WINCHESTER, Mass. – Simmons College women's swimmer Natalie Giraldi (Bedford, N.H.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Rookie of the Week, it was announced today by the league. The award marks the second straight week that she has earned the honor for the Sharks. 

The first year scored 13 points and was a part of both of Simmons' winning relay squads in a 156-106 victory over host University of New England. The rookie came back to win the 100-yard breaststroke with a career-best time of 1:11.77 after finishing second in the 50-yard breaststroke with a personal-best mark of 33.32. A graduate of Bedford High School, Giraldi was also a part of the Sharks' winning 200-medley relay team with first years Michaela Morris (Duxbury, Mass.) and Baylee Carroll (Massena, N.Y.) and sophomore Miriam Swisher (Albuquerque, N.M.), registering a time of 1:57.33. She led off the 400-yard freestyle relay as well to help the squad of sophomore Sarah Price (New York, N.Y.), first year Emily Papp (Newtown, Conn.) and senior Chloe Davis (Merrimack, N.H.) win the race with a time of 3:55.58. 

Giraldi has won four of five individual events she has entered this season. The Physical Therapy major won her first collegiate race at Westfield State University on October 25 when she posted a time of 33.48 in the 50-breaststroke. She has also won the 100-breaststroke and the 100-individual medley events this year to go with this week's first-place showing in the 100-breaststroke. The rookie has also been a part of winning 200-free and 200-medley relay team efforts, prior to this week. 

The Sharks are currently 4-0 on the season and will swim again on Saturday, November 15 when they head to Wellesley, Mass. to take on Wellesley College at 1:00 p.m.