MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / January 25, 1999

LUTCHER – Lutcher head football coach Tim Detillier has one rule for his athletes – do right.

One of the players who best demonstrates that rule is senior Shane Duhe.

Duhe was recently honored for his accomplishments both on and off the field by receiving the prestigious Nokia Sugar Bowl Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year award at the Sugar Bowl breakfast before this year’s game. The award is given to the athlete who bestexemplifies Christ-like attitudes on and off the field.

“I was pretty surprised,” Duhe said of learning he won the award.

Receiving the award was a memorable moment in a senior year that has had many for Duhe. He began the year as a Class 3A state qualifier in crosscountry. Duhe then helped the Lutcher swim team capture its thirdstraight Class 3A state title by placing second in 200-meter freestyle and third in the 100-meter butterfly and was a member of the state champion freestyle and medley relay team.

The highlight of the year came in November when the Bulldogs raced through the state football playoffs before falling to Independence in the semi-finals. In that final game, Duhe caught a pass at the Independence30, broke a couple of tackles, swept outside and dove into the left corner of the end zone for the score. After the season, Duhe received second teamall-District 10-3A and honorable mention all-River Parishes honors.

Playing sports at Lutcher is a family tradition in the Duhe household. Hisdad, Gene, played baseball and football at the school. His brother Shaunwas a three-sport athlete and his sister, Shannon, received the school’s senior athlete of the year award.

Duhe has been playing sports since he was 7-years-old, playing T-ball and Little League baseball as well as Gramercy Bantam football. He has alsobeen the Gramercy swim team for nine years. At Lutcher, he has 16 varsityletters to date, four in both swimming and cross country and two apiece in football, tennis, track and weightlifting.

“I have been playing sports all four years,” Duhe said. “That is what I amgoing to miss.”Sports have definitely kept him busy during his prep career. On a typicalday in the Fall, Duhe would get out of school, have football practice until 5 p.m., go straight to the swimming pool for an hour and then run three milesevery other day before going home to do his homework.

The dedication Duhe has given to practice has paid off on the field. In hisfour years on the swim team, the Bulldogs have won three state championships. Duhe was a captain on this year’s state championshipsquad. He has placed second the last three years in the 200-meterfreestyle and 100-meter butterfly and has been a member of the state champion freestyle and medley relay teams. Duhe is a two-time statequalifier in cross country and was a regional qualifier in tennis in 1996.

He is also listed in Who’s Who in American Sports.

The commitment Duhe has shown in sports carries over to the classroom as well. He has been on the school’s honor role all four years and hasattended both the school’s Academic Champ-ions of Excellence banquet and Breakfast of Champions every year. He is an USAA All-AmericanScholar as well as listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students. And he was recently selected to the Class 3A Academic All-State football team with a 3.8095 grade point average.A four-year member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Duhe credits his attitude and work ethic to his parents, Gene and Catherine.

“They always told me to do right in everything,” Duhe said.

That is also the advice that Duhe would give to any high school athlete.

“Whatever you want to achieve, work hard for it,” Duhe said. “And havegood character. People will always remember you for your character.”Duhe’s athletic career at Lutcher is not over yet. He is attending theregional meet for powerlifting later this month as well as an indoor track meet at LSU. Then it is on to outdoor track where he is a sprinter. As forhis post high school aspirations, Duhe would like to play sports in college and major in kinesiology, perhaps becoming a coach or a trainer after his school days are over.

Duhe is the fourth Lutcher athlete to receive the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year award under Detillier. Detillier also had anumber of players win it when he coached at St. Charles Catholic and Duhesaid the award was a tribute to his coach.

“He is a great coach,” Duhe said. “He is always concerned about you on andoff the field. He will do anything for you if you ask him. He really teachesfootball and teaches you to do right.”

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