Alex Bryson warms up for practice by swimming a few laps in the pool. Photo by Nick Lenz ’11
“A lot of my best friends swam for my rival. We’d compete, then hang out afterward,” Bryson said. “Seeing our friends at the meets cheering you on is a lot of fun. It drives you to strive for more.”
During the state high school championships in his home state of Wisconsin, a group of friends from a rival team came to watch and cheer on Alex and his team. Although it was an evening of celebration, it turned into an evening of tragedy.
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Heading home, Bryson passed by an accident scene.
“We got home later that night and we got a call from one of my neighbors telling us the news that our friend’s car was the car in the accident,” Bryson said. “The roads were terrible.”
There were four girls in the car and his friend, Natalie, was the only one who didn’t survive.
“Even when I swim now, I’m thankful for the opportunities I have had here at St. Cloud State — swimming, an education, being involved in student leadership,” Bryson said. “I think that’s the hardest thing is that I know that she doesn’t get to have those opportunities. That’s what really gets me.”
Bryson graduated in May with no stone left unturned. He has been a leader on the swim team, vice president of the Student Government and an exemplary student in the classroom.
“What makes Alex special is his ability to see the big picture,” said Jeff Hegle, head swimming and diving coach. “I have had the opportunity to see Alex grow from a young man who was wide eyed and who couldn’t believe all the opportunities there were for him, to a mature individual who is very focused on making the university, peers and his team better.”
Natalie’s positive attitude is something Bryson tries to recreate, not just on the pool deck, but throughout campus in the engineering lab, admissions office and Student Government.
“Be happy you had the chance to compete. The chance for an education. The chance to succeed,” Bryson said. “I love having that opportunity to make a positive impact, to leave my mark on the campus, and I think this was the perfect way I was able to do that.”
Cold rush
Alex Bryson (left) and sister Andrea Bryson both compete on the university’s swimming teams. Photo by Nick Lenz ’11
It’s 6 a.m. as Bryson eases into the pool at Halenbeck Hall. The quick rush of being chilled lasts only a minute while his body adjusts to the water temperature. After a couple warmup laps, he takes practice before getting on with his day.
“I don’t always want to be in the water at six in the morning, but once I get there and once I start swimming, that all goes away,” Bryson said. “However hard it was to wake up, as soon as I hit the water, that’s gone. Hearing the rush of the bubbles around you, you’re kind of by yourself.”
All those early morning swims and hard work took Bryson to the NCAA Division II National Championships this season in the 1,650 free, as well as the 1,000 free where he claimed a new school record. He also won the 1,650, 1,000 and 500 free events at the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Championships.
Along with senior wrestler Ben McPhail, Pine Island, Bryson claimed one of college athletics highest academic honors by being named to the Capital One 2014-15 Academic All-America Men’s At-Large First Team.
But Alex isn’t the only Bryson making waves for the Huskies.
His younger sister, Andrea Bryson, swam for St. Cloud State as a first-year student this season and set two school records during the NSISC championships: the 500 free and the 200 medley relay along with her teammates Kelsey Leeson, Riverton, Utah; Emily Tiedemann, Verona, Wisconsin; and Abby Rasmussen, Sauk Rapids. It seems she is quick to follow in the record-setting footsteps of her brother who set five school records as a freshman.
The Brysons’ decisions to attend St. Cloud State weren’t only for the chance to compete for conference championships. Alex majored in mechanical engineering, following in the footsteps of his parents; his dad is a mechanical engineer and his mom a chemical engineer turned stay-at-home mom. Andrea intends to major in biochemistry.
Alex Bryson spends time after class completing homework in the Engineering and Computing Center’s computer lab. Photo by Nick Lenz ’11
“I like (the program) at St. Cloud State because it’s accredited, which is always something to look for. But also, I think how involved the faculty members are,” Alex said. “One of them even helped me find an internship, so it’s that close personal connection you get with your professors here that I think really made a big difference in my education.”
Since graduating this past May, Alex is an Excimer laser engineer with Spectralytics in Dassel.
Swimming has always been something relatable for the Bryson family. Spending three to four hours a day together at practice and then hanging out with the same friends during their down time isn’t unusual.
“Swimming has been the starting point to the relationship that we have built,” Andrea said. “I have found there are many perks of attending the same school as my brother. On the schooling side I have gone to him to help me with homework assignments, advice for projects and just advice in general as to how to balance the crazy life of being a student athlete.”
Alex agrees.
“You spend a lot of time together and so she doesn’t seem so much as the annoying little sister and all of a sudden it’s like, she’s on your level. She is very competitive and fast. I’m excited for her and now seeing her succeed,” Alex said.
