• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (4.0 GPA)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Raced in the fall intrasquad meets and then opted to serve as a student assistant coach during the spring semester
2019-20 / AS A JUNIOR
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed primarily in the distance freestyle events
• Registered career-best times in the 200 (1:52.90) and 1,650 free (16:58.00) at the Ohio State Winter Invite to earn the final roster berth for the Big Ten Championships the following week
• At Big Tens, she posted a career-best mark of 4:55.96 in the 500 free
• Posted a career-best time (10:21.28) in the 1,000 free in the dual vs. Notre Dame and then had a 1,000 split of 10:11.57 on the mile at OSU
• Scored in the mile at the Purdue Invitational, a meet in which she was also a D finalist in the 200 and 500 free
• Finished fourth overall in the mile and was an A finalist in the 500 free at OSU
• Competed in both distance events in duals vs. Notre Dame and Indiana as well as the Big Ten Triple Duals
2018-19 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in freestyle events from 200 yards to the mile
• Posted career-best times in the 200 (1:53.61) and 500 free (4:57.70) at the Big Ten Championships
• Earned a spot on the roster for Big Tens based on her performance at the Ohio State Winter Invite the week before
• Posted a career-best time of 17:12.44 in the mile at OSU and also broke five minutes (4:57.78) in the 500 for the first time
• Season best in the 1,000 free (10:23.02) was at the November triple dual with Tennessee and Wisconsin
• Finished sixth overall in both of her events at the Ohio State Winter Invite
• Scored in the mile at the at the IU Invitational
• Finished second to Emily Meckstroth in the 1,000 as part of a 1-2-3 finish for Purdue at Michigan State
2017-18 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Raced in three freestyle events in the season-opening dual at Miami (Ohio) before an injury sidelined her for the remainder of the season
• Swept the 400- and 800-meter freestyle at the Indiana Senior State Championships in July
• Recorded four top-seven finishes at Senior State
• Her 1,000 free time of 10:45.37 at Miami ranked fifth fastest on the team in 2017-18
• Also posted times of 56.49 in the 100 and 5:14.89 in the 500
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year varsity letterwinner for coaches Joseph Keller and Kyle Hembree at Northridge High School in northern Indiana
• Four-year Indiana state qualifier, finishing in the top five in the 500 free her final three years
• State runner-up in the 500 free as a junior to earn first team all-state honors
• Sectional champion in the 200 free as a sophomore and junior
• Also won sectional title in the 500 free as a junior
• Part of a sectional championship relay team all four years, sweeping the 200 and 400 free her final three years
• Four-year all-conference honoree
• Second team all-state and mental attitude award winner as a senior, finishing third at state in the 500 free
• Two-time NISCA and Scholastic All-American as an upperclassman
• Helped Northridge win three consecutive conference titles and a pair of sectional crowns
• 2014 age group state champion in the 500 and 1650 free
• NCSA Junior Nationals and Speedo Sectionals medalist
• Winter Junior Nationals qualifier
• Academic top 10 and president's education award recipient
PERSONAL
• Major: Kinesiology
• Full name is Katherine Anne Huges
• Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Parents are Bruce and Susan Hughes
• Family also older sister Emily
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Athlete: Matt Grevers
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): IUPUI Natatorium
Swimmer She'd Like to Race: Kaersten Meitz
Most Exciting Event to Watch at a College Meet: 500 Freestyle
Favorite Marquee Event: Olympics
Would Like to Have Dinner With: Will Smith
In Her MP3 Player: John Mayer
Last Concert She Attended: John Mayer
Favorite Multimedia App: Netflix
Favorite Actor & Actress: Denzel Washington & Kristen Wiig
Favorite Sci-Fi Series: Guardians of the Galaxy
Favorite Month: June
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Water Skiing
Another Sport She Enjoys Playing: Tennis
Favorite Purdue Building: Wilmeth Active Learning Center
Favorite Purdue Athletic Venue (Besides Aquatic Center): Mackey
Favorite Big City: Paris
Unique Travel Locale: Italy
Country She'd Like to Visit: Greece
Favorite Thing About the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center: Hot Tub
Best Thing About Being a Boilermaker: Boilermaker Pride
Furry Friend: Whiskers, Cat