Montgomery, Ala.- Blue Mountain Christian University Softball added another prestigious honor to its historic 2026 season on Monday evening, earning the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Mayor Todd Strange Female Champions of Character Team Award at the conference's annual awards banquet.
The award recognizes the program that best exemplifies the NAIA Champions of Character core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership throughout the academic year.
While the Toppers enjoyed unprecedented success on the field, the recognition serves as a testament to the culture Head Coach Matt Brunet and Assistant Coach MJ George have built within the program. 
Throughout the season, BMCU Softball consistently demonstrated what it means to serve others and represent Blue Mountain Christian University with excellence.
One example came during the season when Brunet and George assisted members of St. Mary's of the Woods following a doubleheader, transporting opposing student-athletes to local restaurants and back to their hotel. 
The act reflected the servant-hearted leadership that has become a defining characteristic of the program.
The award caps off a season that was already one of the most successful in school history. 
The Toppers earned the program's first-ever berth to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round and spent much of the season competing among the top teams in the conference. 
Blue Mountain finished the year with multiple program records and individual accolades while establishing itself as one of the premier programs in the SSAC.
Among the team's accomplishments were NFCA NAIA Region 1 Coaching Staff of the Year honors for Brunet and George, NFCA NAIA Region 1 selections for center fielder Anna Harrison and first baseman Aspen Teague, and multiple conference weekly awards throughout the season. 
Harrison set new program single-season records in runs scored and stolen bases, while the pitching staff delivered several dominant performances, including a no-hitter by Neely Cooper.
For Brunet, the award reflects the values he hopes his program displays every day.
"This honor means a great deal to our program because it recognizes something bigger than wins and losses," said Brunet. "We want our players to compete at a high level, but more importantly, we want them to represent Christ and Blue Mountain Christian University with integrity, humility, and a servant's heart. I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes and coaching staff for the way they cared for others and carried themselves throughout the season."
Blue Mountain Christian University Director of Athletics Curt Fowler praised the softball program for embodying the mission of the university both on and off the field.
"Coach Brunet and Coach George have built a program that reflects everything we hope Blue Mountain athletics will represent," said Fowler. "This team achieved remarkable success on the field, but what makes this award so special is the character displayed behind the scenes. Their willingness to serve others, put people first, and represent Christ in the way they compete and lead is what truly sets this program apart. We are incredibly proud of this team and this well-deserved recognition."
The Mayor Todd Strange Female Champions of Character Team Award serves as a fitting conclusion to a memorable season for the Toppers. 
While the victories, records, and postseason accomplishments will be remembered for years to come, the character displayed by the program throughout the year may ultimately be its greatest achievement.
 
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