William Byrd High School spring sports teams wrapped up preseason
scrimmages and practices last week as they prepare for the coming season.
Monday, March 17, will be a big day for more than the Irish as Virginia High School League
spring games, matches and meets officially begin.
Byrd comes into the spring with two new coaches, and both are William Byrd
High graduates. Kaden West will take over the boys’ lacrosse team and Kevin Niday is
the new boys’ soccer coach.
West played lacrosse at Byrd from 2018 through 2022 and helped coach the
middle school team for the past two years. He came up through the East County system
and has a great love for the game.
“I’m really excited to lead these young men to not only be good lacrosse players
but to be better young men around the community as they grow up,” said West. “This job
is very special to me considering I grew up playing in the program and living in Vinton. I
have loved watching this game grow in the community and am excited to be a part of it
and continue to grow the sport. I’m excited to get the season going and to set a standard
for years to come.”
West’s father, Chris West, returns as an assistant coach and Bryce Cort will also
assist Kaden.
Niday grew up in the Mount Pleasant area and played soccer for William Byrd
High through the 1993 season. The Nidays have deep roots in the community as Kevin’s
wife Wendy (Hayden) played sports at Byrd and is a kindergarten teacher at Herman L.
Horn in Vinton. Son Landon was an all-state soccer player for the Terriers who is now
playing at Hampden-Sydney. Kevin is a protégé of former Byrd coach Jeff Highfill, who
the field at Patterson Stadium is named after.
“Coach Highfill was probably the most influential coach I’ve ever had, because of
my age at the time but also because of what else he taught us,” said Niday. “He taught us
about teamwork, dedication, commitment and work ethic, but he also taught us integrity,
honor, leadership, loyalty and respect, all of which have been valuable life lessons.”
Monday, March 17, the real season begins and Byrd is home to Magna Vista
for a 5 pm baseball game. The tennis teams will play Franklin County with the boys at
home at 4:30 pm and the girls in Rocky Mount.
Tuesday the soccer teams open the regular season. The boys are home for a
7 pm varsity game with Bassett and the girls are at Bassett, same time, and both are
preceeded by jayvee games. The softball team will host Christiansburg at 6 pm with the
jayvees at Christiansburg.
On Wednesday, March 19, Byrd will play Salem teams in soccer. The girls are
home for a jayvee-varsity doubleheader and the boys are at Spartan Field in Salem. The
jayvee and varsity softball teams are at Franklin County.
On Thursday March 20, Byrd will host the first outdoor track meet of the season beginning at 6 pm. Also on that day the Byrd girls will host Bassett in tennis and the Terrier boys’ tennis team will be at Bassett.The Byrd lacrosse teams will not have regular games until after spring break, with the girls opening on March 31 and the boys on April 1. And no, that’s not an April Fool.
