Sarah (Braunreiter) Ryan was one of the most successful runners in the history of Alma College women's cross country and track and field. She competed for the Scots from 1988-91 and graduated from the college in 1992.
Ryan is part of an elite club of student-athletes in the MIAA as she earned a total of seven All-MIAA selections during her career and is one of only 18 student-athletes in the history of the league to accomplish that feat. She is also the only Alma runner to qualify for three NCAA Division III cross country championships and remains the last Scot to earn MIAA Most Valuable Runner honors at the MIAA Cross Country Championships, having earned the award in 1990. She is also only one of nine runners in the history of MIAA women's cross country to be named All-MIAA during all four years of her career.
Ryan started her cross country career with a third-place finish at the 1988 MIAA Cross Country Championships, finishing as the top freshman in the field. She also qualified for the NCAA III Championships in her first year, finishing 44th overall. As a sophomore, Ryan remained in the top 10 at the MIAA meet, finishing seventh overall, as she and teammate Amy Wolfgang placed two Scots within the top 10 to give Alma a third-place finish.
Ryan reached the top of the MIAA in 1990, when she won the MIAA Cross Country Championships with a 17-second victory over the second place runner for Calvin, as the Scots finished in second place. She also returned to the NCAA III Championships for her second appearance at the national meet. As a senior, Ryan placed third overall at the MIAAs and capped her cross country career with four consecutive top-10 finishes. In her third appearance at the NCAA III Championships, she placed 42nd overall.
Ryan was named the team's most valuable runner three times in four seasons as a cross country runner.
As a track athlete, Ryan was named to the All-MIAA team three times. She won the MIAA championship in the 3,000-meter run as a sophomore and as a senior in 1992, she qualified for the NCAA III Championships in women's 5,000 meter run, earning All-America status with an eighth-place finish.
Among her favorite memories of her time at Alma College, listed walking across campus, studying with classmates, playing in the orchestra and having fun at the parties. Her favorite memories include the cross country and track practices and the bonds that were formed with teammates through these challenges. According to Ryan, just hanging out with friends from the team were the best times and a family was created. She loves to think back on the caring and wisdom that coach Charlie Gray and coach Jim Cole imparted as well. She also had memories of the pink cake in the cafeteria, a favorite of her and her best friend Lori after hard practices.
"I was very surprised and consider it a great honor to be included among some of the best athletes in the school's history," Ryan said when learning of her induction into the Hall of Fame. "It brought back great memories of my days at Alma."
