Theo Brunner

Brunner was born in Palo Alto, California, but raised in Ridgefield, Connecticut where he attended Ridgefield High School and played for the school team.{{cite web |url=http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/34822/fresh-off-win-in-cuba-brunner-heads-to-atlantic-city-for-beach-tourney/ |title=Fresh off win in Cuba, Brunner heads to Atlantic City for beach tourney |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=August 29, 2014 |publisher=The Ridgefield Press |accessdate=September 26, 2014}} After graduation, he enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

In college, Brunner competed with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's indoor volleyball team. Despite redshirting his freshman year in 2004, Brunner quickly became a key player for the Gauchos. In 2007, Brunner was named an AVCA First Team All American along with UCSB teammate Evan Patak.{{cite web |url=http://www.avca.org/articles/index.cfm?action=view&articleID=358§ionID=64 |title=2007 DI-II All America Team |date=May 2, 2007 |publisher=American Volleyball Coaches Association |accessdate=September 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140929150228/http://www.avca.org/articles/index.cfm?action=view&articleID=358§ionID=64 |archivedate=September 29, 2014 }} He was named co-captain of the team in 2008.

Brunner's first taste of professional beach volleyball was in the 2006 Manhattan Beach Open, which he participated in with UCSB teammate Ben Brockman. They lost by forfeit in their first qualifying match. The duo participated in the 2007 version, losing 2 sets to 1 in their first qualifying match. 2008 saw the first of Brunner's partner swaps, participating in May's Huntington Beach Open with another UCSB teammate, Andy McGuire. The Brunner/McGuire combination won their first qualifying match before falling in their second. July's Long Beach Open saw Brunner pair with Phil Silva.

He competed in seven events in 2009, nearly doubling the number of events he previously competed in. He began 2009 with yet another UCSB teammate, Aaron Mansfield, before competing with Matt Heagy and Derek Olson, then ultimately reverting to Mansfield to complete the season. Brunner advanced for the first time out of the qualifying rounds and into the Winners Bracket with Olsen in July's Coney Island Open, falling to John Mayer and Jeff Nygaard. It marked the first time in Brunner's career that he finished in the money — $240.

2010 saw Mansfield and Brunner partner for two of the three tournaments Brunner participated in. The lone exception was the first tournament that Brunner participated in in 2010, the Virginia Beach Open, which he paired up with Jon Mesko. Unfortunately, the Association of Volleyball Professionals cancelled the remainder of the season right before the 2010 Manhattan Beach Open due to financial difficulty.{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/07/avp-alerts-players-about-financial-troubles.html |title=AVP alerts players about beach volleyball tour's financial troubles |last=Myers |first=Laura |date=July 24, 2010 |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=September 25, 2014}}

In the 2009 beach volleyball off season, Brunner returned indoor volleyball.{{cite web |url=http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/24884/brunner-has-clear-goal-make-u-s-olympic-beach-volleyball-team/ |title=Brunner has clear goal: Make U.S. Olympic beach volleyball team |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=Ridgefield Press |accessdate=September 25, 2014}} He (stylized in Greek as Θίοντορ Μπρούνερ) signed professional terms with P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki V.C. and was presented in September 2009,{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/Sports/Volley/article351345.ece |title=Παρουσίασε τα νέα του αποκτήματα o ΠΑΟΚ |date=September 29, 2009 |website=Sport24.gr |language=Greek |accessdate=September 26, 2014}} after a delay with his visa.{{cite web |url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=72284 |script-title=el:ΔΟΕ: Επτά αθλήματα ζητούν θέση στους Ολυμπιακούς |date=August 12, 2009 |website=Eleftherotypia |language=Greek |accessdate=September 26, 2014}} He was named to the World All-Stars team, played on September 28, 2009, for the A1 Ethniki Volleyball league.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/Sports/Volley/article350589.ece |title=Οι "εκλεκτοί" για το All Star Game |date=September 18, 2009 |website=Sport24.gr |language=Greek |accessdate=September 26, 2014 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071938/http://www.sport24.gr/Sports/Volley/article350589.ece |url-status=dead }}

Brunner left Greece to join Italian-side Marmi Lanza Verona of the Serie A1 in June 2010{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/node/100781 |script-title=el:Πάει και ο Μπρούνερ |last=Καρακούσης |first=Φώτης |date=June 14, 2010 |website=gazzetta.gr |language=Greek |accessdate=September 26, 2014}} and was presented as a player on September 10, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluvolleyverona.it/ita/news-01.asp |title=VENERDI' LA PRESENTAZIONE DI THEODORE BRUNNER |accessdate=September 26, 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001222549/http://www.bluvolleyverona.it/ita/news-01.asp |archivedate=October 1, 2010 |language=el}} He spent the season with them before moving to CMC Ravenna in August 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.ravenna24ore.it/news/ravenna/0018393-pallavolo-presentati-nuovi-volti-della-cmc-ravenna |title=Pallavolo, presentati i nuovi volti della Cmc Ravenna |date=August 4, 2011 |website=ravenna24ore.it |language=Italian |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/volley/a1_maschile/2011/05/27-175086/Gasparini+arriva+in+Italia.+Nuovo+opposto+di+Verona |title=Gasparini arriva in Italia Nuovo opposto di Verona |date=May 27, 2011 |website=Corriere dello Sport – Stadio |language=Italian |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

He signed with German club Generali Haching in June 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/inhalt.volleyballer-mit-neuverpflichtung-haching-holt-us-boy.d5e579a1-0dfc-4cd2-a4d6-ec24fe674e33.html |title=Haching holt US-Boy |date=June 13, 2012 |publisher=Abendzeitung |language=German |accessdate=September 26, 2014}} In September 2012 it was announced that after a medical checkup, it was discovered that Brunner had a heart problem and he left the team.{{cite web |url=http://www.volleycountry.com/beach/beach-volleyball-back-to-its-origins |title=Beach volleyball back to its origins |last=Dimitrov |first=Yavor |date=July 30, 2014 |website=VolleyCountry.com |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.generali-haching.de/Pressemitteilungen.74.0.html?&tx_simplefilebrowser_pi1%5Bfile%5D=7413388c052251722389f9c2738125e1&tx_simplefilebrowser_pi1%5Bpath%5D=%2Fwww%2Fhtdocs%2Fw00865a1%2Ffileadmin%2Fdownloads%2Fpresse%2FMitteilungen%2F2012%2F09_2012 |title=Plötzlicher Abschied von Generali Haching: "Theo darf nie mehr Leistungssport machen!" |last=Wessels |first=Jochen |date=September 7, 2012 |publisher=Generali Haching |language=German |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ww.worldofvolley.com/News/Latest_news/Germany/7409/ger-m-brunner-must-stop-because-of-heart-problems.html |title=GER M: Brunner must stop because of heart problems |date=September 8, 2012 |publisher=World of Volley |accessdate=September 26, 2014}} His former club, Marmi Lanza Verona, issued a statement saying that they found no issues when he was a player for their team.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluvolleyverona.it/it/news-s-14008-chiarimenti_sull'ex_tesserato_theodore_brunner.asp |title=Chiarimenti sull'ex tesserato Theodore Brunner |date=September 11, 2012 |publisher=Marmi Lanza Verona |language=Italian |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

After leaving Generali Haching in late 2012, Brunner signed up with partner David McKienzie, a US National Team player, for National Volleyball League's Texas Championships in Dallas, Texas. The partnership lasted just for this tournament.

2013 also marked the rebirth of the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour, which Brunner partnered with Nick Lucena to compete in. The duo proved fruitful as they achieved top-five finishes in all but one of the seven tournaments they entered. The Brunner/Lucena duo also produced Brunner's first professional tournament win in the 2013 AVP Championships at Huntington Beach on October 20, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-men-avp-beach-volleyball-final-20131020-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105064814/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/20/sports/la-sp-sn-men-avp-beach-volleyball-final-20131020 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 5, 2014 |title=Theodore Brunner, Nick Lucena win AVP men's volleyball championship |last=Pucin |first=Diane |date=October 20, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 29, 2014}} He was named the AVP Men’s Best Blocker at the conclusion of the 2013 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.volleywood.net/volleyball-related-news/volleyball-news-north-america/best-usa-volleyball-players-of-2013/ |title=Best USA Volleyball Players of 2013 |date=January 18, 2014 |website=volleywood.net |accessdate=September 29, 2014}}

In addition to the NVL and AVP tour dates, Brunner participated in three NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit with Lucena, winning once{{cite web |url=http://www.norceca.net/Theo%20Brunner%20and%20Nick%20Lucena%20fought%20off%20a%20challenge%20from%20compatriots.htm |title=Theo Brunner and Nick Lucena fought off a challenge from compatriots |date=October 6, 2013 |publisher=NORCECA |accessdate=September 29, 2014}} as well as two 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour dates with Todd Rogers and Casey Jennings.

In 2014, Brunner and fellow UC Santa Barbara alum Todd Rogers paired up on a more permanent basis after having played together in 2013. Brunner played all but one tournament with him (playing with John Mayer in the 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour São Paulo Grand Slam). He finished all but five matches with Rogers in fifth place or better.

In 2023, Brunner, who was named AVP's Blocker of the Year, teamed up with Trevor Crabb after ending his partnership with Chaim Schalk, who paired up with Tri Bourne, who was Trevor Crabb's former partner. Schuermann, Kim. A Few Switcheroos on the AVP. AVP. January 09, 2023. https://avp.com/news/avp-partner-changes-2023/

In 2024, Brunner-Crabb team won the AVP Manhattan Beach Open, defeating 2024 Olympians Andrew Benesh and Miles Partain. This was Brunner's first Manhattan Beach Open victory. Royer, Benjamin. Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner reign supreme with Manhattan Beach Open crown. Los Angeles Times. Aug. 18, 2024. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-08-18/manhattan-beach-open-finals-trevor-crabb-wins

Brunner, despite focusing the majority of his post-collegiate career on beach volleyball, played with the United States men's national A2 volleyball team for the 2010 Men's Pan-American Volleyball Cup and won a gold medal.{{cite web |url=http://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/features/2010/may/29/u-s-men-s-a2-team-wins-pan-american-cup-gold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224023405/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2010/May/29/U-S-Men-s-A2-Team-Wins-Pan-American-Cup-Gold |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |title=U.S. Men's A2 Team Wins Pan American Cup Gold |last=Hoeptner Evans |first=B.J. |date=May 29, 2010 |publisher=USA Volleyball |accessdate=September 25, 2014}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Sports links}}
• {{AVP|theo-brunner}}
• [http://www.legavolley.it/DettaglioAtleta.asp?IdAtleta=BRU-THE-85 Lega Volley player profile]
• [http://ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-volley/mtt/brunner_theo00.html UC Santa Barbara player profile]
• [https://archive.today/20140926204320/http://www.roburcosta.it/main/index.php?id_pag=32 CMC Ravenna squad sheet]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brunner, Theo}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's volleyball players

Category:UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's volleyball players

Category:American men's beach volleyball players

Category:Sportspeople from Palo Alto, California

Category:Volleyball players from California

Category:American expatriate volleyball players

Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Greece

Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Italy

Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Germany