Poplar Bluff alum to help coach Mules swim team

It wasn’t exactly in the short-term career plans for Poplar Bluff graduate Madison (Moore) Brannon.

But things are shaping up nicely.

Brannon, a 2021 graduate of the Mules, has accepted the district’s offer to become the girls swimming assistant coach, as she formally accepted the offer on Oct. 9. She hopes to help the team build off last year’s 11-3 record.

During her time at Poplar Bluff, Brannon was a two-sport athlete — as she also ran cross country.

“I graduated from Three Rivers with my associate of arts degree (2022) in business administration, but I am going to SEMO now to get my middle school education degree,” Brannon said. “I thought it (swimming coach) would something cool to do at some point, but it is not something I thought I would do before working at the school.”

During her time with the Mules, Brannon was a mainstay in the backstroke.

“I did backstroke (and butterfly) my freshman and sophomore years because I couldn’t jump off the diving block, and then I did more long distance and fly my senior year,” Brannon said.

Being a former student-athlete with the Mules and the opportunity to give back to the program deeply resonated with Brannon, who said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity, especially an opportunity for someone working on her post-secondary degree.

Said Brannon: “I want to be a teacher, and I want to help kids. I think this is a good steppingstone and this will also help get my foot in the door with the school. I really like swimming, so it is something that I enjoy, and it is something I can help other people enjoy.”

Currently, Brannon is working on her teaching certification and plans to graduate from Southeast Missouri State University next December.

During her swimming career with the Mules, Brannon earned all-conference and honorable mention recognition.

So, what can Brannon add to the program?

“I hope to help the girls become better swimmers and reach their full potential,” she said.