Kimberly Helfrich Solari Brown (2025) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame

Kimberly Helfrich Solari Brown

Induction:
2025
Class:
2013

The first member of the JMU swimming and diving program to compete in the NCAA Championships, Kimberly (Helfrich) Solari Brown finished top 30 in the country in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events in 2010-2011. She was twice named Colonial Athletic Association Diver of the Year (2011, 2013) was named CAA Diver of the Meet in 2013 and added Rookie Diver of the Year in 2010. Along the way, she captured three gold medals in CAA competition, winning the one-meter board in 2012 and both boards in 2013. Her high scores of 327.85 as a senior in the one meter and 377.70 as a sophomore still stand as home pool records in Savage Natatorium. Rising from the ranks of walk-on to JMU Hall of Famer, Helfrich was also a JMU President's List honoree in 2013 to go with six semesters on the JMU Dean's List. She was a four-time JMU AD Scholar-Athlete and three-time honoree on the VaSID Academic All-State team, selected among all athletes in all sports. She played a prominent role in JMU rising from third in the CAA as a freshman to runner up as a sophomore and champion in 2012, grabbing the program's first championship since 2001.