WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Cathleen Pruden was named the 2015 NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year and the Mount Holyoke swimming & diving team finished seventh overall at the NEWMAC Championships on Sunday evening. The Lyons posted 376.5 points at this year's meet. Pruden, who was the 2013 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, was one of just two swimmers at the 2015 championship to win three events and the only one on the women's side.

Fresh off her record-setting victory in the 400-IM on Saturday, Pruden (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft School) once again highlighted the outstanding efforts on the final day of action, winning the 1650-freestyle with a mark of 17:07.26. That time was not only an NCAA B Cut, but also a new school record, shattering her previous mark of 17:16.25 which was set at the 2014 Nationals.

Additionally, Pruden's time was just one second shy of the NEWMAC Meet record (17:06.26) and is currently the 10th best time in Division III.

Sophomore Anne Kuenning (Bow, N.H./Bow) also posted an outstanding finish, placing fourth in the 200-backstroke with a time of 2:10.31. Senior Maya Lazarovich (South Burlington, Vt./South Burlington) was ninth in the 200-breaststroke, touching the wall in a time of 2:29.30, while sophomore Emily Craig (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili Senior) placed 15th in the 100-free with a time of 54.65.

Rounding out the evening's efforts was the 400-freestyle relay team of Craig, Kuenning, sophomore Katie Tyler (Hadley, Mass./Hopkins Academy) and Pruden. The foursome combined for a time of 3:39.44, good for seventh overall.

While the season has ended for the squad, the Lyons will see Pruden return to action on March 18-21 at the 2015 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. The meet will take place at the CISD Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas. More details to come soon.

Photo of Pruden and head coach Dave Allen courtesy of Frank Poulin.