BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and the Eastern College Athletic Confernece (ECAC) announced its weekly awards and Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Cathleen Pruden has been recognized. The sophomore standout was named the Swimmer of the Week by both organizations after posting four victories at last week's Seven Sisters Championship.
Pruden, a native of Raleigh, N.C., was the only swimmer to garner four individual victories at Seven Sisters. Additionally, she set the meet record in all four events, while also achieving an NCAA B Cut and two school records. She opened the weekend with a victory in the 500-freestyle, posting a time of 5:05.97. That mark also eclipsed her own school record mark set last season. Pruden then won the 200-Individual Medley in a time of 2:09.32, her second school record of the day.
Finally, she closed out the first day of action in her signature event, the 400-IM, setting a winning time of 4:29.55. That mark was also an NCAA B Cut and just shy of her own school record. Pruden concluded her individual effort on day two in the grueling 1650-free event. Her time of 17:41.02 was not only just shy of a B Cut, but also 19 seconds faster than the Seven Sisters mark she recorded in 2013 (18:00.19).
Pruden also swam in three relays during the meet, helping the Lyons to second-place finishes in the 200-free (1:42.05), the 800-free (8:14.69) and the 400-free (3:45.14). As a team, MHC finished second overall out of five schools, placing runner-up to Wellesley.
This is the second weekly honor of the season for Pruden, who earned accolades on November 11 after posting four victories in a meet against Division II Assumption. That effort saw her win the 1,000-free, the 500-free and the 400-IM along with the victorious 200-medley relay team.
A former standout at the Ravencroft School, Pruden has once again been a critical factor for the Lyons, recording at least one victory in every meet this season. Among her top efforts came at the Gompei Invitational in December where she won the 200-IM, the 500-free and the 400-IM.
Last 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.
A four-year member of the varsity swimming team in high school, Pruden was a two-time captain. She earned four consecutive Most Valuable Player honors and was a three time TISAC All-Conference selection. The TISAC Swimmer of the Year as a senior, Pruden was an NCISAA 3A All-State honoree and swam in the NCISAA 3A State Championships and the NCS Senior State Championships for four consecutive seasons.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Wellesley on Senior Day at the MHC Natatorium at 1pm.
