SACKVILLE, NB — Mount Allison University is proud to announce the appointment of Brenna Maddalena as Head Coach of Mounties Varsity Swimming for the coming season. 

Maddalena succeeds Sarah Fellner, who will be retiring from her role as head coach with the Mounties after four years with the program. 

Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation Neil MacEachern is thrilled to bring Maddalena into this role, given her longstanding commitment to the program. 

“The calibre of coaching that Brenna brings to the team cannot be overstated,” says MacEachern. “This will be a natural transition for the Mounties swimmers, given the trust and respect she has already built in her time here at Mount Allison.”

Maddalena is a well-known, respected, and experienced swimmer and coach in the Sackville community. An alumna of both Tantramar Regional High School and Mount Allison, she grew up practicing and competing at the same facility and the passing of the torch is special for a lot of reasons.

“As our current assistant coach, the continuity that Brenna will provide is going to be really exciting for the team,” says Fellner. “She brings energy and enthusiasm, she’s creative, and she relates well to our swimmers. She’s bringing new life and culture while maintaining all the strengths of an already solid program.”

Maddalena is indeed taking over a solid program, as the team looks to welcome their largest recruiting class of 14 athletes this coming season. With 14 team members being Academic All-Canadians this past year, the new swimmers are joining an elite and exceptional group. The team is setting its sights high this season with hopes for competitive placement at the AUS level.

“It’s been quite a privilege to watch this team grow, not just in numbers, but in how well-rounded they are. I’m excited to keep that growth going and to strengthen the culture of what it means to be a Mountie swimmer,” says Maddalena.

Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research and proud Mounties Swimming alumnus Dr. Richard Isnor (’89) looks forward to Maddalena’s appointment to this role.

“Brenna brings substantial experience as the head coach of the Sackville Swim Club and an assistant coach for the NB Canada Games swim team. She is an excellent swimmer in her own right and will undoubtedly build on the stellar efforts of Sarah Fellner in her new role,” says Isnor.

As a Sackville native and current resident (she and her husband Anthony also own Bagtown Brewing Company), the community aspect of this position is important to her. 

“The Mount Allison pool facility is an important part of Tantramar for recreation, skills development, and health and longevity,” says Maddalena.
 
Besides Mounties Varsity Swimming, the pool is home to the Sackville Swim Club, open lane swimming, and other programming for the community. The facility is currently closed to receive maintenance and upgrades and will re-open for the start of the school year.

For media inquiries, please contact Jonelle Mace, Media and External Communications, at media@mta.ca or call 428-880-0070.