Bryan College Athletics Enjoy Successful Fall Campaign

In the 79 year history of Bryan College, the school has never enjoyed the success in intercollegiate athletics as it did this past Fall. In both Men's Soccer and Men's Cross Country, Bryan made it to the NAIA National Championships. In Women's Soccer and Women's Volleyball, both squads reached the finals of their respective AAC conference tournaments.

The Bryan Men's Cross Country Team finished the regular season ranked 8th in the nation in the NAIA Top 25, the best ranking ever of ANY Bryan athletic team in the history of the school. They went on to finish 27th out of 53 teams in the NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Vancouver, WA back in November. Several members of the Bryan Women's Cross Country Team also qualified for the NAIA National Championships, including Gwinnett County's own
Ericka Simpson. Two members of the Men's team, Bryson Harper and Daniel Goetz, were selected as NAIA Scholar Athletes.

The Men's Soccer Team had arguably one of the best seasons ever as they finished the season 11-8 and won the AAC Tournament Championship by beating Montreat College 3-2, gaining them a berth in the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history. Jr. Defender Daniel O'Kane was named AAC Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row, and earned NAIA All-America honors. A native of Dunedin, New Zeland, O'Kane helped the Lions reach the AAC Championship game when he scored a golden goal in the conference semis to defeat Union College 1-0.

The Bryan Women's Soccer Team had one of their best seasons ever. A final record of 8-8-2 may not sound impressive, but in the AAC Tournament, the LAdy Lions routed Bluefield College 6-0 and defeated Milligan College in penalty kicks thus placing them in the conference championship where they fell short to Union College 2-1. More importantly, six players were named NAIA Scholar Athletes:
Carrie Cook (Sr.) - Jasper, TX
Kara Nissley (Jr.) - Alexandria, VA
Shelby Robinson (Jr.) - Atlanta, GA
Stephanie Wade (Sr.) - St. Simons Island, GA
Elizabeth Peters (Sr.) - Sherwood, AR

The Bryan Women's Volleyball Team had the best year in school history with a record of 31-17. 31 wins are the most wins of any VB team in Bryan history. The Lady Lions made it all the way to the AAC Tournament Championship match where they fell to Union College 3 games to 1. However, the Lady Lions participated in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Mideast Regional Tournament where they defeated Bluefield and Asbury before falling to King College in the Championship match. However, due to their success in the regular season, the Lady Lions got an at large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament, where they won two out three matches in pool play and reached the tournament's Final Four before falling to Campbellsville University. As far as individual honors, Senior Middle Blocker Amber Smith topped her four year brilliant career as a two-sport starter by making AVCA/NCCAA First Team All-Region. Smith was also an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention selection and made NAIA First Team All-Region.

Those of us who went to Bryan back in the 90s remember that there were years where success on the field or court was very hard to come by. In this decade, Bryan athletic teams, in particular the Bryan Women's Basketball Team, have made several appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. In years before this time, it was for Bryan student-athletes and fans just to dream.

It looks as if the Bryan Men's Basketball Program is turning in the same successful direction. They are now 7-3 on the young season, and are ranked 7th in the NCCAA Top 25. The Bryan Lady hoopsters, who have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament 4 out of the last 6 years, are poised for another run to Sioux City, IA as they enjoy an 11-4 overall record and are 2-1 in conference play. It can be said that the first decade of the 21st century is the "Golden Age" of Bryan College athletics. Lets hope that Baseball, along with two new sports, Women's Softball and Golf, will reach the same heights as the Fall and Winter sports.