As winter sports wrap up, several Brenau student-athletes have been recognized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Appalachian Athletic Conference for their performances in the classroom and on the field. Additionally, swimming Head Coach Mandi Bell was named AAC Coach of the Year after the Golden Tigers claimed second place at the conference championship.
“This recognition means a lot, but it’s really a reflection of the people around me,” Mandi Bell said. “I’m proud of the team we’ve built at Brenau, with athletes who push each other to be better in the pool, take their academics seriously and support one another every day.”
Two Golden Tiger swimmers competed at the NAIA National Championship in Indiana. Sophie Bell earned All-American honors in three events: 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle. She set new Brenau records for the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle with her second- and fifth-place finishes. Earlier this season, Sophie Bell was recognized by the AAC as the Most Outstanding Swimmer after three first-place finishes at the conference championships. Junior Olga Bukowska also competed at the national level, finishing ninth in the individual medley.
Sophomore Madison Kitson was named the NAIA Indoor Field Athlete of the Week after a standout performance at the Life U Super Bowl Indoor/Outdoor Polar Meet hosted by the Life University track and field team in Marietta, Georgia, in February. Kitson recorded an NAIA “A” standard in the long jump, winning the event and setting a new Brenau school record. Her leap of 5.99 meters was the third-best jump in the NAIA this season.
At the AAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in North Carolina, Kitson secured wins for Brenau in four events: 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, triple jump and long jump. She was named Most Outstanding Athlete of the competition.
These performances qualified Kitson for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships, held in Gainesville, Florida, in March. Kitson placed sixth in the long jump and earned All-American honors for her performance.
“I consider it an honor to have the opportunity to represent Brenau both in conference and on the national platform,” Kitson said. “It’s easier to be successful when you have a group of people invested in supporting you. My coaches support me, encourage me, and work with me to help me reach my full potential. I am surrounded by the best teammates an athlete could ask for. We push each other to be better at every practice, and I know they are always in my corner.”
In basketball, sophomore Jael Flinn was named the NAIA Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week after delivering strong performances in two conference wins. Flinn had outstanding results during the Golden Tigers’ wins against Columbia College and Columbia International University.
Flinn’s performance throughout the season earned her a spot on the All-Defensive Team selected by the AAC. She led the Brenau basketball team in both rebounds and blocks per game, ranking fifth and fourth in the conference, respectively. Junior Caylie Long was also recognized by the AAC as Women’s Basketball Newcomer of the Year and named to the All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team. In her first season as a Golden Tiger, Long was ranked in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocks.
