BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) has announced its weekly awards and Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Cathleen Pruden was recognized. The senior garnered Swimmer of the Week honors for the third time this season, and the 12th overall honor of her career, after an outstanding effort last week.
Pruden, who hails from Raleigh, N.C., had an incredible effort in helping the Lyons to a 3-1 mark a week ago. In addition to a relay win, she notched six individual victories. In a split with Clark (147-83 W) & Wheaton (134-105 L), she won the 1,000-free in a time of 10:30.44, the 200-IM in a time of 2:08.92 and the 500-free with her fastest time of the season, 5:09.50.
A captain, Pruden then won the 1,000-free with a time of 10:26.51 – nearly a full minute faster than the runner-up – as MHC defeated both Vassar (163-136) and Trinity (211-65). In that meet, she also won the 500-free in a time of 5:13.11, the 200-IM with a mark of 2:09.38 and anchored the 400-free relay team to victory in a time of 3:46.15.
This is the third NEWMAC honor of the season for Pruden, who was tabbed on November 3rd following a nine-victory week. During that stretch, she recorded three victories in the Lyons loss at Division II Assumption, including in the 1000-free, the 500-free and the 200-IM. She was also honored on December 7th after posting recorded three NCAA B Cuts, three pool records, three meet records and six wins as the Lyons finished third at the Hamilton Invitational.
A former standout at the Ravenscroft School, Pruden is coming off an outstanding 2014 season in which she earned her second straight National All-America honor after finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships in the 400-individual medley. She is the only swimmer in Lyons' history to earn All-America (top-eight) honors twice.
The NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year in 2014-15, Pruden powered her way to 37 victories in the pool last 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. She was also the 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, setting two meet records and achieving two NCAA B Cuts as well.
Pruden, who is a psychology and education major, is also a two-time Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American. She earned Second Team recognition in 2015 and was a Third Team selection in 2014.
Mount Holyoke returns to the pool this weekend as it travels to Wellesley to compete at the 2016 Seven Sisters Championship. Action begins on Saturday and runs through Sunday.
