AUDREY COUTO MCCLELLAND

2017 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

            Audrey Couto McClelland was a consistent top finisher in the New England Age Group.  Swimming from the time she was eight (8) years old, Audrey started her competitive swimming at the East Providence Boys and Girls Club with Barry Fontaine and at age ten (10) began swimming for the Barrington YMCA for Bob Hassan.  The skills and confidence she learned during those early years contributed to her successful swimming career.  During the summers of those years, representing Kendbrin Swim and Tennis Club, Audrey always finished in the top three (3) of the Narragansett Swim League All Pool Meets.  Overall, Audrey broke many records at EPBC, Barrington YMCA, and Kendbrin. 

            During her teen years, Audrey swam for Sandy Gorham at the East Bay Aquatic Club.  Representing the 13-14 year old age group, Audrey was ranked 1st in the 100 yard breaststroke in New England.  During the 1993-1994 seasons, Audrey was nominated for RIMA Female Swimmer of the Year.  In 1994, she broke the 100 yard breaststroke record set in 1983 by Louise Gouin (1:07.27) with a time of (1:06.69).  Audrey’s record was eventually broken thirteen years later by Laura Sogar.  During the 1993-1994 seasons, Audrey won many freestyle and backstroke titles in RI and New England.  She also qualified for United State Swimming Eastern Zone Meets and the National Junior Championships.  Audrey was a recipient of numerous RIMA and United States Swimming New England Awards. Audrey later joined the Bruin Swim Club and swam for Dan Flack.  She continued her successful career at that club, again qualifying for Junior Nationals on two more occasions.

            Audrey swam for Barrington High School all four years and received a great deal of acclaim. Audrey was the second female swimmer (first was Meg Lammon of Cumerland) to be named First Team Individual All State four consecutive years (1993-1996). She earned All-State Honors in the 100 yard freestyle, 100 yard breaststroke, 200 yard medley relay, and the 400 yard freestyle relay.  Audrey, co-captain of her high school team, set state records in the 100 freestyle (54.62), and 100 backstroke (1:08.10).  She was also a member of the record breaking 200 medley relay (1:55.53).  She was also named the Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Bay View Invitational four consecutive years and set the 100 yard breaststroke meet record during her junior year.

            Audrey also performed well academically. She was named to the Scholastic All-American Team as selected by the U.S. Swimming Association in 1994 and 1995.  In addition, Audrey, a National Honors Society Member, earned many scholastic awards for Journalism and Leadership.  She was awarded the Dick Reynolds High School Sports Journalism Award in 1996.

            After graduating from Barrington, Audrey enrolled at Brown University and graduated in 2000.  She is married to Matthew McClelland, a Brown Classmate, and have five children.