Disclaimer: This is sponsored content. All opinions and views are of the advertiser and does not reflect the same of KOAA.
If you walk into the Vanguard gymnasium, you can tell there is a star in the making.
"I wasn't into it at first," explained Vanguard sophomore guard Ramiyah Bird. "I was like this is boring. I was all into the girly girl stuff. But then I was like let me try it and see how fun it is. And then I just played and I was 'Woah, I can do this for a living. I like this"
The daughter of CSU Pueblo alum Anthony Byrd, who played for the Pack in the late 1990s, Ramiyah has burst onto the scene with the No. 1 team in 3A girls basketball.
"I really just like challenging the opponent," explained the 6-footer. "Like if they are going at me I am going to do my best to stop them. It is something about defense that makes me so happy like the blocks, and the rebounds and the steals. And all that intensity."
It is that competitive spirit that has helped Byrd stride past the competition. Not just on the basketball court, but also on the runway.
"I like being all cute and dolled up," added Byrd. "It also comes with the competitiveness on there too and always wanting to look my best on camera and stuff. The runway has been a dream of mine since I was little. I always wanted to walk the run in Paris and stuff."
For now, the sophomore will just continue to strut her stuff in Colorado Springs, with goals to play college hoops at the Division I level.
"I think I can handle it. My goal is to make it to the WNBA, but we will see about that."
