By Rich Winter

605 Sports

Since arriving at Lakota Tech high school three years ago there have been a lot of firsts for Taylor Byerley. 

In 2020, Byerley became the first Tatanka athlete to qualify for the state cross-country meet. In the spring of 2021, she became the first track athlete from Lakota Tech to qualify for a state track meet. In March 2022, Byerley was part of the Lakota Tech girls basketball team that qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history. 

On Feb. 10, she became the first Lakota Tech athlete to sign with a Division I school where she will run cross-country and track for the University of South Dakota. 

“I narrowed it down to Minnesota State, Black Hills State and the University of South Dakota and Vermillion just felt like home,” Byerley said. “I didn’t want to be just another number and I already know a few people there.” 

One of those people is Red Cloud senior Jade Ecoffey, back-to-back state champion in the 1,600 meter run and 3,200 meter run, whom Byerley says will be her roommate in college.

Byerley’s road to the University of South Dakota and even Lakota Tech high school was a circuitous one. Her parents April and Jesse, along with Taylor and her siblings live in Martin. Byerley was a two-time state cross country qualifier at Bennett County High School and she broke Carla Allard’s 1,600-meter run record in track as a freshman. 

In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic the Byerley family decided to give the brand new Lakota Tech High School a shot. 

“Lakota Tech had so many intriguing classes,” Byerley said. “They teach TCE Medical Terminology. They have CNA and Pharmaceutical classes as well as an introduction to Sports Medicine.” 

It didn’t hurt that her best friend and athletic compatriot Hannah Risse had decided to go to Lakota Tech. 

“Hannah kinda talked me into it,” Byerley said. “She’s like a sister to me and we both thought Lakota Tech was something new and we should give it a try. Having her support really helped.” 

Entering school in the fall of 2020 Byerley and her Lakota Tech classmates did most of their school online. There was no cross-country until midway through the season when the cross-country team received approval they could run. 

“At the time we weren’t sure if we would have a season,” she said. “At the last minute the Board of Education approved it but we were given a long list of precautions. 

With only five weeks left in the season the coach designed a workout regimen to get the girls in shape as quickly as possible. Despite missing half the season Byerley somehow managed to qualify for the state cross country meet. 

Not just a one sport standout, Byerley has been a steady contributor to the Lakota Tech girls basketball team for the past three seasons. She was one of the first players off the bench last year and after the 2022 Lakota Nation Invitational she worked her way into Laura Big Crow’s starting lineup. 

Lakot's Tech's Taylor Byerley (No. 3) worked herself into the Tatanka starting lineup this season - Rodney Haas - 605 Sports

“Laura is a great coach and I’ve become a lot more confident and a more versatile player,” she said. “It is great to have girls that are better than me because that pushes me to get better.” 

The Lakota Tech girls finished the regular season with a 16-4 record and open Region 7A play Tuesday against Pine Ridge. 

Attending Lakota Tech has reinvigorated Byerley’s interest in her Native American culture. 

“When I was a little girl I remember going to sundance and sweat but as I grew up I kinda moved away from that,” she said. “Going to Lakota Tech and taking Lakota language classes and being part of buffalo hunts has been great. The school really works at revitalizing the culture and bringing it back into the community.” 

Basketball is and will always be king on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. For the past three cross-country seasons and the last two track seasons Byerley felt like her running abilities had gone unnoticed. 

That changed after she signed to run at USD.

“I really thought that people didn’t pay attention to me,” she said. “After signing I felt like people started talking about track and cross-country. We had parents reaching out and saying their kids wanted to run because of me and that made me step back and realize little kids are watching me and looking up to me.” 

Byerley said she plans on studying Exercise Science, Athletic Training or Physical Therapy at USD.

On Feb. 10 Lakota Tech's Taylor Byerley signed to continue her education and athletic career at the University of South Dakota - Photo courtesy of Byerley family