AUSTIN, Texas- Carson-Newman women's swimmer Rachel Peden was honored in the 2022-2023 Third Team Academic All-America women's swimming and diving team as selected by the College Sports Communicators this afternoon, Mar. 20.

Rachel Peden is a senior for the Eagles majoring in psychology with a 3.94 GPA. Peden is joined by 13 other Division II women's swimmers in her Third Team Academic All-America selection. Aside from her academic accolades, Peden was selected to compete at the 2023 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships that began Wednesday, Mar. 8. Peden was selected for four separate events. Her 500-yard freestyle (4:54.54), 400-yard individual medley (4:22.61), 1,650-yard freestyle (17:06.28), and 1,000-yard freestyle (10:10.32) each afforded her a spot to compete in the national meet.

During nationals, Peden placed ninth in the women's 1650-yard freestyle finals with a time of 16:58.37, a season best performance in the event. Her efforts earned her Honorable Mention All-American honors at the meet.

At the South Atlantic Conference Championships, Peden won gold in the women's 400-yard IM with a qualifying mark in 4:22.61, and she secured three silver medals throughout the meet. Her 500-yard freestyle (4:57.92), 1,000-yard freestyle (10:10.32), and 1,650-yard freestyle (17:08.05) each allowed her a spot on the podium.

Peden has eight first place finishes on the season. She swam against high levels of competition throughout her senior year and secured multiple spots on the podium. Peden placed second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:06.46) during the Eagles' trip to Georgia Tech and third in the 400-yard IM (4:36.21) against the University of Tennessee.

Carson-Newman women's swim adds an Academic All-American to the list of achievements in the 2022-2023 season. The Eagles concluded the year ranked second in the SAC and seventh in the nation.