New Tournoi royalty selected Saturday evening

Tournoi Queens, left to right, are
Louisiana Tournoi Queen LX Leigh
Anne Phillips, Teen Tournoi Queen
Mallorie Bertholl and Junior Tournoi
Queen Betsi Smith

Photo by: Heather Bogard

The Jr. Miss, Teen and Louisiana Tournoi Pageant was held Saturday, September 27, at the Northside Civic Center. Three new lovely queens were crowned, and they will now proudly represent the Louisiana Tournoi Association throughout the State of Louisiana.

The stage was set for the crowning of Louisiana Tournoi Queen LX, and all that was left was the traditional presentation of roses to the lucky contestant. Earlier that day, contestant’s vying for the titles of Junior Tournoi Queen, Teen Tournoi queen and Louisiana Tournoi Queen were interviewed by the top five Tournoi riders from last year's competition; and now three young ladies would be given the opportunity to be ambassadors for the Louisiana Tournoi Association for one year.

The first to receive a bouquet of roses from Tournoi Knight Cody LaFleur was Junior Tournoi Queen Betsi Smith, the 13-year-old daughter of Jamie and Pam Smith of Basile. She is an eighth grade student at Basile High School, where she belongs to the Beta Club and is cheerleader captain. She enjoys cheering, gymnastics and camping with her family. When asked why she wanted to be the 2008 Junior Tournoi Queen, she said,“I would love to have the opportunity to travel around the state of Louisiana telling people about this unique festival. It is so amazing and interesting; I think everyone should know about it."

Smith also was named photogenic winner. Brittany Johnson was named people’s choice winner.

The next young lady to receive a bouquet of roses from Tournoi Knight Shane Trahan was Teen Tournoi Queen Mallorie Bertholl, the 15-year-old daughter of David and Jane Bertholl of Melville. She is a sophomore at St. Joseph Catholic School in Plaucheville and works part-time as a waitress at Stelly’s Restaurant in Melville. She enjoys playing softball, riding four-wheelers with her family and going to rodeos. She belongs to the Beta Club, student council, Eucharistic ministry and serves as a Liturgy reader. When asked why she wanted to be the 2008 Teen Tournoi Queen, she said, “It would be an honor to represent such a prestigious festival and would be a great lesson of responsibility.”

Rounding out the queen’s court were first runner-up Katie Foreman, the 15-year-old daughter of John and Christina Foreman of St. Landry; and second runner-up Brooke Anderson, the 14-year-old daughter of Clark and Melissa Anderson of Mansura.

Bertholl also was named photogenic winner. Rhonda Campbell was named people’s choice winner.

Then, the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived, the presentation of roses to Louisiana Tournoi Queen LX. Tournoi Knight Bryan Fontenot circled the anxiously-waiting ladies, making them more nervous by the minute. Just when everyone thought he was going around to the front of the stage, he dropped the roses in Leigh Anne Phillips’ lap, and she let out a gasp of surprise and mouthed “thank you” to the Tournoi riders for choosing her as their new queen. Phillips is no stranger to Le Tournoi. She competed in the Junior Division in 2004 but did not place. She then came back in 2005 to compete in the Teen Division and won her very first festival title. After experiencing Le Tournoi for the first time, Phillips decided she would one day compete for the Louisiana Tournoi Queen title. Little did she know it would only take one time to win the hearts of the Tournoi Knights. Phillips is the 17-year-old daughter of Linda McMillin and Brian Phillips of Sulphur. She is a senior at Sulphur High School with a 4.0 GPA and an ACT score of 32. She enjoys traveling, watching her high school’s football and baseball games and writing. She belongs to the student council, National Honor Society and Quiz Bowl Team. She volunteers her spare time with Vacation Bible School in the summer, church choir and tutoring. She represented Sulphur High School at Louisiana Girls’ State and has received 12 hours of college credit for Advanced Placement testing in the spring of 2007. After she graduates high school in the spring of 2009, she plans to begin college at LSU in the fall and major in mass communications. When asked why she wanted to be Louisiana Tournoi Queen LX, she said, “I believe the Louisiana Tournoi is the most unique and exciting festival event in the State of Louisiana. I would feel extremely privileged to be able to travel Louisiana spreading the word about the Tournoi and working to make the 60th celebration since the Tournoi’s rebirth the biggest and best so far."

Phillips also was named photogenic winner. Britney Johnson was named people’s choice winner.

Kandy Andrepont, the 18-year-old daugher of Sandy Andrepont of Eunice, was named first runner-up to the new queen.

Former Louisiana Tournoi Queen Brittany Reed served as mistress of ceremonies for the pageant.