicia Mire and is ready to let it rip for the Blue Jay fans. And yes, he won the bull riding belt buckle he’s wearing!
Team Smith/Bergeron
Amelia Smith
Native of Savoy, Louisiana, Amelia Smith is a graduate of St. Edmund and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Amelia is married to Vidalia Alumni, Blake Smith. Their two children are proud fourth generation Blue Jays. Amelia attributes her dance experience to Kyle Vidrine’s dance skills, Core Dance Center, Michelle’s School of Dance, St. Edmund dance team, and as Captain of LSUE Bengal Belle dance team. She is an Art industry entrepreneur, and new owner of the upcoming business Demitasse. Her cup is always half full, and her joy is ready to share with everyone; and as always …BLUE JAY SPIRIT NEVER DIES !!
Jacob Bergeron
Jacob Bergeron is a native of the Mowata community and a resident of Eunice. He is a 1998 graduate of St. Edmund High School and a 2003 graduate of McNeese State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration. Jacob is currently the Eunice City President of BankPlus in Eunice. Jacob has never been married, nor does he have any children of his own, but still hopes that one day, he will sweep the right woman off her feet, and settle, however that remains to be seen. Although he has no formal dancing skills, he has faith, that with his partner, Amelia Vidrine Smith, and their choreographer, he will learn some great moves from practicing and determination that will make he and Amelia unbeatable for this 2022 season. What made him say "Yes" to DWTS? Giving back to the school that instilled in me, not only academics and athletics, but to live in faith through Jesus Christ, which I strive to live by daily. In a small community like Eunice, withparents who sacrifice to send their children to St. Ed's, I want the generations to come to be able to experience a great school like St Ed's, as I was bless to attend.
Team Reed/Miller
Julee Reed
Julee Boone Reed is a 1992 graduate of St Edmund High School. She performed 3 years on the dance team, which began her love for music and entertainment, as well starring as karaoke queen at parties (wink, wink). She then graduated from college as a Registered Nurse and continues this career for the past 27 years. She is married to Denny Reed, and they are the proud owners of Denny’s Tire Service in Church Point. She is proud of her 5 beautiful children: Victoria (23) and spouse ‘Duckie’ (24), Kylie (21), Dain (19), Aubrey (16), and Wesley aka Weasel (13). She adores her 2 precious grandchildren Oaklee (2) and Parker (8 months). Julee was also voted as , “Most likely to take a Dare” her senior year in high school, attributing this title to her numerous ‘fake falls’ and her love to make people laugh, even still today..(Orajel)! She enjoys singing, beachin, dancing (with liquid courage), and for the past 7 years.. has dedicated some of her free time to coaching others in a healthy exercise lifestyle as a CrossFit level 1 certified coach. She is super excited to partner up with Peter Miller, who is her brother, Kelly’s best friend since elementary school. She can’t wait to ‘soar’ on the stage for her much loved St Edmund alumni….Shouting out a very special thank you to all of you working hard behind the scenes to make this DWTS fundraiser a success.
Peter Miller
Peter Miller is a 1989 St. Edmund High School graduate and a 1993 graduate of LSU with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. After graduating college, Peter came home to St. Edmund to become a football, track, power-lifting, and tennis coach for several years. Peter now owns a construction company, SixM, which keeps him working nonstop! He and his wife, Annie, a 1987 SEH graduate, have four kids, three of whom are now BlueJay alumni: Hank, Class of 2014, Maggie, Class of 2015, and Peter, Class of 2017. Greta, their youngest, graduates this year with the Class of 2022. Peter is excited to be a part of this year’s Dancing With the Stars; he just wonders what took them so long to ask! Although his formal dance training is limited to LSUE Cajun dance classes in 1990 with his partner, Mrs. Flo Soileau, Pete still has a few tricks up his sleeve! His brothers and sisters have provided much constructive criticism through the years at wedding receptions and while dancing to 8 tracks on the console stereo in the living room. Even though there are no more standing back flips in full pads with the only boy in the Boone family, Peter is looking forward to making more memories with another Boone Blue Jay graduate, his partner Julee Boone Reed.
Team Fontenot/Aguillard
Payton Fontenot
Payton Young Fontenot is a 2015 St. Edmund High School graduate. After receiving her nursing degree from McNeese State University, she moved home and married her husband, Jonathan. They are now the proud parents of a future Blue Jay, Millie Beth. Payton enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and she loves to support the Blue Jays in any way that she can. Payton is honored to have been chosen as a DWTS participant and is looking forward to a fun-filled night of Blue Jay Spirit.
Andre Aguillard
Andre’ Aguillard is a 2012 graduate from St. Edmund High School. Following high school, Andre’ attended Louisiana State University and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor’s in Petroleum Engineering. He is currently the Facility Supervisor at Pine Prairie Energy Center. Andre’ is happily married to his beautiful wife, Celeste, and currently the father to one beautiful daughter, Hazel – a future Blue Jay. He has a passion for anything LSU sports related and absolutely loves to hunt. His professional dancing career has been nonexistent up to this point, but his attempt to dance started back at junior high parties and progressed through his college days in Baton Rouge. His signature dance is the “backwards dougie”, and he can teach all who would like to know! He looks forward to breaking it down for his alma mater and knows he and his partner, Payton, are about to rake it in for the Big Blue!
Amber Vidrine
Will Brown
Team Cleland/Johnson
Lindsay Cleland
Lindsay Andrus Cleland is a Eunice native and a 2005 St. Edmund graduate. She is the daughter of Michael Andrus, St. Edmund class of 1981, and Michelle Andrus, St. Edmund class of 1982. Lindsay received her Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2010 and began her career that same year specializing in cardiology. She has been married to her husband Johnathon Cleland for 10 years and they have three baby Blue Jays, Nora Kate, 2nd grade, Rose Mary, kindergarten, and Jeffery, who will be in prek3 in the fall! Johnathon and Lindsay have high hopes that these three will set some athletic records at St. Ed’s with their anticipated heights all breaking 6’2. Lindsay has very limited early dance experience and was not blessed with much rhythm, but she has always had an appreciation for dance and music with a good beat to move to. Though her athletic abilities were best displayed on the basketball court and softball field, she loved cheering on the sidelines for the Blue Jays as a St. Edmund Cheerleader her sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school. 17 years is entirely too long to even think that this dance performance will be anything but a winded, de-conditioned, dumpster fire, but she and her dance partner, Ryan, are looking forward to making memories and having fun!.. Only THIS Blue Jay school could get this momma out of her comfort zone and into the spotlight.
Ryan Johnson
Ryan “Moose” Johnson is a 2008 graduate of St. Edmund High School. He played football and baseball during his time here. He currently works as an agent for Farm Bureau Insurance. He is married to Alyssa Bobbett Johnson and has 3 beautiful daughters Ayden (5), Sawyer (2), and Reese (1) and 2 more on the way. Ryan enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. “It's an honor to be able to be a part of DWTS Blue Jay Style 2022, and Lindsay and I look forward to dancing in front of the Blue Jay crowd.”