Billeaud building Lions’ program
By Kevin Foote; 11:05 p.m. CST January 8, 2014
Lafayette High wrestling coach Brandon Billeaud knows the time isn’t now. Perhaps next year will be a little closer, but two years is more likely.
Whenever that time comes for his Mighty Lions program to reach the level to compete against the likes of the Comeaux Spartans, he’s determined to put down a building block toward that end every day he can.
“We’re going to get there,” Billeaud said. “It’s going to take time. Right now, I’m just trying to help build young men. If they keep doing the right things and working hard, the wrestling part will take care of itself.”
So far this season, the Lions have held their own with a 3-1 record in weekly dual matches and a 4-4 showing in the Deep South Duals.
Because he realizes that it’s going to take time to rebuild the program, Billeaud’s goal for this weekend’s Greg Lavergne Parish Dual Championships at Carencro High is a humble one. “Third would be a good showing for us at this point,” he said. “Teurlings and Comeaux will be fighting it out for one and two.”
The Lions actually finished third a year ago, but the Lions sported a trio of accomplished seniors last year to help carry the load. The makeup of the squad this season is very different with no seniors, depending heavily on freshmen and sophomores.
In fact, the Lions’ hottest performer so far is sophomore Rodrigo Diaz at 220 pounds with a 23-3 record with all three losses to state championship contenders.
“He’s very flexible, almost freakishly flexible,” Billeaud said. “He’s hard to pin. He’s got very long arms. He uses leverage very well. “He’s 6-2 and he’s 14, so he’s still growing into his body. Last year, he was about a .500, but his balance is so much better this year. His footwork is much better.”
Another sophomore that Billeaud has high hopes for – in the future if not this year – is sophomore Damian Lasseigne, who is 20-10 on the season at 152 pounds. “He’s in a really tough weight class, probably the toughest in the state this year,” Billeaud said. “It’s going to be really tough to place at state this year, but if those two guys continue to work hard and improve, I definitely think they’ll be standing on the podium at some point.”
Like so many coaches, Billeaud is enjoying the process and he’s really doing so in working with twin freshmen Skyler and Spence Cormier, who have come from freshman football and made the transition to the mat. “They’re very aggressive,” Billeaud said. “They were completely raw when they got here, but the great thing about them is that they’re both very coachable. Whatever I ask them to do, they do it. They really don’t know yet what they’re doing, so they don’t really care who they’re wrestling.”
For example, after beating a top contender from Zachary earlier this season, Billeaud asked his freshman if he had any idea who he had just beaten, and obviously the answer was no.
“I just laughed and told him to sit down,” Billeaud said. “It’s been a lot of fun working with them.”
One of Billeaud’s goals was to fill out all the weight divisions. Due to an injury at 106, it’s possible the Lions will have a hole there, but that would be it.
“It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve been able to fill all the divisions,” he said.
The primary strategy behind keeping his numbers up and involved is wrestling as many freshmen and junior varsity events as possible.
“It’s such a hard sport that if these young guys never get any time on the mat, they start to wonder, ‘What’s the point?’,” Billeaud said. “You have to keep them involved.”