SALISBURY, N.C. – Women's cross country sophomore Mandi Pollard and men's soccer sophomore goalkeeper Héctor Vara earn September 22nd Catawba Athletics Budd Group Athlete of the Week honors.

Pollard placed third in a field of 127 runners at the Converse Kick-Off on Saturday morning. She finished her first career 6k in a quality 22:11.8. The sophomore led Catawba to third place out of 15 competing teams as the blue and white beat out South Atlantic Conference foes Wingate, Anderson (S.C.), Lincoln Memorial and Lenoir-Rhyne.

Vara delivered his fifth straight clean sheet behind some impressive saves. On Saturday, Catawba played a man down for the final 50 minutes after receiving a red card against Emory & Henry. Vara stood tall in the crease, stopping both shots that came his way to keep the Wasps off the board. The sophomore made stellar plays on some of the nine E&H corner kicks to prevent scoring opportunities. On Wednesday, he smothered the only shot that came his way in an 8-0 victory over Virginia State.

The Budd Group is the official facilities partner of Catawba Athletics.

About The Budd Group

The Budd Group provides comprehensive facility solutions built on decades of experience, innovation and a promise to make it right.

Services include janitorial, landscaping, maintenance, specialty and disinfection across the Southeast region.

The Budd Group supports eight service centers located in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, along with a growing number of satellites and site-based teams throughout Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia and the greater D.C. area.

From schools and stadiums to manufacturing plants and medical centers, The Budd Group tailors its services to meet the unique needs of each client and community.