Bryan Lions
{{Short description|College athletics team}}
{{Multiple issues|
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{{Infobox school athletics
| name = Bryan Lions
| logo = Bryan College Logo.svg
| logo_width = 200
| university = Bryan College
| association = NAIA
| conference = AAC (primary)
| director = Jenny Swafford
| location = Dayton, Tennessee
| first season =
| teams = 17
| mens_teams = 6
| womens_teams = 7
| coed_teams = 4
| basketballarena = Summers Gymnasium
| baseballfield = Senter Field
| softballstadium =
| soccerstadium =
| lacrossestadium =
| tenniscourt =
| golfcourse =
| mascot = Leo
| nickname = Lions
| color1 = Red
| color2 = Black
| color3 = Grey
| color4 = White
| hex1 = 990000
| hex2 = 000000
| hex3 = 808080
| hex4 = ffffff
| pageurl = https://bryanlions.com/index.aspx
}}
The Bryan Lions are the 17 intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Bryan College, located in Dayton, Tennessee. They are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and primarily compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).[http://www.bryanlions.com/Quick_Facts Quick Facts - Bryan College]{{cite web|title=Schools|url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205322922|website=NAIA.ORG|publisher=NAIA|access-date=11 November 2015}}{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.aacsports.com/members.php|publisher=Appalachian Athletic Conference|access-date=8 March 2016|archive-date=7 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307145123/http://www.aacsports.com/members.php|url-status=dead}}
File:Bryan_College_students_play_volleyball_in_Summers_Gymnasium_01.jpg
Varsity teams
Bryan competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, fishing, martial arts and shooting.
=Men's soccer=
In the late 1970s, the men's soccer team participated in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). While in the association, the soccer team won three NCCAA Championships in 1977, 1978, and 1979. In recent years, the men's soccer team has competed in the AAC district tournaments and NAIA national tournaments, and subsequently in 2018 and 2019, the team made it to the championship round of the conference tournament, however, they lost both years to Reinhardt University and Union College respectively.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2531.php|title=Men's Soccer Season Ends in Opening Round Upset by Spring Arbor - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3435.php |access-date=2019-12-09 |title=Men's Soccer Falls in OT to Union in AAC Tournament Final - Bryan College |archive-date=2019-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210051554/http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3435.php |url-status=dead }}
=Women's soccer=
In 2010, the women's soccer team received the NAIA scholar team award for maintaining the 14th national highest GPA among NAIA programs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/625.php|title=Women's Soccer Team Receives NAIA Scholar Team Award - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} In 2017, the Lady Lions won the regular season championship and represented the college in the NAIA national tournament. In the 2017 season, they recorded the most wins in the history of the program.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2791.php|title=Women's Soccer Wins First-Ever Conference Championship! - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}
=Men's basketball=
In 2013, Bryan College played in the AAC basketball tournament championship game, losing to the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/1489.php|title=Men's Basketball Falls Short in AAC Championship - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} In 2016, a Bryan College player set the all-time points and rebounding records for his team, while also leading the NAIA (D-II) scoring above the total average points.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2314.php|title=Lion's Season Comes To An End At AAC Tourney - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}
=Women's basketball=
The women's basketball program competed in the NAIA (D-II) national tournament after winning the AAC tournament in 2017, 2018, and 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3207.php|title=Lady Lions Go Undefeated in AAC, Capturing Third Straight Tournament Title - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}} In 2019, the team finished with a 31–2 record, including winning in the AAC regular season and tournament championship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3223.php|title=Women's Basketball Close Historic Season in NAIA Tournament Opening Round - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}
=Baseball=
Baseball was added to the athletic program in 2002.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/190.php|title=Former Lions' Standout Hasty Named New Head Coach - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|access-date=2019-12-09}} In 2012, the team represented the college at the AAC tournament in the championship game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/1235.php|title=Baseball's Best Season Comes to a Close - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}} In the 2012 season, they set the record for the most wins in school history.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/1235.php|title=Baseball's Best Season Comes to a Close - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}} After winning the AAC regular season, the Lions represented Bryan College at the 2019 NAIA national tournament.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3302.php|title=Lions Drop One-Run Difference to William Jessup, Season Ends on Thomas' Comeback - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}
=Softball=
In 2010, Bryan College restarted the softball program, with games beginning in the spring of 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/275.php|title=Softball Returns to Bryan - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} The Lady Lions struggled in their first season with an overall record of 6-40. Recently, the Lions have represented the college at the AAC tournament and upset multiple top-seeded programs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3297.php|title=Bryan Softball Closes 2019 Campaign - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3286.php|title=Lions Answer Back, Upsetting No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett in Nightcap - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} The Lions finished the 2019 season with a leading record of 20–28.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3297.php|title=Bryan Softball Closes 2019 Campaign - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}
=Volleyball=
In 2013, the program hosted its first NAIA national tournament match after winning the AAC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/1771.php|title=Volleyball Season Ends After NAIA National Championship Opening Round - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} The Lady Lions recorded four straight AAC regular season championships{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2211.php|title=Bryan Outlasts Union to Become AAC Champs! - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} including a 2014 season that was undefeated in conference play.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2045.php|title=Undefeated in conference! - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} In 2019, the Lions represented the college in the AAC conference tournament before falling to Union College.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3433.php|title=Bryan Volleyball's Season Ends in AAC Tournament Quarterfinals - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}
=Men's and women's golf=
Golf, both men's and women's, was added to the athletic program in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/280.php|title=Golf Coach Hired - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} Both Men and women golfers were awarded several honors, including AAC player of the year,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2979.php|title=Reinhardt Wins Program's First-Ever AAC Player of the Year - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} All-American nomination,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3004.php|title=Reinhardt Makes History as Bryan's First-Ever All-American Golfer - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} and AAC player of the week.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/890.php|title=Hoare Wins AAC Golfer of the Week Two Weeks Straight - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}
=Fishing=
In 2017, the team participated in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. A National Championship program with several groups of anglers. The Lions beautifully won the National Championship and the 2017 Cabela's School of the Year Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.peppercustombaits.com/bryan-college-wins-carhartt-bassmaster-college-series-national-championship/|title=Bryan College wins Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship {{!}} Pepper Custom Baits|website=www.peppercustombaits.com|access-date=2019-12-05}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/2686.php|title=Bryan Fishing Wins 2017 Cabela's School of the Year - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}} In 2019, two students won the Bassmaster College Classic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3242.php|title=Sands & Fain Win it all in Bassmaster College Classic - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}
=Shooting=
Bryan College announced an inaugural shooting team beginning in the Fall of 2020.The competitions will begin in the Fall of 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3313.php|title=Bryan College Adds Shooting Team, Best Named Head Coach - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}} The shooting team will be competing in the Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships respectively. Meanwhile, six events are included in the competitions including American Trap, International Trap, American Skeet, International Skeet, Sporting Clays, and Five Stand. The shooting team is a co-educational team and will be competing in Division III of the Scholastic Clay Target Program.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bryanlions.com/article/3313.php|title=Bryan College Adds Shooting Team, Best Named Head Coach - Bryan College|website=www.bryanlions.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}
=Martial Arts=
In 2017, Bryan College announced the introduction of a Martial Arts Academy that competes across the south eastern region. Students train in Isshinryu karate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bryan.edu/news/2017/08/martialartsacademy/|title=Bryan College to Offer Martial Arts Academy Beginning in Fall 2018|date=2017-08-04|website=Bryan College|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}} The Martial Arts Academy is a co-educational program open to male and female undergraduate students alike.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bryan.edu/news/2017/08/martialartsacademy/|title=Bryan College to Offer Martial Arts Academy Beginning in Fall 2018|date=2017-08-04|website=Bryan College|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}}
Rivalries
All rival athletic programs that compete against the Lions are in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aacsports.com/|title=Appalachian Athletic Conference|website=Appalachian Athletic Conference|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}
References
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