Brenau University - News

[Brenau] Brenau University Athletics Partners with Career Athletes

Gary Bays — 2010-07-30T09:51:07-06:00

Kansas City, Kan. (July 30, 2010) - Brenau University Athletics recently agreed to a multi-year

partnership with Career Athletes. The partnership between Career Athletes and the Brenau University athletic department provides a national representation of unique networking opportunities

and career development resources for current and alumni athletes. Brenau University Director of Athletics, Mike Lochstampfor, stated, "The opportunity to partner with Career Athletes helps meet one of our foremost objectives as a department and a university. This relationship will enable us to provide current student-athletes with additional career options as well as making the connection and allowing for crucial mentoring opportunities between current and former student-athletes. We look

forward to a long term partnership with Career Athletes!"

This Online Career Community Network will provide benefits such as mentoring, professional networking, virtual career coaching and 12 years of best practices from the leading and largest career services organization assisting athletes, athletic departments and campus career centers. The Brenau University "Community Network" consists of current and alumni athletes from the institution as well as local, regional and national employers all managed and monitored by Career Athletes at its home office in the Kansas City area. Individual members of Career Athletes are also able to network with over 65,000 former college athletes from across the nation while having access to over 5,000 career opportunities exclusive to www.careerathletes.com.

DJ Washington at Career Athletes explains that beyond an athletic department's initiative assisting with career opportunities and educational resources; it also helps when there is already a foundation on campus toward academic success. "We are pleased to assist Breanau Athletics with its commitment toward career development of athletes, but it is also just as important to recognize the program's culture of achievement in community service, academic performance and athletic success," shared Washington, Vice President, Career Education and Training. Brenau is no stranger to success as indicated by additional achievements during the 2009-2010 academic year:

Brenau boasted 21 student-athletes on the Dean's List for the Fall 2010 Semester and 24 in the Spring.
Twenty five student-athletes were named to the SSAC All Academic Team and seven selected as NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athletes.
Twelve student-athletes were recognized as SSAC All Conference Performers and one player selected as NAIA All American.
The Brenau Swim Team was selected as the Champions of Character Team at the NAIA National Championships.
Tennis qualified for the NAIA National Tennis Championships and finished as the sixth ranked team.
Softball finished their season ranked 16^th overall in the NAIA.
Brenau student-athletes were also involved in twelve different community services projects throughout the previous school year. Brenau University and the student-athletes are ready to bring another successful academic and athletic year.

[Women's Basketball] Cobb County All Star Signs With Brenau

Gary Bays — 2010-07-30T07:55:49-06:00

Marietta, Ga - Tala Black, who played at Hillgrove High School, has signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and basketball career at Brenau University. Black was named to the Cobb County All Star team and was one of the leading scorers, as recognized by the Cobb County Tip Off Club.

Tala was a varsity performer during her entire high school career and won four varsity letters. She received the Athletic Academic Award during her junior year for exceeding a 3.5 GPA. Black graduated with honors and was named a Hope Scholar. She plans to major in Biology at Brenau and pursue a career in Nursing.

Tala's quote for the day is "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." Coach Gary Bays said, "Tala will bring her ability to score and has proven that she can play against quality opponents throughout her high school career. She is also an outstanding student and is very focused on her career goals."

Tala is the daughter of Darryl and Phyllis Black.

[Women's Cross Country] Cross Country Signs Two Flowery Branch Runners

Gary Bays — 2010-07-29T11:26:34-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Brenau University Cross Country Coach Susan McIntyre announced today the signing of a pair of runners from Flowery Branch High School to add to her roster for this fall. Both runners, Eileen DeVico and Ana Lopera, finished in the Top 40 as seniors at the Georgia High School Cross Country Championships.

Lopera is a three year varsity letter winner and received the Most Improved Award as a junior and followed that up with the Championship Attitude Award her senior year when she captained her team. DeVico lettered in all four seasons for the Falcons.

"These two young ladies are quality runners and people and we have definitely improved our program by adding them to the mix. Eileen has good speed and has demonstrated that she is willing to work hard to improve her times. Ana has great leadership skills and also will work hard to improve. There is no doubt that these two young ladies will leave their mark at Brenau, both athletically and academically," said Coach McIntyre.

[Brenau] NAIA Scholar Teams Announced for 2009-10

Gary Bays — 2010-07-29T11:05:31-06:00

Kansas City, Mo - The NAIA has announced the scholar teams for 2009-10 and five Brenau teams have been recognized. Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Tennis were among the 857 teams nationwide to earn this distinction.

For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average must include all varsity student-athletes certified as eligible.

To see the NAIA Press Release, click here: http://naia.cstv.com/

[Women's Soccer] Trinidad and Tobago Soccer Player Comes to Brenau

Gary Bays — 2010-07-28T13:20:42-06:00

San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago - Jaimey Alleyne, who has played extensively on club and national teams in her homeland, has signed a letter of intent to continue her education and soccer career at Brenau University. Alleyne began playing National Division with Petrotrin Women's Football Club in 2005 and also captained the U-17 team for three years.

In 2007-08, she trained with the Trinidad and Tobago National U-17 Team and traveled to Maryland in August of 2008 to train with the Calvert Soccer Club. She has played with the Centre For Excellence Academy since 2007.

Alleyne toured Suriname and played in a U-19 tournament in 2009 and trained with the National U-20 Suriname Women's Team. She is a defensive and attacking midfielder who is willing to play wherever the team needs her. Her soccer journey is an inspirational one and she shares it as follows:

"At age 7 I used to look at my brother and dad playing football and I supported them in tournaments. I was close to my brother and loved anything he did. Football was his life, so I made it part of mine by simply kicking a ball with him or cheering him on. When I was 10, he passed away at the age of 14. My brother was everything to me and football was everything to him. His death inspired me to take football seriously and I was driven by my brother's passion for the game. I have now developed my own passion for the game and I believe God has given me a gift, which I intend to use for Him and help build people around me. So I play football because it's my gift and it brings peace and joy in my heart and I do it as a tribute to my brother."

"Jaimey is another great addition to our program and will help to solidify the central midfield position for our team. She can distribute the ball effectively or has the ability to go forward and score goals. I look forward to watching her contribute to our team this season," said Coach Mike Lochstampfor.

[Women's Soccer] Lauren Cain Signs With Brenau Soccer

Gary Bays — 2010-07-28T08:48:44-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Lauren Cain, who played her high school soccer at Kings Academy in Kennesaw has signed a letter of intent to play for the Golden Tigers at Brenau University. Cain scored 13 goals as a senior and helped lead her team to a 10-4 record while serving as team captain. She was selected to train and play with Empoli FC Academy in Italy in the spring of 2008 and she played her last club season with NASA and Coach Paul Richards, where her team won the prestigious Atlanta Cup Tournament.

Lauren is one of five entering students to be named a Brenau Scholar, which is the highest academic scholarship the school offers.

"Lauren is a very competitive player who will bring a lot to the team in terms of her work ethic and spirit. She will add depth to our midfield, and I was impressed with her throughout the recruiting process, both for her ability as a soccer player and also for her strong academic background," said Brenau Coach Mike Lochstampfor.

[Women's Basketball] Greenville's Suber Signs With Brenau Basketball

Gary Bays — 2010-07-26T11:02:32-06:00

Greenville, SC - Brenau Basketball Coach Gary Bays picked up his first South Carolina recruit when Kori Suber signed a letter of intent to join the Golden Tigers in the fall. Suber played at Greenville High School for three years and was named Most Valuable Defensive Player all three seasons.

She also received the prestigious MLK Award for Academics and plans to major in Nursing at Brenau and eventually become a Pediatric Nurse upon graduation. Kori participated in the Hoop Hall Basketball program under the tutelage of Eric Williams, who had this to say about his protege. "This is a young lady who will work very hard and do everything you ask of her. She is all about the team and you are getting a steal with a young lady who has a bright future."

"I was impressed with Kori's fundamental skill set when she came for her tryout and I think she will make a nice addition to our team for the next four years," said Coach Bays.

[Women's Soccer] English Midfielder Commits to Brenau Soccer

Gary Bays — 2010-07-15T13:29:40-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Head Soccer Coach Mike Lochstampfor has announced the addition of Kirsty Smith, who hails from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, to the roster for the upcoming season. Smith is a very experienced player who began her soccer career with the Doncaster Rovers Parklands in the Under 10s level.

She then played for the Doncaster Belles from the Under 12s up to Under 15s and thus qualified for the Sheffield United Academy, which is an elite players program. From there she played for the Belles in the open aged league, the Leeds Carnegie Ladies program and most recently competed for Balby Carr Community Sports College during her high school years.

Smith, who graduated from the top of her high school class, was recruited by the likes of Mississippi State, UMass and Mansfield University before deciding that Brenau was the right fit for her, both athletically and academically.

"She will be a tremendous addition to our program and fills a crucial need as a likely left outside midfielder. She is a natural left footer, which is hard to come by these days, with excellent technical skills including a great first touch. She can serve a nice cross in from the flank or come in the middle and score, so she is very versatile. She loves the game and is a very hard worker so I anticipate her making an immediate impact on our soccer program this fall." said Coach Lochstampfor.

[Volleyball] Tanisha Fields Joins Tigers Volleyball Team

Gary Bays — 2010-07-12T13:21:01-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Coach Meredith Franklin has announced the addition of Tanisha Fields to the Brenau Volleyball program. Fields played at Benjamin Banneker High School where she was team captain for four years and selected and Most Outstanding Defensive Player for two seasons. She also won the Coaches Award. She was a member of the National Honor Society and received the Principal's Award.

Fields also played club volleyball where she competed for the Atlanta Boom. "I decided to come to Brenau because I see a place where I can mold my character as a young woman," said Fields at her signing. "On the court I will contribute to the team by bringing energy, pride and a love of the game."

Coach Matthews is excited about what Tanisha brings to the table and cited her outstanding defensive ability as something the team needs in the upcoming season. "She will blend in nicely with our returners and should give us a much needed dimension."

[Brenau] Personnel Changes Announced in Brenau Athletics

Gary Bays — 2010-07-02T08:39:55-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Athletic Director Mike Lochstampfor has announced several changes in the coaching staff at Brenau for the upcoming school year. All four of the coaches bring significant Hall County roots to their assignments and have strong connections to Brenau as well.

Blaire Bachman, who was recently hired to coach the Tigers swim team, graduated from Gainesville High School and has served as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Brenau pool for many years. Beth Henson, who is replacing RaeAnne Boothe as Assistant Basketball Coach, was an outstanding player at Gainesville High School and spent a year at Georgia before finishing her collegiate career at SCAD. Henson's sister, Meg, just graduated from Brenau after playing three seasons for the Tigers. Marilyn Anderson, new assistant soccer coach, graduated in May after a stellar career at Brenau where she was an All Conference selection. Anderson played at West Hall High School before coming to Brenau.

Softball Coach Devon Thomas will be moving to full-time status at Brenau after serving as the softball coach on a part-time basis since 2003. Thomas has been a teacher and coach at Chestatee High School for the past 14 years and also grew up in Hall County. The softball program has risen to national prominence under his direction, winning the SSAC Championship and advancing to the NAIA National Championships in 2009 and finishing as the 16th ranked team in the NAIA this past season.

"I am excited about the new additions to our staff and the opportunity to bring Devon Thomas on

board full-time. Coach Thomas has demonstrated his ability to successfully grow our softball program and I look forward to its' continued success in the future. I anticipate he will make the seamless transition to his new administrative responsibilities and look forward to the positive impact that all of our new additions will have on both our department and Brenau University," said Lochstampfor in making the announcements.

[Women's Soccer] Marilyn Anderson Joins Soccer Coaching Staff

Gary Bays — 2010-06-30T13:00:20-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Recent graduate Marilyn Anderson has accepted the position of Assistant Coach of the Brenau University soccer program. Anderson is coming off an outstanding four-year career with the Tigers where she distinguished herself as one of the top players in the SSAC, winning All-Conference honors on three occasions. She also served as team captain and was named MVP at the Piedmont Tournament in 2008. She also competed in the WPSL, a women's semi-professional soccer league, during the summer of 2008 with the Maine Tide.

Anderson brings a local flavor to the staff, having played at West Hall High School, where she was an All-Conference performer. She graduated in 2006 and has spent the last four years at Brenau, where she helped lead the Golden Tigers to the conference playoffs in three of the four seasons.

"I have a real passion for the game of soccer and would like to pursue a career in coaching," said Anderson upon her hiring. "I am very excited about this opportunity and can't wait to get started with the transition from player to coach. I want to learn everything I can from Coach Lochstampfor and help this team move to the highest level possible."

Coach Mike Lochstampfor had this to say about his new assistant, "I'm pleased to welcome Marilyn to our staff and look forward to working with her. She has proven herself over the last four years as a standout soccer player and will undoubtedly make a similar impact as an assistant coach with our program. Marilyn is passionate and knowledgeable about soccer and I am certain she will be outstanding in her new role!"

[Women's Basketball] Tusculum Transfer Signs With Brenau Basketball

Gary Bays — 2010-06-29T08:54:58-06:00

Gainesville, Ga- Gabrielle Harvey, who helped lead her Berkmar High School team to the GHSA State Tournament for three years, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Brenau University. Harvey spent the past season at Tusculum, an NCAA II school in Tennessee that advanced to the Elite Eight. She set a school record for steals in a career at Berkmar with 317, was the Offensive Player of the Year her sophomore year and Defensive Player of the Year as a Junior.

Gabby was the Gwinnett County Tip Off Club Player of the Month twice and was selected to the Gwinnett County All Star Team. She also won varsity letters in volleyball and track in high school. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, she was on the All Academic Team for four years and was an Honor Graduate and Hope Scholar. Harvey was Editor in Chief of the school yearbook and a member of the FBLA and FCA. She is the daughter of Stephanie Seidel and step-daughter of Stan Seidel. Her sister is Zondria Ferguson.

"I feel that Brenau is the best fit for me. I am lucky to have been chosen to join this program." said Harvey, who was a high school teammate of current Tiger player Jasmyn Farmer.

"Gabby will be a great addition to our team and she brings some impressive credentials to the court. She is an excellent defender and rebounder and will fit well into our style of play." said Coach Gary Bays. "She is also committed to her academics and will help us reach our goals off the court."

[Volleyball] Three Time MVP Joins Brenau Volleyball Program

Gary Bays — 2010-06-28T09:12:19-06:00

Gainesville, Ga- Brenau University Volleyball Coach Meredith Matthews announced the addition of Ashley Valentine from North Georgia Christian High School to the Golden Tiger Volleyball team. Valentine had an outstanding high school career, serving as captain all four years while being names Female Athlete of the Year twice and Most Valuable Player three times.

She was also named to four different all tournament teams and received the Christian Character Award as well as becoming a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of Student Government, part of the Youth Leadership Council of Hall County and Homecoming Queen.

"I love volleyball and believe that my work ethic, attitude and personality will fit right in with the rest of the team," said Valentine, who will major in nursing at Brenau.

[Women's Soccer] Janay Hunt Joins Brenau Soccer Program

Gary Bays — 2010-06-23T12:16:38-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Janay Hunt, a Birmingham News All-State Honorable Mention selection from Bob Jones High School in Madison, AL, has signed a letter of intent to continue her soccer career at Brenau University. Hunt was named Most Improved Player in her junior season and Best Defensive Player during her senior year, playing for Coach Patrick Jacklin. She is also a candidate for The Huntsville Times All Metro Team that will be announced in two weeks.

She played competitive Division 1 Club soccer for two years, one with the Huntsville Soccer Club Samba, coached by Eusebio Samuel and the other with United Soccer Club, coached by Steven Van Horn. Janay was also selected to the Alabama Olympic Development Team.

" Janay is a great addition to our program as she brings tremendous speed and quickness to our defense. She will be called on to mark some of the faster forwards we will face this season and I'm confident Janay will be up to the challenge. I'm excited that she has made the decision to attend Brenau University and play for the Golden Tigers this fall!" said Coach Mike Lochstampfor.

[Women's Basketball] Brenau Basketball Adds Russian Post Player

Gary Bays — 2010-06-22T13:57:18-06:00

Gainesville, Ga - Tatiana Khudiakova, a 6-2 post player from Moscow, Russia, has signed a letter of intent to come to the United States and enroll at Brenau University to join the basketball team this fall. Khudiakova began her basketball career at age 8, competing in junior competitions with the Moscow Basketball School. She was selected as Most Valuable Player on three different occasions before moving up to Senior level.

Tatiana graduated from high school in 2005 and has continued to excel, winning the national championship in Russia on three different occasions. As a part of the Spartak team, she won two gold medals and two silver medals, playing at the highest level.

"We are delighted to add a player with Tatiana's experience and skill level." said Coach Gary Bays. "She will give us a post presence we have not previously had and she will help us move our program another step in the right direction."