ADDISON RICHEY AND BROTHER, JEREMI, TAKE CELEBRATORY PIC AT 4A OUTDOOR MEET
Moments after claiming her first pole vault state championship in May at the LHSAA Class 4A State Outdoor Meet, Teurlings Catholic's Addison Richey, who was the only female vaulter in the state in any class to break the 12' barrier, celebrated with friends and family in the stands at Bernie Moore Stadium.
Among those celebrating was Richey's older brother Jeremi, who smiled from ear to ear, after watching his sister compete.
"He was so excited for me," Richey said. "He told me how proud he was of my hard work to overcome my injury."
"While he was thrilled with my performance, he was also super excited to cheer on the other competitors," Richey said. "He knew many of them."
After heaping praise on his sister, Richey asked her for a picture with the "new state champ."
It would be the last picture brother and sister would ever take together.
Jeremi Richey, a 32-year-old middle school football coach at Carencro Catholic School, passed away on July 6 after an accident on St. Augustine's Crescent Beach.
Richey was vacationing with extended family. Addison Richey's family was celebrating the Fourth of July when they got the news.
"With all the hope and prayers of so many, we kept hope on the 11-hour drive," Richey said. "It was so amazing to see our community come together to pray for my brother."
Now, Louisiana's best female pole vaulter prepares for her final year of high school without her biggest fan.
"I don't know how I will get through this next year without him, but I know I'll have him there watching over me with the best seat in the house," Richey said.
But Richey will miss more than her brother showing up and watching her compete.
"Some little things that I'm going to miss are every Christmas, we'd all get matching pajama pants, and we would make these funny boomerangs wearing them," Richey said. "Every birthday he always wrote the best cards with the most heartfelt words. And pretty much any holiday, he would find a way to get everyone outside playing basketball or doing some competitive game."
The "little things" don't seem so little anymore.
Jeremi's love for people...and love for life...extended from his own to family to the middle school football players he coached.
"Jeremi has a crazy passion for any sport and loves kids, so coaching was designed for him," Richey said. "J coached with compassion. He coached in a way that was positive and encouraging. He always went the extra mile to be a positive influence in the lives of his players and their families. He was the kind of coach who treated the underdog and the best player with the same amount of respect, attention, and love."
As Jeremi Richey's younger sister, Addison Richey has been the recipient of that respect, attention, and love. It's evident in a note from her brother she received not long ago.
Inside the card, Jeremi Richey wrote the following. "Addison, Hey! Just wanted to say, no matter what you do or how well you do at your events, I love you, and I'm always here for you. Don't forget that! Always your #1 fan"
After his passing, the Richey Family thought of a way they could honor Jeremi. Out of that conversation came "Love Like J," a saying which the Richey Family will place on bracelets to remember the brother and son who meant so much to so many in the community.
On Saturday, May 4th, 2024 when Addison Richey walks out on the infield at Bernie Moore Stadium to defend her Class 4A state pole vault title, Jeremi Richey will not be sitting in the stands of Louisiana' iconic track and field arena, but he will be watching-- with pride--from "the best seat in the house."
