Bryant Athletics completes outstanding 21-22 academic year
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- It was another outstanding year on the fields, courts and in the pool, and in the classroom for Bryant University Athletics in 2021-22.
Athletic Success
Bryant men's basketball highlighted a successful athletic season for the Black and Gold, winning the program's first-ever Northeast Conference Championship and advancing to March Madness for the first time in Division I program history. The Bulldogs went 22-10 on the year, including a 14-1 record at the Chace Athletic Center. Peter Kiss finished the season as the nation's leading scorer, averaging 25.2 points per game to become the first Bulldog to accomplish the feat.
In the pool, Bryant women's and men's swimming and diving were once again victorious. The women's swimming and diving program rallied on the final day to claim its fifth-straight NEC Championship. Kyri Chambo won NEC Diver of the Meet honors for the third-straight year, while Reagan Lord took home NEC Rookie of the Meet honors.
Bryant's men's swimming and diving team ran away with its second-straight title, winning the NEC Championship by nearly 300 points. FuKang Wong was named the NEC Swimmer of the Meet, Brendan Prouty was named the NEC Diver of the Meet and Connor Lofstrom was named NEC Rookie of the Meet. In addition, Trevor Sisson was named the NEC Diving Coach of the Year.
Bryant women's tennis claimed its second NEC title this spring, becoming the first No. 4 seed to win the championship in league history. The Bulldogs defeated four-time defending champ LIU in the semifinal before knocking off Fairleigh Dickinson in the championship.
The Black and Gold also won a trio of NEC Regular-Season titles in 2021-22. Bryant volleyball took home its second regular-season title and earned the right to host the NEC Championship with a 12-2 record in the NEC. The Bulldogs finished the year at 21-11 and advanced to the NEC Championship.
Bryant men's basketball claimed its first regular-season title with a scintillating 78-70 victory over Wagner at the Chace Athletic Center on the final day of the regular season.
Bryant women's lacrosse claimed a share of its sixth NEC Regular-Season title, going 7-1. The Bulldogs hosted the NEC Championship at Beirne Stadium, advancing to the NEC Championship.
Baseball, men's basketball, men's tennis, women's basketball, women's lacrosse, volleyball and women's tennis all played in the NEC Championship game this year.
In total, Bryant had 106 student-athletes earn All-NEC honors and 13 major NEC awards.
Academic Success
Bryant student-athletes enjoyed another record-breaking year as a total of 598 were named to the Bryant University dean's list in the fall and spring combined. Bulldog student-athletes finished the year with a 3.41 cumulative GPA in the fall and a 3.24 cumulative GPA in the spring. Bryant saw 27 student-athletes post 4.0 GPAs in the fall and 33 in the spring.
In addition, Bryant placed 135 student-athletes on the NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, 123 on the NEC Winter Academic Honor Roll, and 196 on the NEC Spring Academic Honor Roll.
Erin Doruska (women's swimming and diving) and Leanne Kendall (women's tennis) were named NEC Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their respective sports. Doruska has a 4.0 GPA as an accounting major and earned three medals in helping the Bulldogs win their fifth-straight title. Kendall owns a 3.92 GPA and was All-NEC First Team in singles and doubles as she helped the Bulldogs win the NEC Championship.
Bryant saw 19 of its 20 athletic teams post cumulative (fall and spring combined) GPAs of 3.0 or better. Bryant Volleyball led the way with a 3.62 cumulative GPA, while softball, women's soccer and women's tennis were all over a 3.5 cumulative team GPA.