Welsh Greyhounds
By Lee Brecheen
Head Coach: Ronnie Courville (1st year)
2022 Record: 10-2
Class & District: Class 2A (District 5
2022 Playoffs: Defeated Varnado 44-8 in 1st Round, Lost to Oak Grove 35-14 in 2nd Round of Division IV (Non-Select) Playoffs
Welsh QB Jonavon Begnaud (Photo taken by Renee Benoit)
For the last decade, Welsh High School has been one of the most successful high school football programs in Southwest Louisiana. The Greyhounds won the 2017 Class 2A State Championship at the Superdome and made it again the following year where they finished as the runner-up to Amite High School in 2018. The Greyhounds have also had five 10+ win seasons in the last 10 years as well.
Welsh High School promoted its defensive coordinator Ronnie Courville to the head job after Cody Gueringer left to take the same position at Sulphur High School. Coach Courville has been with Welsh since the 2017 season as a coach.
“A lot of kids are changing positions in 2023 and we lost 15 players to graduation from last year’s team,” Courville said.
Welsh WR/DB Hayden Van Ness (Photo taken by Renee Benoit)
You will see a few kids start both sides of the football in 2023 for the program. The Offense will be led by QB Jonavon Begnaud, who is one of the top athletes in the district with a cannon arm and 4.5 speed in the forty. The offense also returns some talented players in RB/ATH Hayden Van Ness (5-11, 175), WR JJ Artis (5-11, 155), OT Eli Jolie (6-0, 245), OT Caleb Bianchini (6-0, 210) and All-State TE Troy Pattum (6-2, 215) who is a great player blocker and pass catcher.
The Defense will be led by senior DE Tanner Mallett (5-11, 190), FS Cameron Bouley (5-9, 170), senior LB Carter Phelps (5-10, 180) and SS Ethan Beard (5-10, 170).
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