SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Cathleen Pruden has been selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Division III Women's At-Large Third Team. This is the first Academic All-American honor for Pruden, who was an All-District First Team selection as well.
Pruden becomes just the seventh student-athlete in Mount Holyoke history to garner Academic All-America honors and the first since 2004. Additionally, she is one of just two swimmers to ever be recognized from MHC, joining Sarah Pillard, who was a 2004 selection to the At-Large Third Team also.
A sophomore from Raleigh, N.C., Pruden garnered National All-America honors this season after finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships in the 400-individual medley. She became just the second swimmer in Lyons' history to earn All-America recognition and is also the only swimmer in program history to finish in the top eight at Nationals.
Pruden, who was a two-time NEWMAC Swimmer of the Week in 2013-14, powered her way to 41 victories in the pool this season. In addition to achieving 13 school records, she also defended her NEWMAC title in the 400-IM, posting a conference meet and open record time. Among her other top performances was at the 2014 Seven Sisters Championships, where she claimed victory in four events (500-free, 200-IM, 400-IM, 1650-Free), simultaneously setting the record in each as well.
A former standout at the Ravenscroft School, Pruden has established herself as one of the all-time best at Mount Holyoke after just two seasons. 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 is a psychology and education major with a 3.94 cumulative grade point average. Named to 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, 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.
