Golden Tigers Place Second at 2020 AAC Championships

Kingsport, Tennessee- The Brenau swimming and diving earned numerous team and individual accolades en route to a second-place finish at the 2020 Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships this past weekend.

The Golden Tigers entered the final day of competition only ten points behind Asbury (Ky.) University but the Eagles narrowly edged past the Golden Tigers 662-618 to capture the team title.

Freshman Hanne te Velthuis was named as the 2020 AAC Co-Swimmer of the Year, while head coach Nate Rhoades was tabbed as 2020 AAC Coach of the Year after also garnering 2019 Coach of the Year honors.

te Velthuis, a native of Beerzerveld, The Netherlands, won the 100 freestyle on Saturday in 52.42. The win was the third individual title for the freshman after capturing top honors in both 50 and 200 freestyles.

Yanne Toussaint also earned the 200 backstroke title by posting a blistering time of 2:06.33. The win was the second individual title for the senior after winning the 100 backstroke on Friday.

Both te Velthuis and Toussaint also helped the Golden Tigers set a new AAC meet record as the duo joined teammates Bayley Blackmon and Nikoletta Alvanou to win the 400 relay in 3:37.37. The team bested the previous record by almost a full second, which was set by Asbury (Ky.) University in 2018.

Other top finishers include:

1650 freestyle Bailey Ibarra, third place, 19:38.97; Chloe Ireland, eighth place, 21:09.12

200 backstroke, Bayley Blackmon, second place, 2:14.09; Meghan Mistric, sixth place, 2:20.44; Fanny Holmberg, thirteenth place, 2:59.95;

200 breaststroke, Nikoletta Alvanou, third place, 2:30.36; Fanny Holmberg, twelfth place, 3:45.33;

200 butterfly, Haley Bartoletta, second place, 2:15.43;

In total, the Golden Tigers won seven individual titles and three relay titles at the event.