St. Cloud State's Andrea Bryson receives top honor from the NCAA
12/13/2018 1:58:00 PM | Women's Swim & Dive
Andrea Bryson, a standout student-athlete for the St. Cloud State University women's swimming and diving team from 2014 to 2018, will be honored as one of the 2019 Today's Top 10 Award winners at the NCAA Convention in January, 2019.
This prestigious NCAA award recognizes former student-athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Recipients completed their athletics eligibility during the 2017-18 academic year and will be recognized at the Honors Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Orlando, Florida. This award honors the top 10 NCAA student-athletes from all levels including NCAA DI, DII and DIII schools.
The honorees are selected by the NCAA Honors Committee, composed of representatives of NCAA member schools, conferences and distinguished citizens, including past awardees.
This year's group of Today's Top 10 Award winners includes Bryson, Ama Biney (Worcester Polytechnic Institute/women's basketball and softball), Jevon Carter (West Virginia/men's basketball), Lukas Kaliszak (Alabama/men's swimming and diving), Allison Lindsay (Washington University/women's cross country and track and field), Alex McMurtry (University of Florida/women's gymnastics), Ketrah Orji (University of Georgia/women's track and field), Ben Reeves (Yale University/men's lacrosse), Kyle Snyder (The Ohio State University/wrestling), Julia Wilson (Kenyon University/women's swimming and diving).
A chemistry major, Byrson swam for four years at Division II St. Cloud State and graduated in May, 2018. She currently resides and works in Chicago, Ill.
After strong showings at the NCAA championships, she earned All-America honors in 2017 and 2018. During her time with the Huskies, she won eight event titles in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference championship meets. She rounded out her career with 2018 NSIC individual titles in the 50-yard freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle events.
Bryson was named both the 2018 NSIC Swimmer of the Meet and overall NSIC Swimmer of the Year for her outstanding performances. The same year, she also set conference records in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle events. Bryson was a College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American for four straight years.
In 2018, she earned College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America At-Large honors and during the 2014-15 academic year, she was named Freshman Chemistry Student of the Year. As a senior, Bryson earned the American Institute of Chemists Award, given to the student with the highest grade-point average in the chemistry department.
For three years, Bryson was a University Ambassador, serving as a representative for St. Cloud State at official university and charitable events. Additionally, she represented the women's swimming program on the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, including taking on the role of vice president. With SAAC, she organized several initiatives, including food drives, a mental health panel and fundraisers. For her involvement and leadership on campus, Bryson was presented with the Dennis Thayer Excellence in Leadership Award in 2018.
Bryson graduated from Appleton North High School in Appleton, Wisc. and is the daughter of Rob and Silvia Bryson.
Bryson becomes just the second St. Cloud State University student-athlete to be recognized as an NCAA Today's Top 10 award winner. She joins Ryan Koch, who received the elite Today's Top 10 award in 2007 for his success with the SCSU men's track and field team and football team.
NCAA Today's Top 10 Press Release
Players Mentioned
