J. EDMUND BARNES

PHOTO: Destrehan High School senior football player, Josh Bordelon, believes in providing a proper example to the younger players on the squad. (Staff Photo by J. Edmund Barnes) Destrehan – It is getting to be that time of year again. Student athletes have been hitting the weight room all summer. There have been informal and formal practices. School is barely a month away. Football practice is about to start. Josh Bordelon of Destrehan High School has been working hard through the spring and summer getting ready for the upcoming football season. Bordelon plays left tackle on the offensive line. In addition to contributing to the team by opening up lanes for running backs and providing blocks, Bordelon is expected to sent the example for the future of head football coach Stephen Robicheaux’s team – the freshmen and sophomores who will replace him when he graduates. By all accounts, he is doing exactly that. “I worked out (during the summer). I tried to make myself strong. I tried to be a leader for the team – to show the younger kids to go to all the workouts,” said Bordelon. Between a busy workout schedule, Bordelon pitched for the Destrehan-based American Legion baseball team. Bordelon had a productive summer baseball-wise. His ERA hovered around one and he went 2-1 overall. His last two starts were no-hitters. Bordelon said the worst part of the year was spring practice. The five weeks of full-pads practice in the heat, with the only payoff being one game, and then nothing until August frustrated Bordelon. Bordelon worked as hard as he could during this year’s spring practice, but was limited by an injury he sustained during practice. While trying to make a tackle, Bordelon jammed his hand in the face mask of the player he was trying to tackle and dislocated his middle finger. Because of his injury, Bordelon could not play in the spring game. “It wasn’t that bad,” Bordelon said of the injury. “I wore a splint. When it healed I worked it out.” Bordelon said he is ready for football season. He also has definite goals which he looks to accomplish or aid in accomplishing. Team-wise, Bordelon hopes to help his team to the playoffs. “If we push ourselves, we ought to win district. We have enough talent,” he said. The other goal Bordelon has is to help out the junior varsity. Bordelon said helping the J.V. players learn from their mistakes is his main leadership focus. He can devote some time to this as most of Destrehan’s offensive players are experienced seniors. There are only two juniors on the offense.