2019-20 ODAC General News
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ODAC's Dannelly Returns to W&L as Associate Director of Athletics
June 12, 2020It was nearly five years ago that Bethany Dannelly returned to ODAC country as the conference's Director of Championships. She is set for a second homecoming in league circles as Dannelly has been named the associate director of athletics at her alma mater, Washington and Lee University, in an announcement by Generals' director of athletics Jan Hathorn on Friday morning. -
ODAC Feature | Mark Robertson, Lynchburg
June 11, 2020The ODAC caught up with University of Lynchburg sports information director Mark Robertson for a conversation on Thursday, June 11. Mark earned the Excellence in Communications Award for Division III track & field coverage from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). We talked with him about that honor, Lynchburg, and the industry.
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Lynchburg's Mark Robertson Honored by USTFCCCA
June 09, 2020University of Lynchburg sports information director Mark Robertson has been named the NCAA Division III recipient of the USTFCCCA's Excellence in Communications Award for 2020, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association officials announced Tuesday. The award recognizes athletics communications professionals at institutions or conference offices who have committed to outstanding coverage of intercollegiate track & field.
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Statement from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference
June 06, 2020The following is a statement from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
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W&L Lifts All Three ODAC Commissioners Cup for Fifth Straight Season
June 04, 2020The final standings for the ODAC Commissioner's Cups presented by Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance look a little different this season as the rankings for all three competitions include results only thru the winter campaigns. That does not take anything away from the outstanding achievements of the conference's student-athletes and athletic teams, especially those of Washington and Lee University as the Generals claimed all three cup titles. The top three-programs in the Dan Wooldridge Overall Champions Cup are the same for the fifth straight year and appear in the same order for a fourth consecutive campaign. Randolph-Macon College sits second with the University of Lynchburg ranking third. Roanoke College and Bridgewater College have traded fourth and fifth positions each of the past five years. That back-and-forth trend continues with the Maroons fourth and the Eagles fifth this season.
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ODAC Announces Berkley and Jopson Award Winners
June 03, 2020One record increases and another begins as the ODAC Board of Directors handed out the league's highest individual honors in naming the winners of the Majorie Berkley and Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Awards. Washington and Lee University swimmer Emily Hageboeck earned Berkley Award recognition, while University of Lynchburg runner Shawn Gmurek collected Jopson Award laurels. Hageboeck is the 11th winner of the Berkley Award from W&L, furthering the Generals conference record. Eastern Mennonite University student-athletes have won the second-most honors at six. For Gmurek, the list is brand new as he is the first Hornet from Lynchburg to claim the Jopson Award. He does continue an interesting trend as a cross country or track & field athlete has collected Berkley and/or Jopson distinction each of the past seven years dating back to 2014.
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ODAC Feature | Madison Burns, Randolph-Macon
May 08, 2020The #ODAC continued its discussions on mental health during the Division III SAAC mental health social media campaign with former Randolph-Macon women's soccer player Madison Burns. "Maddie" was a member of the D-III SAAC for three years and served as the national SAAC chair for a year thru January 2020. She was integral to the planning and implementation of the current campaign. #BreakTheStigma #whyd3
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ODAC Feature | Tara Nunley, University of Lynchburg
May 07, 2020During the NCAA Division III mental health social media campaign, the ODAC talked with Tara Nunley, the Clinical Director of Counseling Services at the University of Lynchburg. She talked about the different ways and resources today's student-athletes can find mental health support, both during the current pandemic and after. #BreakTheStigma #ODAC
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ODAC Partnership with V-Foundation and Kay Yow Cancer Fund Remains Strong
April 07, 2020Prior to the 2019-20 Division III basketball seasons, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference announced a continued partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for supporting cancer research. For the third consecutive year, the ODAC men’s and women’s basketball programs spearheaded initiatives on their respective campuses in conjunction with select home games. Through those events, conference schools generated $8,900 of charitable donations to support both organizations, as well as a few other subsidiaries and causes. In the first three years of the partnership, more than $22,000 has been raised.
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Doughty College Notebook: Nancy Wooldridge remembered for her support of the ODAC
April 02, 2020Nancy Wooldridge, an alumnus of then Lynchburg College and the wife of original ODAC commissioner Dan Wooldridge, passed away on March 26. Roanoke Times sports columnist Doug Doughty remembers her in his latest feature on www.roanoke.com
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ODAC Cancels 2020 Spring Seasons and Championships
March 20, 2020The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), via unanimous vote from its Presidents Council and Board of Directors, has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 conference athletic campaign amid the growing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and its continued effect on decisions made on-campus as well as throughout the region. The cancellation includes all regular season league play as well as ODAC postseason and championship competition.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Golf
March 18, 2020The current climate limited the amount of tournaments ODAC golfers competed in over the past week, but those limits did not hold back performances. Shenandoah's Natalie Hill won the SU Spring Fling, while men's teammate Joe Gesell finished as the runner-up on the other side of the ledger.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
March 16, 2020Several ODAC teams and athletes were in action last week before play throughout the NCAA was halted. Those earning weekly honors include (heads, top-bottom, left-right): Jeffrey Snider from Bridgewater baseball, Emily Davis from Eastern Mennonite softball, Brandon Pond from Lynchburg baseball, Megan Scalley from Shenandoah softball, Colin DiSesa from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Alyson Bittinger from SU women's lacrosse, Ruth de Souza from Sweet Briar women's tennis, and Juan Borga from LYN men's tennis.
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ODAC COVID-19 Statement
March 13, 2020The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on operations at ODAC member institution campuses. Continue reading to learn more about the conference's plan moving forward.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Golf
March 11, 2020A pair of tournament winners headline today's ODAC Golfers of the Week report. Guilford College's James Mishoe set records in wininng The Savannah Inviational, while University of Lynchburg's NoraNoël Nolan topped the field at the Hill City Invitational.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
March 09, 2020Several spring sports enjoyed spring break trips over the past week with a plethora of contests associated with them. ODAC student-athletes continue to show their quality with excellent performances. Those earning weekly honors include (heads, top-bottom, left-right): Carson Kulina from Shenandoah baseball, Hanna Hull from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Frankie Ritter from SU baseball, Katrina Martin from Bridgewater softball, Jack Hodgson and Caitlin Anderson from Washington and Lee men's and women's lacrosse, Keyu Jin from Randolph women's tennis, and Canon Secord from BC men's tennis.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Golf
March 04, 2020Golf returned to action over the past week with league teams competing in early spring tournaments. This week's ODAC Golfers of the Week are Bridgewater sophomore Heather Donnelly and Ferrum senior Lance Keiser.
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Rotary Club of Salem Announces Finalists for 2020 Jostens Trophy
March 03, 2020The 2020 Jostens Trophy timeline reached a benchmark in its annual process with the announcement of the finalists by the members of the Rotary Club of Salem (Va.) on Tuesday. Twenty student-athletes -- 10 men and 10 women -- remain in the running for this season's honors from a stellar pool of nominees representing all eight regions of Division III men's and women's basketball.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
March 02, 2020Today marks the first solo spring sports report of the season with basketball, indoor track & field, and swimming in their postseason slates. Those earning weekly honors include (heads, top-bottom, left-right): Jonathan Triesler (BSB) from Hampden-Sydney, Hanna Hull (SBALL) from Virginia Wesleyan, Reece Yeargain (BSB) from Randolph-Macon, Jessica Goldyn (SBALL) from VWU, Eric Husselbaugh (MLAX) from Bridgewater, Lilly Blair (WLAX) from Roanoke, Christina Harris (WTEN) from Lynchburg, and Harry Shepherd (MTEN) from Washington and Lee.
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Three Repeat Major Honors Headline All-ODAC Men's Basketball Awards
February 26, 2020Three of the conference's major awards feature identical individuals from a season ago in the ODAC's announcement of the 2019-20 All-ODAC Men's Basketball awards on Wednesday afternoon. Randolph-Macon College guard Buzz Anthony and Yellow Jackets mentor Josh Merkel repeat as the Kurt Axe Player of the Year and Bob Johnson Coach of the Year, respectively. This is the third season for Merkel as the league's top coach, while Anthony doubles as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Washington and Lee University forward Curtis Mitchell earned ODAC Defensive Player of the Year recognition for a second straight season. R-MC forward Miles Mallory was tabbed the ODAC Rookie of the Year.
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R-MC's Williams, E&H's Dickens Headline All-ODAC Women's Basketball Awards
February 26, 2020Randolph-Macon College center Kelly Williams and Emory & Henry College mentor Jaclyn Dickens headline the 2020 All-ODAC Women's Basketball Awards, as announced by the ODAC Wednesday afternoon. Williams earned ODAC Player of the Year laurels in addition to receiving ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Dickens was tabbed the ODAC Coach of the Year. Bridgwater College guard Madison Baum and Emory & Henry guard Peyton Williams shared ODAC Defensive Player of the Year recognition, marking the second season for the sport's newest award. University of Lynchburg forward Abby Oguich collected ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Indoor Track & Field
February 25, 2020The final week of ODAC indoor track & field reporting is here with conference teams and student-athletes set to take to the Kerr-Cregger Field House at Roanoke College this coming weekend for the ODAC indoor championships. Times and marks from this past week whet the appetite for what should be an outstanding championship showcase. Those earning weekly awards in men's and women's indoor track & field include (headshots, left-to-right, top-to-bottom): Jaylyn Lane (WITF) from Virginia Wesleyan, Joe O'Connor (MITF) from Washington and Lee, and Shawn Gmurek (MITT) and LaMaya Lacy (WITT) from Lynchburg.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis
February 24, 2020Today marks the final report for basketball weekly awards with the upcoming ODAC tournaments on tap for this week. Spring sports, meanwhile, are in full effect with student-athletes hitting their stride despite cooler temperatures in the region over the past week. Those earning weekly honors include (heads, top-bottom, left-right): Evan Parks (BSB) from Roanoke; Hanna Hull (SBALL) from Virginia Wesleyan; Keegan Woolford (BSB) from Shenandoah; Arielle Eure (SBALL) from Ferrum; Dwyer Neal (WLAX) from Bridgewater; Jason Sarro (MLAX) from RC; Taylor Garcia (WTEN) from Washington and Lee; Grant Sarver (MTEN) from Randolph-Macon; Caleb Jordan (MBB) from RC; and Kelly Williams (WBB) from R-MC.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Indoor Track & Field, Softball
February 18, 2020Softball joined the fray of active sports over the past week-plus with indoor track continuing its season in preparation for the ODAC championships in a little less than two weeks. Those earning weekly awards in men's and women's indoor track & field and softball include (headshots, left-to-right, top-to-bottom): Davonta Womack (MITF) and Felicia Clements (WITF) from Bridgewater, Nikki Doherty (WITT) from Washington and Lee, Alex Shadkhoo (MITT) from Lynchburg, Cameron Derr (SBALL) from Emory & Henry, and Cortney Rawes (SBALL) from Lynchburg.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Tennis
February 17, 2020Spring sports are just about in full swing as the winter season continues to close towards ODAC and NCAA postseason opportunities. Those earning weekly honors include (heads, top-bottom, left-right): John Judy (BSB) from Eastern Mennonite, Marta Mikos (WTEN) and Jackson Gazin (BSB) from Washington and Lee, Jorden Davis (MBB) from Guilford, Sydney McKinney (WBB) from Emory & Henry, Sarah Perry (WLAX) from Randolph, and Trammel Robinson (MLAX) from Lynchburg.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Baseball, Basketball, Men's Lacrosse
February 10, 2020Believe it or not, some spring sports have joined the active ranks with first reports for baseball and men's lacrosse joining men's and women's basketball in action today with the continuation of indoor track & field for Tuesday. Those earning weekly honors include (heads, top-bottom, left-right): Kelly Williams (WBB) from Randolph-Macon, Davrion Grier (MBB) from Bridgewater, John Judy (BSB) from Eastern Mennonite, Mike Nickles (BSB) from R-MC, and Jack Hayden (MLAX) from Hampden-Sydney.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Indoor Track & Field
January 28, 2020The first ODAC record of the season fell thanks to Bridgewater's Michael Lotts (action picture) in the weight throw at the Finn Pincus Invitational. His performance highlighted a strong showing amongst the ODAC ranks over the past week. Those earning weekly awards in men's and women's indoor track & field include (headshots, left-to-right, top-to-bottom): Bailey Casto (field) from Lynchburg, Michael Lotts (field) from Bridgewater, Reid Sharkey (track) from Lynchburg, and Calista Ariel (track) from BC.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Basketball, Swimming
January 27, 2020The regular season for swimming is all but concluded with the championship just two weeks away. While the ODAC swimmers start their tapers, the league's basketball teams are gearing up for their stretch run as teams vie for seeding for the conference tournament at the end of February. Those earning weekly awards in basketball and swimming include (headshots, left-to-right, top-to-bottom): Erin Hughes and William Brueggeman from Washington and Lee basketball, Kevin Bennett from Lynchburg men's swimming, and Olivia Anson from Emory & Henry women's swimming.
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Dr. Sharon Beverly Named Interim Director of Athletics at Guilford
January 21, 2020Guilford College President Jane K. Fernandes, Ph.D., appointed Sharon Beverly, Ph.D., as the College’s interim director of athletics Tuesday.
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ODAC Athletes of the Week | Indoor Track & Field
January 21, 2020Several program records and high national rankings dot the week's performances in indoor track & field. Those earning weekly awards in men's and women's indoor track & field include (headshots, left-to-right, top-to-bottom): Gene Roberts from Virginia Wesleyan (field), Sammi Woods from Lynchburg (field), Nikki Doherty from Washington and Lee (track), and Davonta Womack from Bridgewater (track).
