Augusta, Ga. – Most collegiate student-athletes grew up enjoying a number of sports activities. Many instances it would not be till late of their highschool profession they determined which sport to focus all their consideration to. In school, apart from runners in cross nation and observe, only a few do multiple sport. For Augusta University’s Nadiyah Byard, she not solely competed in basketball for the Jaguars, however is specializing in the excessive bounce.
In highschool, Byard not solely performed basketball, however excelled on the observe in many alternative disciplines. She had a profitable highschool profession within the excessive bounce and her love of the game by no means left her.
“I was just pretty good at the high jump,” stated Byard. “Once I started winning in high jump, I decided to put all my energy in this, after basketball season.”
Before coming to Augusta Univeristy, Byard was at Appalachain St. the place she did each basketball and the excessive bounce for 2 years. It was a significant dedication however had the blessings from each of her coaches since she was capable of maintain her grades up and was capable of separate the 2 sports activities.
This yr, her senior season, Byard was enthusiastic about going instantly from basketball to the observe since she wished to compete in as many meets as doable. With the Jaguars making it to the NCAA Regional, her excessive bounce season was placed on maintain for a bit. She ended up enjoying in each recreation for coach Celeste Stewart and the Jags and began 23 of them.
She first talked to trace and discipline coach Jacob Burgamy through the basketball season and he was greater than welcome to the concept of her leaping for the Jags when she completed up on the court docket, particularly after seeing what credentials she had at App. St.
Once she bought going right here within the spring, it has been full steam forward. She gained the excessive bounce within the Electric City Invitational, her first meet as a Jaguar and was simply a few inches off the varsity document. With the Peach Belt Conference Championship up subsequent, Byard has her websites on the document and extra..
“I want to win. They talk about Emery Riddle and they have a girl that’s good. But it’s about who comes out and shows up the best. It’s my last meet to set the school record, so I need to come out with a big jump which is doable,” stated Byard.
While she’s solely spent one yr at Augusta University, she calls the expertise “amazing.” Once she bought right here and said to play basketball for Stewart, that is when she absolutely understood what Division II was all about. She’s additionally been very appreciative of the possibility Stewart gave her to go well with up for Augusta.
“I got here, I was like, oh, this is actually perfect for me,” stated Byard. “We won the Peach Belt Conference Championship in basketball, I have another shot at it here in track, so it’s been perfect, honestly. I’ve enjoyed the coaches, the teammates, the people and everything like that.”
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