Generals Garner Nine First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University picked up nine first place votes on the way to 81 total points to lead the 2015 ODAC Women's Swimming Preseason Poll.  Emory & Henry College earned the remaining top nod towards 69 tallies and second position.  Randolph-Macon College rounds out the top-three with 65 points in annual survey of the league's head coaches.

The ODAC ranks undergo a bit of change for the 2015-16 campaign, with the addition of one new school and the retention of a full-time member.  Sweet Briar College, originally thought to be ceasing operations following the 2014-15 academic year, maintains its position as a charter swimming member of the ODAC.  Ferrum College is the new addition to the league, joining the ODAC in both men's and women's swimming as an associate member.  Approved for membership in September, the Panthers begin competition with the rest of the conference in October.

Ferrum enters a league that has seen increased competition over the past several years, but ODAC waters continue to be dominated by Washington and Lee, which returns 13 All-ODAC honorees from a program that won its eighth straight and 25th overall conference championship.  That group includes 2015 ODAC Swimmer of the Year, Emily Rollo, and ODAC Rookie of the Year, Kira Tomenchok.  Also a part of the Generals' returning contingent is Stephanie Foster, who earned the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete award.

Rollo saw her season continue at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships at the CISD Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas.  She placed 32nd in 200-yard individual medley on day one with a time of 2:07.75.  On the second day, she set a new W&L record in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:35.85 to finish 26th.  Rollo capped off her performance in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:04.63 to finish 23rd.

Overall, 25 all-conference athletes return to ODAC pools, including nine from the All-ODAC First Team.  Emory & Henry boasts Taylor Guardalabene, Michaela Nolte and Jessica Richardson from the top squad, while Foster, Rollo and Tomenchok are joined by fellow Generals Cassidy Fuller, Kaitlyn Gardner and Elisabeth Holmes in the rounding out the group.

The 2015-16 campaign begins the weekend of October 9.  We'll get our first look at most if not all of the ODAC teams on Saturday, October 17, as they compete in the ODAC Relays hosted by Washington and Lee in Lexington, Va.

Listed below is the complete 2015-16 ODAC Women's Swimming Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's swimming programs.  For more information on ODAC women's swimming, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.

2015-16 Poll Position: 4th Head Coach: Fran Smith Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 5th (247 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   100 FLY: Emily Townsend (8th - 1:01.28)   200 BS: Emily Townsend (8th - 2:39.66)   100 BS: Emily Townsend (9th - 1:13.87)   200 FLY: Gabrielle Harbour (10th - 2:24.76)   1650 FREE: Kelsey Hess (10th - 20:57.04)   200 IM: Allie Stewart (10th - 2:23.10) Eagles' Outlook: Head coach Fran Smith has been in charge since the formation of the program in April 2007 and has seen it improve to the top portion of the ODAC ranks. Her squad features several standouts as the Eagles look to improve upon last season's fifth-place showing, including breaststroke and butterfly specialist Emily Townsend. Allie Stewart and Gabrielle Harbour also return, as well as Jordan Back.		2015-16 Poll Position: 9th Head Coach: Patrick Richardson Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 8th (117 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   100 BS: Claire Webber (11th - 1:15.29)   1650 FREE: Meg O'Brien (14th - 21:55.48)   100 FLY: Hayley Caulfield-James (19th - 1:16.78)   200 FLY: Hayley Caulfield-James (19th - 3:09.16)   200 IM: Aubrey Hobby (20th - 3:01.41)   200 BS: Claire Webber (20th - 2:51.67) Hollins' Outlook: Hollins will be under new leadership in 2015-16 as Patrick Richardson takes over the coaching reins. He was most recently the men's and women's assistant at NCAA D-II William Jewell College. HU's roster features six newcomers this season, but also welcomes back several athletes with experience.  That group includes top peformers Hayley Caulfield-James, Claire Webber and Dani Raymond.
2015-16 Poll Position: 2nd Head Coach: Dave Griffore Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: Taylor Guardalabene, Michael Nolte, Jessica Richardson   Second Team: Kelsey Jones, Mackenzie Lingle, Holly Roth, Payton Shirey   Third Team: Marina Moore, Nicole Powell 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 5th (247 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top 5 Individual Performances   50 FREE: Michaela Nolte (1st - 0:24.07)   100 BS: Michaela Nolte (1st - 1:05.23)   1650 FREE: Taylor Guardalabene (1st - 18:10.22)   100 FREE: Jessica Richardson (1st - 0:52.74)   200 BS: Michaela Nolte (1st - 2:22.07)   200 FLY: Allison Fowler (1st - 2:06.26) Wasps' Outlook: Emory & Henry's emergence has been meteoric under reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Dave Griffore, climbing from ninth in 2012 to second each of the past two seasons. Nine All-ODAC swimmers are back in the fold, including three from the first team. Michaela Nolte set ODAC overall and meet records in the 100yd and 200yd breaststrokes, eclipsing the NCAA B-cut along the way. The Wasps also set ODAC overall and meet records in the 200 (1:36.44) and 400 (3:30.20) free relays, as well as the 400 medley relay (3:53.33).		2015-16 Poll Position: 8th Head Coach: Curt Jordan Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 7th (150 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   1650 FREE: Jessi Duffy (8th - 19:41.28)   200 IM: Emily Jordan (9th - 2:22.53)   100 BACK: Jessi Duffy (14th - 1:06.17)   200 FLY: Tawny Cevora (16th - 2:56.02)   50 FREE: Jessi Duffy (16th - 5:36.74)   100 FLY: Emily Jordan (16th - 1:06.78) Gators' Outlook: Head coach Curt Jordan's squad features three returning swimmers who have earned varsity letters, led by top performer Emily Jordan.  Margaret Pedersen and Julianna Randazzo add experience to a roster dotted with several newcomers.
2015-16 Poll Position: 7th Head Coach: Margaret Parcell Panthers' Outlook: Ferrum College joins the ODAC as its 10th women's swimming squad as an associate member.  Head coach Margaret Parcell is in her first year guiding the Panthers.  She was a four-year swimmer at Virginia Tech, helping the Hokies to four Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) titles from 2012-15.  Ferrum's roster features a mix of experience and youth, including seven returning athletes.  Look for the quartet of Mackenzie Borellis (back/breastroke), Michele Marchitto (free/back), Kylie Patrick (breaststroke/IM) and Laurel Skinner (fly/free) to lead the charge.  Patrick owns Ferrum records in the 100-yard (1:16.07) and 200-yard (2:51.37) breaststrokes, both set last season.  The Panthers suit up for their first official ODAC event at the ODAC Relays on October 17.		2015-16 Poll Position: 3rd Head Coach: Brent Kintzer Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: Megan Granger   Third Team: Sierra Collins, Rachel Leigh 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 3rd (527 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   1650 FREE: Megan Granger (3rd - 18:40.79)   100 BACK: Emily Plowman (3rd - 0:59.58)   50 FREE: Emily Plowman (5th - 0:24.67)   200 FREE: Megan Granger (5th - 1:58.90)   100 FLY: Rachel Leigh (6th - 1:00.03)   500 FREE: Megan Granger (6th - 5:20.92)   400 IM: Jordan McConnell (6th - 4:45.78)   100 FREE: Emily Plowman (6th - 0:55.01) Yellow Jackets' Outlook: R-MC's squad has undergone a bit of a youth movement the past two years under head coach Brent Kintzer. Five upperclassmen are joined by 12 sophomores and freshmen on this season's roster.  Megan Granger heads the list of veterans to lead the Yellow Jackets.  She's joined by Sierra Collins and Rachel Leigh following top performances at the 2015 championships. Also be on the lookout for swimmers like Amanda Bengston to take the next step this season.
2015-16 Poll Position: 5th Head Coach: Kathryn McNerny Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 6th (167 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   400 IM: Erin Gard (8th - 5:01.42)   200 BS: Erin Gard (9th - 2:37.28)   200 FREE: Regina Robertson (11th - 2:04.77)   200 FLY: Regina Robertson (12th - 2:26.48)   200 IM: Jurnee Dutremble (13th - 2:24.91)   100 BACK: Jurnee Dutremble (13th - 1:05.92)   200 BACK: Jurnee Dutremble (13th - 2:22.87) Pride's Outlook: Kathryn McNerny enters her second season guiding the Pride's swimming program.  She features several seasoned veterans to the roster, led by Erin Gard.  Gard posted a pair of top-10 finishes at the 2015 championships, narrowly missing out on All-ODAC honors. She's joined by Jurnee Dutremble and Regina Robertson, as well as Madison Peregoy.		2015-16 Poll Position: 6th Head Coach: Donna Hodgert Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 4th (269 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   200 BACK: Megan Monahan (3rd - 2:07.99)   100 BACK: Megan Monahan (9th - 1:00.46)   1650 FREE: Ashley Royal (9th - 20:10.00)   500 FREE: Mollie Smith (9th - 5:22.38)   200 FREE: Mollie Smith (9th - 2:02.08) Vixens' Outlook: Head coach Donna Hodgert's Vixens maintained their position near the top of the conference's championship last season, led by several top-10 performances. SBC will look to new faces to lead the charge this season behind top returners Lydia Fleck and Paige Chamblin.  The pair led SBC's showing in the 200yd and 100yd butterfly events, respectively.
2015-16 Poll Position: 10th Head Coach: Amanda Fontenot Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 9th (104 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   200 BS: Isabel Gutierrez (15th - 2:46.85)   100 BS: Isabel Gutierrez (17th - 1:17.39)   100 FREE: Morgan McKinnon (18th - 1:05.53)   400 IM: Isabel Gutierrez (19th - 5:40.00)   500 FREE: Nina Troy (29th - 6:49.07)   200 FREE: Alex Barbour (29th - 3:04.70) Quakers' Outlook: Guilford swimming continues its rebuilding efforts in 2015-16, and will do so under first year mentor Amanda Fontenot, who also serves as the Assistant Director of the Career Development Center at Guilford.  Three veterans lead a roster that includes five first year athletes.  Isabel Gutierrez and Nina Troy posted top performances for the Quakers, and they'll be joined by fellow returner Jocelyn Gesner.		2015-16 Poll Position: 1st Head Coach: Kami Gardner Returning All-ODAC Swimmers   First Team: Stephanie Foster, Cassidy Fuller, Kaitlyn Gardner, Elisabeth Holmes, Emily Rollo (SOY), Kira Tomenchok (ROY)   Second Team: Jillian Leigh, Meredith Murphy, Haylee Rademann, Sarah Schaffer, Mara Tynan   Third Team: Rachel Baker, Emma Swabb 2015 ODAC Champs Finish: 1st (936 pts.) 2015 ODAC Champs - Top Individual Performances   500 FREE: Elisabeth Holmes (1st - 5:09.40)   200 FREE: Elisabeth Holmes (1st - 1:53.14)   200 IM: Emily Rollo (1st - 2:06.61)   400 IM: Emily Rollo (1st - 4:36.16)   200 BACK: Emily Rollo (1st - 2:02.35)   100 FLY: Kira Tomenchok (1st - 0:57.47)   100 BACK: Kira Tomenchok (1st - 0:56.77) Generals' Outlook: Washington and Lee mentor Kami Gardner has led the Generals' women's program for eight seasons, winning eight ODAC titles.  There is no shortage of talent on this year's squad, with reigning ODAC Swimming or the Year Emily Rollo and ODAC Rookie of the Year Kira Tomenchok leading a group of 13 returning All-ODAC honorees.  W&L swimmers set five ODAC individual overall and meet records last season -- Rollo in the 200 back (2:02.35) and 200 IM (2:06.61), Tomenchok in the 100 back (0:56.77) and 100 fly (0:57.47), and Elisabeth Holmes in the 200 free (1:53.14).  All but Tomenchok's 100 fly eclipsed the NCAA B-cut. W&L also set ODAC overall and meet records in the 200 medley relay (1:46.11).