Mallard's 3-Win Debut Makes Her B1G Freshman of the Week

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue’s Caroline Mallard opened her collegiate career with a strong first impression that included three event victories in a season-opening win, earning her Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

Mallard swept the butterfly events and contributed to the Boilermakers’ victorious 400 freestyle relay in a dual meet win at Illinois, Purdue’s 11th consecutive during the fall semester. It’s a streak that dates back to the 2023-24 season-opening win at Notre Dame.

Mallard became the Purdue women’s first freshman to win multiple individual events in a season-opening meet since Mallory Jump in October 2019. Jump continues to hold freshman records in the 100 fly and 200 individual medley.

Mallard teamed up with Campbell Scofield for a 1-2 finish in the 200 fly in Champaign, winning the event by 3.94 seconds while breaking two minutes. Mallard’s time of 1:59.00 is already good for 12th place in the team record book. The Boilermakers enjoyed four 1-2 finishes at Illinois.

Purdue eclipsed its program record in the 400 free relay last season. Mallard teamed up with the three active members of that record-breaking quartet – Caitlin Hurley, Adele Sands and Lara Phipps – for the meet-capping victory in Champaign. Phipps (100 free) and Sands (1000 free) also won individual events as the Boilermakers posted nine victories in the dual.

Going into her final season of eligibility, Mallard remained part of the USA Swimming Junior National Team when the updated squad was announced in early September. She was a silver medalist in the 200-meter fly at the Speedo Junior National Championships in August a week after winning the B final (placing ninth overall) in the event on the senior level at the USA Swimming National Championships. The Charlotte native won gold in the 200-meter fly at the 2025 Speedo Junior Nationals.

Scofield was Purdue’s last female swimmer to be recognized as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week (in January 2025). Claire Abbasse and Jump were both recognized during their debut seasons in 2019-20 as the team’s last swimmers to be recognized during the fall semester.