The Brenau swim team earned12 first-place finishes to help clinch its second consecutive Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming Championship on Saturday, Feb. 9.
The Golden Tigers swim team now looks ahead to the 2019 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Swimming and Diving Championships from Feb. 27 to March 2 at the Columbus Aquatic Center in Columbus, Georgia.
The squad totaled 587 points to outpace second-place Milligan College, who tallied 511 points.
On the final day of competition, senior Lindsay Dowling earned her third title of the three-day championships by winning the 200 backstroke over Milligan’s Maggie Halloran by almost four seconds. The Winston, Georgia, senior previously secured titles in the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly earlier in the meet.
Ashlyn Steinbach then won her first individual conference title with a win in the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.82.
The Golden Tigers also earned three second-place finishes as Nikoletta Alvanou captured second place in the 200 breaststroke in 2:28.61, Haley Bartoletta earned second in the 200 butterfly in 2:16.24 and Yanne Toussaint notched a second place finish in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.62.
Additionally, head coach Nate Rhoades was named the 2019 Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for his team’s performance at the meet. The team also received the Scholar All-America Award at the end of January from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.
Last year’s runners up, Asbury College finished Saturday in third place with 489 points, while Columbia College (417.5) and Union College (332 points) rounded out the top five finishers.
Follow the team as it heads to the NAIA Swimming and Diving Championships at www.brenautigers.com.
Brenau swimmers pose for a photo after winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. Brenau won the meet and are Appalachian Athletic Conference Champions for the second straight year. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau’s Lindsay Dowling a senior from Winston, Ga. swims the 100 yard butterfly during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Friday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. Dowling placed first in the event. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau head coach Nathan Rhoads cheers during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Friday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau’s Nikoletta Alvanou a sophomore from Thessaloniki, Greece swims the 400 yard individual medley during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Friday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. Alvanou placed first in the race. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau’s Nikoletta Alvanou a sophomore from Thessaloniki, Greece, Brenau’s Haley Bernardo a freshman from Duluth, Ga., Brenau’s Emma Jaczko a senior from Peachtree City, Ga. and Brenau’s Ayana Daniels a senior from Snellville, Ga. cheer on their teammates during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Friday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau’s Haley Bartoletta a freshman from Jefferson, Ga. Brenau’s Nikoletta Alvanou a sophomore from Thessaloniki, Greece Brenau’s Meghan Mistric a sophomore from Mandeville, La. and Brenau’s Emma Jaczko a senior from Peachtree City, Ga. during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Friday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau’s Nikoletta Alvanou a sophomore from Thessaloniki, Greece swims the 400 yard individual medley during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Friday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. Alvanou placed first in the race. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau head coach Nathan Rhoads jumps in the pool after winning during the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. Brenau won the meet and are Appalachian Athletic Conference Champions for the second straight year. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
Brenau swimmers pose for a photo after winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championship Meet on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 in Kingsport, Tenn. Brenau won the meet and are Appalachian Athletic Conference Champions for the second straight year. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)