Madison soccer’s Nye headed for AUM

Braden Nye is a three-sport athlete at Madison Academic – playing soccer, basketball and running cross country for the Mustangs.

The senior was described by coaches as a quality leader for his teammates, and it showed as about 60 people were present at First United Methodist Church on Friday afternoon for him.

Nye is going to play soccer at Auburn University-Montgomery, and his signing ceremony was scheduled for Friday afternoon. When Jackson-Madison County Schools announced they were letting classes out early because of predicted inclement weather late that afternoon, those who wanted to be there for Nye’s signing went to his church to be there for it.

“I really appreciate everyone for being here for this because all of you mean a lot to me,” Nye told the crowd before he signed. “I appreciate the coaches for working with me and helping me get to where I am today.”

Before he signed, a couple of his coaches – cross country coach Brian Buchholz and basketball coach Andrew Hicks – talked about what they saw from him that shows his ability to parlay his high school soccer career into a college opportunity.

“Anything he does, he puts everything he has into,” Buchholz said. “He’s all in every time – whether it’s running or soccer or basketball or classwork or whatever.

“That says a lot about his level of commitment to succeed and to do quality work in whatever he tries to do.”

Hicks mentioned how the basketball team may not have won as many games as any of them would’ve liked, but he gave Nye and the rest of the seniors on the team high praise during the season.

“They’re the best senior class I’ve ever coached,” Hicks said. “And I mean that from the standpoint of leadership and being quality teammates for the guys younger than them … they’re by far the best group I’ve ever coached.

“And Braden is a big part of that, bringing accountability and encouragement to his teammates.”

Nye has recorded a couple of goals and an assist offensively for the Mustangs so far this season with 16 steals defensively. Last year as a junior, he finished with 23 goals and 17 assists.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news