DILLON, Mont. - In her inaugural year, Montana Western Sports Information Director (SID) Lindsey Branch was selected the 2022-2023 Frontier Conference Sports Information Director of the Year in a vote by the league's sports information directors. She is the conference's nominee for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) honors.

"I am very appreciative of the honor and am grateful to be recognized by my colleagues throughout the Frontier Conference," Branch said. "With this being my first year in sports information and college athletics, I am incredibly thankful for my fellow Frontier Conference colleagues who have supported and worked beside me throughout the year."

The award honors an individual who demonstrates excellence in all aspects of athletic communication including; social media, press releases, photography, statistical compilation, website updates, coordinating media personnel, graphic design, and promotion of the Frontier Conference and the NAIA.

"I'm beyond grateful and proud of Lindsey," Montana Western Athletic Director Michael Feuling said. "She plays such a huge role here at Montana Western in providing our student-athletes with a championship experience. It is impressive that she had no prior experience in the profession prior to this year yet, she has transcended the sports information role and has elevated our student-athletes and department to new heights.

Branch is a 2019 graduate of Vanguard University (Calif.) with a major in education and a minor in psychology. As a softball student-athlete, she earned academic all-conference and All-American honors. Branch was a three-year member of the Vanguard Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

She began her professional career at Caruthers High School of Caruthers, Calif. Branch was a special education teacher, co-activities director, head volleyball coach and JV softball coach. In 2021, she added a master's degree in special education to her resume.

Her lack of experience in sports information was quickly replaced by her enthusiasm to learn. In short order, she settled into her SID duties providing all aspects of athletic communications for Montana Western's 10 athletic teams. Branch amped up the Bulldog's social media presence with a 49 percent growth on Instagram and a 21 percent growth on Twitter.

She created the "Barkin' with the Dawgs" podcast, began the Title IX feature series spotlighting Montana Western female student-athletes, both past and present, and the Off the Leash series, spotlighting current and former Bulldog student-athletes.

Branch is Montana Western's Association of Student-Athletes (ASA) advisor. She supervised the first ever Dawg Show awards banquet which honored Montana Western student-athletes.

"What Lindsey has accomplished in her first year has been incredible, we are so fortunate to have her," Feuling added. "I can't wait to watch her excel and make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes."

In addition to her Montana Western duties, Branch is the Montana Western staff representative on the Frontier Conference SAAC. In support of the conference, she shared work responsibilities with other conference SID's in providing media assistance at several conference events.

"I am especially thankful to the entire Montana Western athletic department for giving me the opportunity to grow and learn in this profession throughout the year," Branch said. "This award is a testament to all the hard work from not just myself, but our student-workers and interns who have helped to take Montana Western to the next level."
 
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