Posted: Nov 17, 2014
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 for the week of November 10-16, it was announced today by the league.
The honor marks the third straight week that Giraldi has been selected for the award.
The freshman finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:12.06 and the 100-yard freestyle with a mark of 59.83 against Wellesley College on November 15. The rookie also tacked on a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and was the Sharks' top finisher in the event with a time of 2:28.11 to give her 10 points for the meet. The Bedford High School graduate swam the fastest 50-breaststroke leg of the 200-yard medley relay and helped Simmons finish just four tenths of a second behind Wellesley's strong line-up with a time of 1:55.45.
Giraldi has won four of eight 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 twice and the 100-individual medley as well this year. In addition, the rookie has been a part of winning 200-free, 400-free and a pair of 200-medley relay team efforts.
The Sharks are currently 4-1 on the season and will swim again on Tuesday, December 2 when they host Babson College at the Holmes Sports Center Natatorium at 6:00 p.m.