TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Rose-Hulman athletic department will be featuring multiple student-athletes across all of their varsity sports teams this summer in the Fightin' Engineers to Watch media campaign.
Women's swimming and diving's Fightin' Engineer to Watch is
Catherine Bath as she enters her senior season.
Bath led Rose-Hulman to a second-place finish at the 2025-26 HCAC Championships, which is tied for the best result in school history. She recorded two first place finishes for the Fightin' Engineers, winning the 500 freestyle (5:10.60) and the 1650 freestyle (18:00.83). Bath would finish the championships with five top-two finishes, as she added second place marks in the 200 freestyle (1:57.91), 400 freestyle relay (3:41.37), and 800 freestyle relay (8:03.53).
Bath has greatly enjoyed her time as a part of the Rose-Hulman Women's Swimming and Diving Team. "The team is really close, and we work toward bringing everyone into the culture. There is a constant draw towards improvement within every aspect of the team," said Bath. "The camaraderie here is great both on and off the field, which is a must-have at a school as challenging as Rose. For my last season, I want to have fun and create memories, while putting in the work alongside great people as we continue our trend of performing well at the conference tournament."
Across her collegiate career, Bath has claimed five Individual HCAC Championships, and she has won the 1650 freestyle at the HCAC Championships in all three seasons. She currently ranks in the top three in seven Rose-Hulman events, while holding four school records. During the 2023-24 season, Bath set three school records in the 500 freestyle (5:0.29), 1000 freestyle (10:44.05), and 1650 freestyle (17:47.56). She added her fourth school record the following season in the 800 freestyle relay (7:55.42).
Bath is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, and she is spending her summer working on an internship in soy processing. "At my job, we take grain from the fields and crush it to meal for animals and into crude oil that can be processed for vegetable oil," said Bath. "I have learned a lot about the production process along with the agriculture side of the food we consume." Bath and her teammates also get together a few times during summer orientation and before the season starts to form and strengthen bonds. "We usually spend some time on the lake and also have a cookout. This helped me get to know some upperclassmen my freshman year and be comfortable asking questions about life at Rose."
The Kokomo, Indiana native is very appreciative that she is able to continue swimming while getting a high-quality education. "Being part of a sport keeps you accountable for taking care of yourself, while also meeting some incredible people. I would not have the friendships I have at Rose without being part of the swim team."
The Fightin' Engineers will lead off the 2026-27 season at the Vigo County Aquatic Center for the Indiana DIII Championships. The meet will be held on Saturday, October 17 at 1 PM.
