08/05/2026
Our final award of 2026 is our most prestigious honor: the Gradoville Award.
Chris Gradoville was one of the greatest baseball players to ever come out of Bryan High School. He went on to play at Creighton University and reached the AAA level. But if you ask anyone who knew Chris, they won't talk too much about the player he was—they'll tell you about the man he was.
Each year, the Gradoville Award is presented to the young man who best represents the character, integrity, and selflessness that Chris exemplified.
This year's Gradoville Award recipient is Joel Anaya!
On the mound, Joel has been one of our top pitchers over the past two seasons. He finished his career tied for second in program history with 13 wins and delivered some of the most memorable performances we've seen. From his complete-game one-hitter against Aurora to his complete-game shutout against TH, Joel consistently rose to the occasion when his team needed him most.
Off the field, Joel treated his teammates with kindness and respect. He has faced more than his share of challenges in his personal life, yet he has continued to persevere with resilience and determination. He has also been an outstanding student and will attend MNU this fall.
The most important goal of the Bryan Baseball program is to help our players grow into outstanding young men. Joel is a shining example of that mission, and we couldn't be more proud of the man he has become!
