News Post

Five St. Joseph’s Academy seniors signed their commitment papers on December 3 and will compete on the collegiate level next year. The signing ceremony was held in the Academy Student Center and attended by a large gathering of family members, teammates, friends, faculty/staff members and coaches.

Gracie Mann will play beach and indoor volleyball at Southeastern Louisiana University. Ivy May will play soccer at Nicholls State University. Molly Milligan will bowl at Emmanuel University. Avery Papania will play soccer at the University of Southern Mississippi. Cameron Raines will play tennis at Southwestern University. 

Mann is a four-year letter winner in volleyball and was the MVP of the All-District Volleyball Team in 2023 and 2024. She was selected to play in the LHSAA/LHSCA All-Star Volleyball Game and was named Miss Volleyball/MVP. She was joined at the signing ceremony by her parents, Leslie and Tommy Mann; sisters Lilly and Lucy Mann; and grandparents Gail and Lynn Lincecum and Sue Hebert. She was also joined by SJA volleyball coach Donna Pixley, former coach Sivi Miller and private coach Kirstie Pommier. “Signing my papers surrounded by the people who helped me get here was really special,” Mann said. “I’m grateful for my family, friends and teammates for always pushing me and believing in me.”

Mann said she is enthusiastic about her next steps. “I’m looking forward to growing as a player and a person,” she said. “I can’t wait to train at a higher level, meet my new teammates and challenge myself in a new environment.”

May was a member of SJA’s 2023 state championship soccer team. She was named to the 2023 All-State Freshman Team and the 2025 All-State First Team. She is a three-year letter winner. She was joined at the ceremony by her parents, Leslie May and Brian May, and brother Ian May. Also joining her was SJA soccer coach Kyle Carmouche and club coach Michael Robichaux. “When it came time to sign my papers, being surrounded by the people who have supported me throughout my entire journey made the moment feel truly special,” she said. “I could clearly see how each person there had played a part in helping me reach this milestone. Everyone who stood beside me and cheered me on helped shape my path and push me toward my dream of playing college soccer. It was a powerful reminder of how grateful I am for all the encouragement, love and belief they’ve shown me over the years.”

May said she is looking forward to competing at a more intense level and discovering just how far she can push herself as a collegiate soccer player. “Being able to grow as both a player and a person is something I’m genuinely excited about,” she said. “I’ll be surrounded by some of my closest friends on the Nicholls soccer team, which makes the transition even more special. Former SJA soccer player Angelina Rispone will be my teammate again, and we will be playing beside each other. At the same time, I can’t wait to meet new teammates from across the country and build strong relationships with people who share the same passion for the game. I’m excited for the challenges, memories and opportunities this next chapter will bring.”

Milligan is a three-year letter winner in bowling and was named to the All-District First Team in 2024 and 2025 and the Second Team in 2023. She was joined at the ceremony by her mother, Anita Milligan, stepfather Troy Christensen and sister Grace Montgomery, as well as SJA coach Garth Ridge and private coach Page Dew. “Having my family, friends and teammates there made the moment even more meaningful,” she said.

Milligan said she is looking forward to continuing her athletic career at Emmanuel University. “I’m really looking forward to growing as an athlete, competing at a higher level and being part of a new team environment,” she said. 

Papania is a three-year letter winner in soccer. She was a 2024 All-State Second-Team selection and a two-year member of the All-District Team. She was named a Rising Star by 225 Magazine in 2025. She also competes for LA Elite. She was joined at the ceremony by her parents, Kelly and Joey Papania; brothers Will and Jack Papania; and grandparents Rosary and Jay Papania and Karen and Don Pope. Also in attendance were SJA soccer coach Kyle Carmouche and club coaches Lynn Bradley and Kiran Booluck. “As I signed my papers, being surrounded by the people who have supported me from the very beginning made the moment feel really special,” she said. “Seeing everyone so proud and excited reminded me why all the hard work was worth it. It’s definitely a moment I’ll always remember and be proud of.”

Papania said she’s looking forward to competing at a high level. “I’m excited to meet my new team, settle into new routines and see how much I can push myself in a completely new environment,” she said. “It feels like such a big step, but in the best way, and I can’t wait to grow, compete and be part of something new.”

Raines is a two-year letter winner in tennis and was a member of the state champion doubles team in 2024 and 2025. She was a member of the SJA tennis team that captured Division I state titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. She was named to the All-Metro Team in 2024 and 2025. She was joined at the ceremony by her parents, Mary and Jim Raines; brother Will Raines; aunts Rachel Stewart and Becky Hendrix; and grandmothers Lora Taylor and Pat Raines. Also in attendance were SJA tennis coach Jonathan Howard and private coaches Luke Richardson and Joe Rizzo. “It felt very heartwarming to have my family, friends and teammates around me,” Raines said. “This was a goal for a long time, and having the people who supported me throughout my journey was truly meaningful.”

Raines said she is excited to take the next step in her athletic journey. “I am looking forward to being able to continue my sport at the next level and have a new team of girls to continue my journey with,” she said.

WAFB and WBRZ covered the signing ceremony.