BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced its weekly awards for the period ending November 9 and Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Cathleen Pruden has been recognized. The junior standout was named the Swimmer of the Week after posting seven victories in last week's 1-1 effort.
The Raleigh, N.C., native notched seven victories, including one school record and an NCAA B Cut, to help the Lyons go 1-1 in their dual meet debuts. In a 178-106 loss to Division II Assumption, she posted a school record win in the 200-free with a time of 1:55.03. Pruden also won the 200-fly in a time of 2:11.47 and notched a B Cut in the 400-IM with a winning time of 4:33.07.
Pruden then claimed victory in the 1,000-free notching a winning time of 10:48.84. She went on to win the 50-fly in a time of 27.46, the 200-IM with a mark of 2:44.02 and also helped the 200-free relay record a time of 1:44.05 to win as the team captured a 175-81 victory at Saint Joseph (CT).
Last season, Pruden etched her name deeper into the Mount Holyoke record books, becoming just the second swimmer in Lyons' history to earn National All-America, joining Katie Herrold '00, who earned All-America Honorable Mention in the 1650-free during the 1997 championships. Pruden is also the first MHC swimmer to finish in the top eight.
Over the course of the 2013-14 season, Pruden posted 41 victories, 13 school records, a NEWMAC title in the 400-IM, four Seven Sisters titles (400-IM, 500-free, 1650-free, 200-IM) and was named to the CoSIDA National Academic All-America Third Team.
As a first year, Pruden placed herself in the history books multiple times. In addition to winning NEWMAC individual titles in the 1650-free and the 400-IM, Pruden was named the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year – a first for any Mount Holyoke swimmer. She earned Swimmer of the Week honors three times throughout the season and also figured in on 32 wins. Additionally, she put her name onto 11 school records – seven of which were individual efforts.
Pruden also recorded three individual victories, a relay win, an NCAA 'B' Cut, two meet records and a school record at the Seven Sisters Meet.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Westfield State University for a 1pm dual meet.
