Mandy graduated from Berlin High in 1997. She played soccer for four years and made the Northwest Conference All-Academic Team three times during her playing career and in 1997 received the Defensive Award. It was in track, however, where Mandy had her greatest achievements in her four years with the team. She made the Northwest Conference All-Academic Team three times. In 1994 she was All-NWC in the high jump. In the 1995 season she was All-NWC in the high jump and long jump and received the Coaches Award.

In 1996 she was All-NWC and State Open champion in the high jump, where she also won the heptathlon. She was New England champion in the high jump and again received the Coaches Award.

In the 1997 season Mandy was All-NWC in the high jump, long jump and 100 meter hurdles, New England champion in the high jump, Class M state champion in the high jump and long jump, received Class M recognition and again received the Coaches Award.

Upon graduation Mandy went to Trinity College where she starred in track during her college career. Her accomplishments include the following: DIII national champion in the heptathlon in 2001, Trinity Club of Hartford Senior Female Athlete Award, two All-American picks in the Heptathalon, the 1999 and 2000 New England DIII Heptathalon titles, two New England DIII Penthlon titles in 1999 and 2000 (indoor), three All-ECAC indoor track selections and three outdoor All-New England selections, two All-New England Small College Athletic Conference selections in outdoor track and a second place finish in the Penn Relays in 2001. Mandy is still the Trinity College record holder in the heptahalon, pentathalon, high jump and long jump.

Mandy lived in Philadelphia for 10 years after graduating from Trinity with a BA in Art History and a minor in Architectural Studies. She worked as a Communications Manager for the Hillier and Kling architectural firm. In 2005 she married Duane Bernt and in 2008 she graduated from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with her MBA with honors. She moved to Athens, Georgia in 2012 where she resides with her husband and three children, daughters Chase and Blake and son Traye. Mandy still actively competes in marathons, half-marathons and triathlons.