Andy Bryan from Edina captured almost every award imaginable before he graduated in the spring of 2008 and headed off to medical school at the University of Minnesota. Recently he added one more prestigious honor- Gustavus Athlete of the Year. Bryan received this award at the Athletic Hall of Fame banquet on October 25. He is the second tennis player to be so honored. The first was Eric Butorac in 2002, now a world ranked professional tennis doubles player.

Andy’s qualifications transcended tennis. He was one of three athletes in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to be awarded a $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship last spring. Also he was the only MIAC athlete named to the 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All American first team. In 2007 Andy was a second team selection.

Bryan’s national tennis awards included Division III Senior Player of the Year. Another was the O’Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award, given to one male athlete at the National ITA Tournament. Interestingly, Kevin Whipple, Andy’s Assistant Head Coach at Gustavus, had won both awards five years earlier. In individual national competition Andy reached two national finals- the 2007 ITA singles final and the 2008 NCAA III doubles final with partner Charlie Paukert.

As a captain and team leader Andy led the Gustavus team to two National Division III Indoor championships and three final four appearances in the NCAA III outdoor championships. In all four of his varsity seasons Bryan came through with incredible shots in clutch situations with team matches on the line.

The award that best pulls together Bryan’s college career is the 2008 MIAC Arthur Ashe Award, given to one tennis player in the conference who best demonstrates outstanding scholarship, sportsmanship, tennis playing excellence, and humanitarian concerns. The first three categories have been recognized in Andy’s other awards. His humanitarian concerns have included leadership roles in community service tennis lessons, Relay for Life cancer fundraisers, Alumni Fund drives, Gustavus Buddy Volunteers, Adopt a Grandparent program, and the Gustavus Ambassador’s Club.

With such outstanding accolades Andy Bryan clearly deserves his most recent honor- Gustavus Male Athlete of the Year. Players with so many qualifications lead a varsity tennis program only once in a great while.

Comment: