(Editor's Note: This is part of a series of stories of the RUDY Award finalists. Two winners – one male and one female – will be announced at the conclusion of the end of the R.UD.Y.S. Awards Banquet on Monday.
R.U.D.Y.S. stands for Recognition and celebration of University of Dayton student-athletes Year-end Showcase. It is hosted by the UD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dayton Athletics administration for the student-athletes to recognize individuals and teams for their accomplishments this past year.
These stories were written by students in Dr. Haozho Pu's HS 353 Sports Media class.)
Written by Brady Kerrigan, Abigail Cresse, and Owen Haggerty
Bryn Hothem, a junior on the University of Dayton women's cross country team, is an environmental biology major from Marysville, Ohio. She has built her college experience around balancing academics and athletics at a high level.
As a student-athlete, Hothem is known for being detail-oriented, dependable and calm. Qualities that shape both her performance and daily routine. Her consistency has translated into steady improvement on the course, where she has recorded a 5K
personal best of 17:41.5 and a 6K time of 21:40.6. She has competed in major meets such as the Atlantic 10 Championships and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional while continuing to lower her times each season.
Hothem has also earned academic recognition, including the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and the R.U.D.Y.S. Dayton All-Academic Team. Off the course, she contributes to her team's culture through her work ethic and leadership by example.
One of the most influential moments in her athletic career came during the first week of her sophomore year, when she suffered a concussion after a fall during an easy run. What she expected to be a short recovery became a longer setback, forcing her to adjust physically and mentally. She later returned and competed in three races that season, gaining a new perspective on resilience.
Hothem credits her development to discipline, time management and consistency. She also values her team's weekly personal growth sessions, which focus on mindset and development beyond athletics. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a career in sustainability, combining her major with minors in data analytics and operations and supply chain management. She hopes to become a sustainability or ESG analyst and help companies reach their goals while making ethical decisions.
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
A: I am detail-oriented, and I make sure I put quality work forward that reflects who I am. I'm dependable. I follow through on what I say I'm going to do, and I like that people can trust me. I also think I'm relaxed and calm.
Q: What does being a Flyer mean to you?
A: Being a Flyer means finding the best balance in all areas of your life. We put in hard work in classes and sports, but we also want to have fun. That's an awesome aspect of it. I also think being a Flyer is about support. We support each other well as students, and we get a lot of support from the university.
Q: What is one of the most influential moments in your athletic career?
A: It was the first week of sophomore year. We were out on an easy run, and I tripped and fell, which resulted in a concussion and a few stitches in my eyebrow. I thought I would be back within a week, but I had lingering symptoms and was out longer than expected. I remember feeling frustrated because I had put in all the work over the summer, and my goals for the season felt like they were being taken away. But I took the rest I needed, came back and was able to run three races that season.
It taught me that many things are outside of your control. You have to face challenges as they come and not attach too much pressure to a situation.
Q: How has being a student-athlete contributed to your personal growth and development?
A: It's taught me how to stay disciplined and set myself up for success. I've learned to manage my time well and distribute my energy across different areas of my life. My coach, Coach Dobson, has us do PGW sessions — personal growth weekly — almost every Friday. It's time set aside to focus on our mindsets and intentions as people, not just athletes.
Q: What are your future goals after graduating from UD?
A: I hope to use my sustainability degree, along with my minors in data analytics and operations and supply chain management, to become a sustainability or ESG analyst and help companies reach their sustainability goals while making ethical decisions.
Q: What's a lesson you've learned from failure or a tough moment?
A: I've learned to sit with disappointment for a short time so I can process it and learn from it. Then I move on, knowing failure doesn't define who I am or who I'm striving to be. Dwelling on disappointment only creates a barrier.
Q: What has helped you improve as a runner?
A: Consistency has been the biggest factor. I haven't had any major running-related injuries, which has allowed me to build on each season of training. I also trust the work I put in and believe I can improve. That mindset helps in both training and competition.
