Brian Lusson (2016) - Hall of Honor - Texas State Athletics

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Brian Lusson

Class
Induction

2016
Sport(s)

Men's Tennis

Brian Lusson was a two-year letterwinner for the Bobcat men’s tennis team from 1979-81. One of the most decorated players in the history of Bobcat men’s tennis, Lusson was captain of the 1981 Men’s Tennis NAIA National Championship team and the NCAA Division II National Runners-Up.

Gallery: (11-1-2020) Brian Lusson Hall of Honor

As a member of the 1981 National Championship team, Lusson played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Bobcats. That season he accumulated a singles overall record of 36-4 and won the NAIA National Singles Championship. En route to his individual men’s single championship, Lusson also won the Lone Star Conference Singles Championship and the NAIA District 4 Singles Championship. Due to the Bobcats dual membership affiliation, Lusson was also able to participate in the Division II National Tournament where he finished as a NCAA Division II National Singles Semifinalist.

Along with his doubles partner Bart Bernstein, Lusson was also able to dominate men’s double tennis in 1981, winning two National Doubles Championships in one season. With an overall record of 28-6, the duo was not only able to win the NAIA National Doubles Championship, they also won the NCAA Division II National Doubles Championship. Lusson and Bernstein also claimed the Lone Star Conference Doubles Championship and the NAIA District 4 Doubles Championship.

Lusson’s senior year he was selected as both a NAIA and NCAA Division II All-American. He was also named first team All-Lone Star Conference. After participating in both the NAIA and NCAA Division II Tournaments, Lusson also advanced to the Division I National Tournament in both singles and doubles, where he upset the #7 ranked player in the country, UCLA’s Blaine Willenborg. Along with Bernstein, Lusson was the first NCAA Individual National Champion in school history. He was also a member of the Dean’s List and was named to the Lone-Star Conference All-Academic Team.

Lusson transferred to Texas State his junior year from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. In his first year as a Bobcat during the 1979-1980 season Lusson won the Lone Star Conference Doubles Championship with his doubles partner Lee Davis, and was named first team All-Lone Star Conference. He was also named Honorable Mention All-American.

Lusson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 1981 and then began a professional career in tennis. Lusson participated on the U.S.T.A. Professional Penn Circuit where he qualified for the Grand Prix in Des Moines, Iowa in 1981. In 1984, he won the U.S.P.T.A. National Doubles Championship and was a singles semifinalist. In addition to being a competitor in the U.S.P.T.A., Lusson has been a member of the organization since 1983 and served as the Texas secretary in 1984-85.

In 1984 Lusson was named the director of tennis at the Sweetwater Country Club in Sugarland, TX. He is currently the Director of Tennis at the Westwood Country Club in Austin, TX, a position he has held since 1986.

Lusson is also an active member of his community. He served as President from 2011-15 of the “Restoring Baseball in Inner Cities” (RBI) youth organization, and still serves on the Board of Directors. RBI is a league dedicated to mentor at risk youths in the east Austin area through sport, with a focus on developing opportunities for the kids. Lusson has also volunteered his time in Austin Little Leagues and Pony Leagues, holding numerous positions.

Lusson currently lives in Austin, TX and met his wife Kami at Texas State. They have been married 33 years. They have three sons, Kyle, Kevin and Colton.

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