Fernanda Pera Dos Santos Named Swimmer of the Week
The Catawba College sophomore earned regional and national honors after a stellar performance in a meet against Queens.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Swimming
Conference Carolinas and SwimCloud have recognized Catawba College sophomore Fernanda Regina Pera Dos Santos as Women's Swimmer of the Week. This distinction follows her recent high-performance showing during a dual meet against Queens University of Charlotte.
Why it matters
Weekly honors reflect the athlete's significant contributions to the Catawba swim program and highlight her development as a top-tier Division II competitor. These awards recognize her individual speed and the growing competitiveness of her team on the national stage.
Pera Dos Santos achieved NCAA Division II B cuts by finishing the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.56 and the 100-yard freestyle in 50.91. Additionally, the Catawba 400-yard medley relay team qualified for the national standard with a time of 3:44.20.
The players
Fernanda Regina Pera Dos Santos
She is a sophomore swimmer at Catawba College originally from Campinas, Brazil.
Catawba College
This is a private liberal arts college located in Salisbury that fields competitive athletic programs.
Conference Carolinas
This is a collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, that competes in NCAA Division II.
SwimCloud
This is a digital platform and database that tracks collegiate swimming performance and national rankings.
The details
Pera Dos Santos, a native of Campinas, Brazil, recorded lifetime-best performances across multiple events during the competition against Queens University of Charlotte. Her versatile performance included a 2:06.28 finish in the 200-yard individual medley.
Timeline
Pera Dos Santos competed in the dual meet against Queens University on October 9, 2026.
Conference Carolinas officially announced the weekly swimming honor on October 14, 2026.
Catawba College is scheduled to meet Wingate in Wingate on October 16, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Pera Dos Santos hitting NCAA Division II B cut standards significantly improves her standing for postseason national qualification. This performance signals a higher competitive ceiling for the Catawba swim team as they navigate the remainder of their fall schedule.
Pera Dos Santos effectively locked in national consideration by clearing the NCAA Division II B cut standards in two distinct freestyle events. The 3:44.20 relay time also elevates the team's standing in the conference rankings ahead of their next meet.
The takeaway
Pera Dos Santos demonstrates that consistent, peak-level performance early in the season can secure vital recognition and national qualification status. Student-athletes can use these results to refine their training focus as they prepare for high-stakes competition throughout the semester.
What happens next
Pera Dos Santos and the Catawba College swimming team are scheduled to compete at Wingate on October 16, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local aquatic achievements, visit the Swimming news section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News Herald.
