Prendergast to swim for Loras

Swimming has been part of her life for a long time. Rachel Prendergast isn’t ready to climb out of the competitive pool.

“I decided I didn’t want to give up swimming competitively yet,” Prendergast said. “I’ll be in an environment where everyone is working to get better. We all have goals we haven’t quite reached yet.”

The Newton High senior signed a NCAA Division III celebratory form Thursday as a commitment to swim for Loras College in Dubuque next year. Prendergast is one of the first to enjoy the new change in NCAA policy.

As of April 1, athletes heading to NCAA Division III institutions, like Loras, can sign an official documentation from their future institutions. It is not a scholarship, but a signing letter to celebrate the opportunity to compete in a college sport.

On hand for the ceremony at NHS were her parents, Jim and Jennifer Prendergast, and her two high school coaches, Sarah Patterson and Chris Forsyth, of the Newton/Colfax-Mingo/Pella team. The NCMP Aquagirls swim as a Newton High team.

Prendergast has been swimming for NCMP for four years. She qualified for the Iowa girls state swim meet four straight years as a member of an Aquagirls’ relay team.

Prendergast achieved a personal goal last fall in winning a regional individual championship in the 100-meter freestyle, qualifying for state in 55.84 seconds. At state, she dropped to the time to a personal-best time 55.57, finishing 23rd.

She also was a member of the state qualifying 400 freestyle relay. Prendergast combined with Hannah Scotton, Sydney Jenkins and Samantha Hedrick to set a new NCMP record in the 400 freestyle relay in 3 minutes, 38.65 seconds for ninth at state. She swam a 55.61-second 100-meter split in the relay race.

Prendergast helped the Aquagirls claim their third straight North Central Iowa Conference team championship. NCMP hosted the 2014 NCIC meet in October. She is a member of the 2014 NCIC championship 400-meter freestyle relay team along wing Scotton, Jenkins and Hedrick, which set a NCMP record in the event at 4:10.70.

Prendergast was named a NCIC scholar athlete.

“The campus and the area are beautiful and I have a lot of opportunities on and off campus to really further my education and my career in the future,” Prendergast said of her decision to attend Loras. “When I get on campus, we’re figure out where I will be contributing to the swim team.”

Prendergast said she plans to pursue a degree in public relations and a minor in coaching.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com