MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 6, 1999

LUTCHER – Terry Millet probably will never forget the night of Nov. 19,1999.

In a span of a couple of hours, the Lutcher senior won an individual swimming state championship, helped the Bulldogs win the overall Division III state title, got to ride in a police car for the first time and played in a regional playoff football game.

“It was very emotional, very exciting,” Millet said. “I wish I could havebeen there (for the announcing of the state championship) but I wanted to play football too.”The excitement began around 2:45 p.m. as Millet swam anchor for the 200-yard medley relay team, making up time on the final lap to help the Bulldogs finish in a tie for second with Parkview Baptist behind St.

Charles Catholic. Shortly after, he joined former teammate Dustin Murrayas Lutcher swimmers to win individual state titles, placing first in the 50-yard freestyle in an individual-best time of 23.37 seconds.”It was very exciting,” Millet, who placed third in the event last year in a time of 24.13, said. “I didn’t think I could make up my time that muchfrom last year. I thought I was at my highest peak last year.”Millet went on to swim an individual best 52.48 in the 100-yard freestyle,placing second behind Jennings’ Brian Boudreaux’s 51.98. Millet’s finish, combined with teammates Josh Sylvest, Tyler Murray and Cody Jackson finishing fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in the event, helped the Bulldogs pull away in the team standings. When Milletcombined with Murray, Jeff Bourgeois and Sylvest to win the 200-yard freestyle relay two events later, the team’s fourth straight Division III title was all but assured.

“I think I’m fortunate to be part of a four-year winning team,” Millet said, adding that all four championships were special but that this year’s might be a touch above. “I think this meet because I was a state champion andbecause I’m a senior.”Millet’s night was just starting. He left the meet right after the relay tojoin the Bulldog football team which was playing against Teurlings in the Class 3A regional playoffs. A St. James Parish police car was waitingoutside the arena to take him to Carencro.

“There was a lot of traffic,” Millet said. “It was fun riding in the car andwatching everybody get out of the way.”Millet arrived six minutes into the first quarter. The night ended on adisappointing note, however, as Teurlings ended the Bulldogs’ season with a 21-14 victory.

The game capped a season that saw Lutcher go 9-3 and win its first district championship since 1995. Millet caught three passes for 69 yardswith two of the catches really standing out.

The first came in the Bulldogs’ district opener against St. CharlesCatholic. With the Bulldogs up 14-0 early in the fourth quarter and facingthird-and-long from the Comet 42, Millet went over the middle for a 23- yard reception to keep the drive alive. The Bulldogs scored four plays laterto make it 21-0 on their way to a 28-0 victory. The second came againstSt. James in the game that decided the District 9-3A title. The receptionset up a Lutcher score, helping the Bulldogs defeat their cross-parish rivals, 25-17.

“T.J. is a player who has accepted his role,” Lutcher head football coachTim Detillier said. “He has become a team player. He has made some bigcatches in some big games. Those were two unbelievable catches he made(against St. Charles Catholic and St. James). He is a senior who has paidhis dues and who was ready mentally and physically to do what he has needed to do when the team has needed him.”Millet was a four-year member of the football team as well as the swim team. He started out as a cornerback on the freshman team and joined thevarsity this year. On the swim team, Millet placed seventh in the 100freestyle and 10th in the 50 freestyle as a freshman. A year later, hemoved up to third in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. Last year, he added asecond in the 100 freestyle and a third in the 50.

Millet has played sports since he was 5-years-old. He started out in T-ballbefore starting swimming at the Gramercy swimming pool. He would go onto help the Gramercy swim team dominate its league and last summer set a record in the 50 freestyle.

“T.J. has been very consistent in his times,” Joan Murray, Millet’s coachfor both the Gramercy and Lutcher teams, said. “He practices hard. He’squiet but you can see he really motivates the team.”Millet is not the only athlete in his family. His sister, Candace, swam atthe Gramercy pool as well and was a member of the 1998 Class 3A state champion Lutcher softball team. She received a softball scholarship toSoutheastern Louisiana University this spring.

As for Millet’s future, he has joined the Marine Corps Reserves and is scheduled to begin basic training in San Diego after graduation. Fromthere, Millet, an avid hunter, would like to attend college and become a game warden.

For now, Millet is starting conditioning for the Bulldog baseball team where he plays outfield. Looking back on his high school athletic career, hehas fond memories.

“It was very enjoyable,” Millet said. “It gave me something to do and keptme out of trouble and in shape.”

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