SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Cathleen Pruden has been selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America Division III Women's At-Large Second Team. This is the second straight Academic All-American honor for Pruden, who was a Third Team selection last season.
Pruden is one of just five student-athletes in Mount Holyoke history to garner Academic All-America honors. Additionally, she is just the second to garner multiple honors, trailing only Michelle Johannes, who was recognized three times in volleyball. Pruden is just one of two swimmers to ever be recognized from MHC, joining Sarah Pillard, who was a 2004 selection to the At-Large Third Team.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., Pruden put forth another outstanding effort in her junior season. Highlighting the year was her second straight National All-America honor after finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships in the 400-individual medley. She is now the only swimmer in Lyons' history to earn All-America (top-eight) honors twice.
Pruden, who was the NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year in 2014-15, powered her way to 37 victories in the pool this season. In addition to achieving 10 school records, she also defended her NEWMAC title in the 400-IM, posting a conference meet and open record time. In addition to her 400-IM win, she was also this year's conference champion in the 200-IM and the 1650-freestyle. Among her other top performances was at the 2015 Seven Sisters Championships, where she claimed victory in five events (200-breast, 200-IM, 400-IM, 1650-Free, 200-free relay), setting two meet records and achieving two NCAA B Cuts as well.
A former standout at the Ravenscroft School, Pruden has established herself as one of the all-time best at Mount Holyoke through three seasons. Last year, she became the first swimmer in program history to finish in the top-eight at Nationals, garnering All-America in the 400-IM. She was a four-event winner at the Seven Sisters Championship, as well as the NEWMAC Champion in the 400-IM. During her rookie campaign, she was named the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year – the first-time ever by an MHC swimmer – after winning two events in record fashion. Pruden, who was a three-time Swimmer of the Week honoree in the conference, also posted two victories at Seven Sisters.
Pruden, who is a psychology and education major with a 3.93 cumulative grade point average, was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team in 2014. A two-time selection on the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team, she has been involved with a number of organizations on campus. In addition to serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, including this year as its Chair, she is a co-coordinator and volunteer swim instructor for Project SPLASH! Pruden also received the 2014 Psychology and Education Department Award for Academic Excellence and was named a Sarah Williston Scholar.
