WESTON, Mass. – Simmons University's Áine Scholand (Albuquerque, N.M.) was named the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association Women's Co-Athlete of the Week for the week of November 4-10, it was announced today by the organization. 

Scholand shares the award with University of New England sophomore Haley Griffin (Rome, N.Y.) and becomes the first Shark to earn the award since Jason Erichsen (2015-19) was named for the week of November 6-12, 2017. 

The Sandia High School product won both distance events and added a third place showing to tally a meet-high 21 points in the team's 188-112 loss to visiting Wellesley College on November 9. The senior placed first in the 1000-yard freestyle with a season-best mark of 10:55.68 to win the race by almost 30 seconds, before cruising to a near nine-second victory in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:23.79. The Neuroscience and Behavior major touched the wall at 26.28 to finish third in the 50-yard freestyle. Scholand capped the meet by leading off the 400-yard freestyle relay and contribute to a third-place time of 3:48.76. 

The New Mexico native has absolutely dominated the distance events this season, winning all four 1000-yard freestyle races, while topping the field in the 500-yard freestyle in three out of three races as part of 10 wins in 12 individual events. Scholand has a first-place effort in the 100-yard backstroke this season to go with a pair of third-places in the 50-yard freestyle as well. A Co-Captain this season, Scholand has been an integral part of the team's success in relay events, helping Simmons to a pair of victories in the 200-yard freestyle relay. 

For her career Scholand has been named All-America in each of the last two seasons, earning First Team accolades as a sophomore and Honorable Mention recognition last year. She has also been selected the GNAC Women's Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year in both years with the Sharks and is the only competitor in school history to compete in three different events at the NCAA Championship in one season. Scholand owns three individual school records in the 1650, 1000 and 500-yard freestyle and helped Simmons establish a school standard in the 800-yard freestyle relay.  

The Sharks are currently 2-5 on the season and will compete again on Saturday, November 16 when they travel to Biddeford, Maine to take on University of New England at 12:00 p.m.