One of the brightest stars in the Tioga Lady Bulldogs’ athletic program, Lindsey Byler, signed her letter of intent to continue her career in sports at Southeastern Oklahoma State University on May 15.
The senior was honored with a ceremony hosted in the Tioga High School gym in front of family, friends and peers as she committed to becoming the newest member of the Savage Storm’s track and field program.
“In the short amount of time we have spent together, she showed she has what it takes to compete at the collegiate level,” Tioga head girl track coach Rickey Smith said. '… She experienced some early success in her career, then dealt with some injuries that put her in a position where she wasn't able to compete for a while, but she bounced back even better and gave herself a chance to compete at the next level.'
During her time in Tioga, Lindsey was a starter on the girls’ varsity basketball team and earned multiple medals in shot put and discus as a member of the track and field team.
She was also a one-time state qualifier in the shot put and holds Tioga ISD's school records for the shot put and discus.
As one of the newest faces of the Savage Storm's women's track and field team, Lindsey will receive a partial athletic scholarship and join a team that posted 12 all-conference performances and set four new school records at the Great American Conference Championships this spring.
'My brother went there, so I've been to the campus a lot,' Lindsey said. '… I'm really looking forward to being able to keep throwing and meet a lot of new people and make new friends.'
Lindsey said she plans to study kinesiology with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer or physical therapist.
She also made sure to thank all her former and current coaches.
'This is one of those situations that every parent dreams of—that their child gets to compete at the collegiate level,' Lindsey's father Curtis Byler said.
Lindsey's mother, Paula Byler, said Lindsey's older brother, Cameron Byler, sent his love and also shared the joy she felt in the moment.
'It's just been amazing watching Lindsey grow from when she started back in junior high to reaching the highest high, making it to the state, and then having the devastating injury, tearing her ACL and meniscus, where a lot of kids may have given up,' she said. 'She was out almost a whole year and even had to throw modified her junior year. It's been a journey of recovery and endurance to get back and compete again this year, and although we fell a little short of state, … it's been a real honor.'
