MULTITASKING: Allen Bryant competing in soccer and lacrosse during his Princeton High career. Bryant ’10, who starred in both sports as well as indoor track, is being inducted into the 15th class of the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame at a banquet being held this Saturday at the Mercer Oaks Country Club in West Windsor.

By Bill Alden

When Allen Bryant entered Princeton High in 2006, he wasn’t focused on what he could achieve in his athletic career.

“I looked up to the seniors when I was a freshman,” said Bryant, noting that he was particularly inspired by one of those seniors, Tyler Moni, who went on to play for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse program. “The reality is that I didn’t have any specific goals, just to do the best I possibly could.”

Over the next four years, Bryant established himself as one of the best all-around athletes in PHS history.

On the soccer field, he helped the Tigers go undefeated in 2009 on the way to the Group 3 state title. Bryant was a starting defender for the squad, scoring the winning goal in the state title game and earning third-team All-State honors.

In the winter, Bryant took his talents to indoor track, where he ran the 200 and 400 meters and helped the 4×400 relay earn a spot in the Meet of Champions.

Bryant made perhaps his greatest impact in lacrosse where he scored over 100 goals, was named an All-American, 1st Team All-State, the CVC Player of the Year in 2010, and was a two-time All-CVC selection. He tallied 68 goals his senior year and helped the team get to the Group 3 state title game during a school record tying 17-win season.

This Saturday, Bryant will be inducted into the 15th class of the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame at a banquet being held at the Mercer Oaks Country Club in West Windsor.

In addition to Bryant, the Class of 2023 also includes: Carl Lutz ’31, an All-State football and basketball player and captain of the 1931 Class B state title basketball squad; Peter Nichols ’74, a star runner who competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track; Michelle Bazile ’14, an All-State performer who is the school record holder in the shot put and discus and the winner of the shot put in 2014 at the Meet of Champions; the 1931 boys’ basketball team, which won the Class B state title; the 2012 boys’ swimming team, which won the Division B state title; coach Greg Hand, the longtime head coach of girls’ soccer and the boys’ and girls’ swimming teams; and contributor Bill Alden, the longtime sports editor of the Town Topics who has been covering PHS athletics for more than two decades.

For Bryant, having a twin brother, Doug, to play with and compete against helped him develop into a versatile performer.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to not only be a twin but to have a twin brother that shared the same athletic interests as me,” said Bryant of his brother, who went on to play for the University of Michigan men’s lacrosse program. “Doug and I started playing at the same time and still play to this day. We had a healthy amount of competition that allowed us both to push each other to be our best. I remember countless hours shooting lacrosse balls in our backyard, oftentimes with one of us in the goal as the other shot tennis balls full speed to see who could score on each other more.”

Playing for some legendary PHS coaches also helped Bryant become a legendary competitor

“I was blessed with some fantastic coaches, like Peter Stanton and Wayne Sutcliffe,” said Bryant, who was guided by Stanton in lacrosse and Sutcliffe in soccer. “It was recognizing the work and preparation that needs to be done to become an elite team and the work ethic you need to really be successful.”

In reflecting on his success on the lacrosse field, Bryant credited the connection he had in the spring of 2010 with the attack unit of classmates Michael Olentine, Joe Sandford, and brother Doug.

“It was an absolutely stacked attack and midfield line, between the three attackmen they scored 180 goals that seniors year,” said Bryant. “I had 68, so between the four of us we had about 250 goals. What was really cool, dozens and dozens of times, probably in the hundreds, was running up on a fast break and having the utmost confidence that I could throw it to any one of those guys and there would be a couple more passes and the ball would end up in back of the net.”

Bryant drew extra inspiration from coach Stanton. “Playing for coach Stanton was a highlight of my high school career,” added Bryant. “The passion he brought for the game of lacrosse was contagious — he had an incredible energy and love for the game. It was not uncommon for him to be running down the sideline or jumping up and down with excitement. It was an environment and team that any player hopes to be a part of.”

It was exciting for Bryant to be part of the legendary 2009 boys’ soccer team that went undefeated on the way to the state title and was later inducted into the PHS Hall of Fame.

“The level of talent on our team was fantastic; the defensive unit only let in seven goals in a 25-game season,” said Bryant. “We came into every game confident and were able to have a lot of fun given the hard work we had put in years leading up to senior year. It felt like we were playing “backyard soccer” at times. Scoring the game-winning goal in the state championship game was a big highlight. Sutcliffe had a lot of trust in our team and let us take a lot of chances because of this. In the state championship game, he brought up me and a couple other defenders on a corner kick and myself and another defender scored on separate occasions during the game.”

After PHS, Bryant went on to Vanderbilt University where played for its club lacrosse program.

“The level of play at Vanderbilt was strong,” said Bryant. “I was the president and captain for the last couple of years so I was running it. It was a great quality of players, a lot from the Northeast.”

These days, Bryant, 32, lives in New York City and is a partner at a venture capital firm, Knightsgate Ventures, that is focused on investing in socially impactful technology and software businesses. As for his athletic pursuits, he is still competing with his brother Doug as they are doing a half marathon together this spring and continue to play in lacrosse tournaments whenever they can.

While Bryant’s work keeps him busy and 13 years have passed since he graduated from PHS, the bonds that he established during his high school athletic career remain strong.

“I feel grateful for the incredible coaches and teams that I had the opportunity to play with,” said Bryant. “Many of my teammates remain close friends to this day and we have been a part of each other’s weddings and other big life moments. The camaraderie at the high school level was just really, really special. We are all very close friends.”

Bryant is grateful to be entering the PHS Hall of Fame and being a part of the school’s special athletic legacy.

“It is a huge honor with the caliber of athletes and teams going in,” said Bryant. “PHS has a stellar and longstanding history of being a powerhouse. What also stood out to me and what I really love is the Hall of Fame committee going back and making sure that those who deserve recognition are getting it.”

There is no question that Bryant deserves that recognition.