Jacey Lowery and Braylen Lyday of Durant High School have been selected as the Shamrock Bank Performing Arts and Impact Athlete Students of the month for March 2024.
Lyday is a three-sport starter for the Lions football, basketball and soccer teams.
The senior will once again be counted on again this spring soccer season after being named the Lions Offensive MVP as a junior. That followed up a selection to the Rose Rock all tournament team in 2021. He is also a member of the 2021 and 2022 Oklahoma Class 5A State Academic Soccer Champions .
In addition, Braylen has played select soccer in Plano, TX for seven years with the American Academy of Soccer and was offered the chance to play soccer in Portugal in 2021.
Lyday scored four goals during March games and has found the back of the net 44 times during his varsity career.
“Braylen is a true competitor, ” DHS boys soccer coach John Wilmoth said.” He is one of the best soccer players that I’ve ever coached. Having him on the field makes my job a lot easier.”
Before donning the soccer shorts, Lyday has been a key player for the DHS basketball team and a offensive weapon for the Lions football team during his high school playing career.
In January, Braylen was named to the all-tournament team at the Primus Moore Invitational Basketball tournament where the Lions won the third place trophy. A defensive specialist, he was often called upon to guard the opponents top scorer.
A two-time Durant Lumber Company Hard Hat winner on the gridiron, the speedy Lyday was a dangerous pass catcher, kickoff returner and accurate kicker . This past fall, Braylen connected on 27-30 extra points and booted five of eight field goals. The biggest coming in a 20-19 come-from-behind road victory at Broken Bow. With the clock ticking down, Lyday rushed onto the field and calmly split the uprights on a clutch game winner from 24-yards out with just :12 seconds left. His football career was capped off by being named the all-district kicker in 5A-3.
Lyday’s talent is not confined to the athletic fields or gym. He won the 2024 Durant High School Talent Show and has recorded a 3.98 grade point average in the classroom. He is a member of the Oklahoma Honor Society and Oklahoma Indian Honor Society and future plans include attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University where hopes to kick for the Savage Storm football team and to pursue a business degree.
His mother is Lynetta Lyday and one brother, Bryson, who was also a star soccer player at DHS.
Jacey Lowery is an accomplished dancer who has trained in multiple disciplines including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Tap, Hip Hop, Pom and Lyrical.
A senior, Jacey is a highly decorated member of the Axis Dance Company, where she received the 2022 Leadership Award, In addition, she won first place and champion awards at Stage One, Encore, and Danceline USA regional and national competitions .
Active in school, Lowery is the captain of the “Durant Sparklers”. She is also a straight-A student and a member of the National Honor Society.
Her school doesn’t stop at DHS. Already classified as a sophomore in college, she has been taking classes at Southeastern Oklahoma State University with plans to pursue a higher education degree.
In addition, she will participate in the Ingredients Dance Company which is a professional dance ministry company in Dallas TX . The company tours nationally with a convention called “Dance Revolution” and it offers daily classes that will include dance training and Biblical study and application.
In the community, Jacey is a member of the First Baptist Church in Durant and is involved in activities such as Bible study groups and Christian leadership camps and conferences.
Jacey’s parents are Jason and Lindsey Lowery. She has five siblings, KJ, Lexey, Hadley, Ellie and Beckham.
Congratulations to Braylen Lyday and Jacey Lowery the Shamrock Bank Impact Athlete and Performing Arts Students of the Month for March 2024.
