Teams Ready for Three-Day Event: Ready, Set, Swim

FOREST, Va. --- A great deal of parity amongst the ODAC schools will be showcased this weekend at the 2012 ODAC Swimming Championships.  The event is scheduled to run from February 10-12 at the new Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, NC.

This year's championship marks the first solely under the ODAC banner.  Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University (formerly College of Notre Dame) became associate members of the conference this past fall and opened their first season competing as conference institutions against league opponents.  The addition of Greensboro and Notre Dame allowed for the dissolution of the Atlantic States Swimming Championships, which was previously competed in conjunction with the ODAC Swimming Championships.

Washington and Lee University captured its fourth-straight and 21st overall conference crown in the 2011 championship.  The Generals collected 927 total points, followed by Randolph-Macon with 725 and Sweet Briar with 470.  The Yellow Jackets had three individuals honored, while the Generals collected two accolades.  R-MC’s Sarah Almond was tabbed the Swimmer of the Year, while Tracilyn Babington was selected as the Rookie of the Year.  The Yellow Jacket’s Head Coach Ben Delia earned his first-ever ODAC Coach of the Year award.  The Generals’ Delaney Rolfe earned the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, while Kelly Mae Ross received the Bonnie Kestner Sportsmanship Award.

The following sections break down this year's three-day affair between the ODAC schools by discipline and individual events.  You can also access a schedule of events by clicking the link below.  For more information on all ODAC sports, visit the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. 

ODAC Championship Website     2012 Schedule of Events     2011-12 ODAC Top Times

ODAC Team Abbreviations
BC - Bridgewater College
E&H - Emory & Henry College
GC - Greensboro College
GUIL – Guilford College
HU - Hollins University
NDMU – Notre Dame of Maryland University
R-MC - Randolph-Macon College
SBC - Sweet Briar College
W&L - Washington and Lee University

INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE EVENTS

50-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon – 24.59
2012 ODAC Top Time: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon - 24.31
Event Preview: This year's top time owner, Sarah Almond (R-MC), remains poised to finish at or near the top with her best time sitting at 24.31. A host of new performers could easily vie for the event title, including Washington and Lee’s Izzy Brassfield, Meredith Hardy and Dana Fredericks, Randolph-Macon's Lizzy Buckley, Greensboro’s Dani Horne and Bridgewater’s Annalee Gallagher. 

100-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon – 53.08
2012 ODAC Top Time: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon – 53.08
Event Preview: Washington and Lee and Randolph-Macon hold the top spots in this year's 100-yard freestyle event.  Sarah Almond (R-MC) and Meredith Hardy (W&L) own the top two times (53.08 and 54.31, respectively.)  Throw Jocelyn Cassada (W&L), Kelsey Bagley-Hall (R-MC), Elizabeth Buckley (R-MC), and Rachel Sandoval (BC) into the mix and this sprint will be an exciting one. 

200-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon – 1:57.24
2012 ODAC Top Time: Meredith Hardy, Washington and Lee - 1:56.94
Event Preview: Randolph-Macon maintains two of the top three spots in the 200-yard free, but Washington and Lee’s Meredith Hardy possesses the top time.  R-MC's Sarah Almond and Lizzy Buckley hold the second and third top times (1:57.85 and 1:58.67, respectively).  The Generals’ Delaney Rolfe and the Yellow Jackets’ Rebecca Stevenson could also push for the top spot.

500-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Rebecca Stevenson, Randolph-Macon - 5:13.75
2012 ODAC Top Time: Delaney Rolfe, Washington and Lee - 5:18.23
Event Preview: Washington and Lee boasts three of the top five times in the 500-yard free.  Rebecca Stevenson and Lizzy Buckley are the only two R-MC swimmers in the top five this year.  The Generals’ Delaney Rolfe holds the top spot with a mark of 5:18.23.  Add in several other Washington and Lee swimmers and Hollins’ Margaret Dwyer and this race will be exciting. 

1650-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Ann McCampbell, Washington and Lee - 18:03.05
2012 ODAC Top Time: Joan Hudak, Washington and Lee - 18:34.02
Event Preview: Washington and Lee’s Joan Hudak stakes claim to the top time in the 1650-free race with a time of 18:34.02.  Teammates Kelly Ross, Sydney Gay and Colleen Moore should add firepower to Washington and Lee.  Randolph-Macon’s Rebecca Stevenson and Elizabeth Plowman could also push for the top spot, as well as Michelle Caron from Bridgewater. 

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY EVENTS

200-YARD IM
2011 Event Champion: Emma Phillips, Greensboro - 2:11.39
2012 ODAC Top Time: Emma Phillips, Greensboro - 2:14.32
Event Preview: Greensboro’s Emma Phillips won the 200-yard IM in 2011 and she also owns the top spot this season heading into the championship weekend.   Washington and Lee owns four of the top five spots.  Lauren Kasoff is clipping at Phillips' heels with a time 2:15.76, about 1.5 seconds faster than teammate Katie Salvati (2:17.31). W&L's Caroline Hamp, Brittany Ross, Hannah Melkun and Mary Gabe will all compete for first prize.  Don’t forget about Randolph-Macon’s Brianna Lovell and Kellianne Mullin. 

400-YARD IM
2011 Event Champion: Emma Phillips, Greensboro - 4:39.16
2012 ODAC Top Time: Lauren Kasoff, Washington and Lee - 4:44.01
Event Preview: Four schools (W&L, GC, R-MC and BC) have a top 10 spot in the 400-yard IM.  Greensboro's Emma Phillips won the event last year, but has some competition to contend with this season.  The Generals’ Lauren Kasoff and Katie Salvati own the league’s top two times (4:44.01 and 4:48.61, respectively) and Phillips has the third best time (4:50.86).  Others to keep an eye out for are W&L's Hannah Melkun, Kate Feeser, Rachel Mensch and Colleen Moore.  The Yellow Jacket’s Brianna Lovell and Jordan McConnell, along with Bridgewater’s Laura Shultz, could also compete.

INDIVIDUAL BACKSTROKE EVENTS

100-YARD BACKSTROKE
2011 Event Champion: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington and Lee – 59.71
2012 ODAC Top Time: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington and Lee - 1:00.17
Event Preview: Washington and Lee, Notre Dame, Randolph-Macon, Sweet Briar and Bridgewater all have swimmers who are in the top 10 heading into the championship weekend.  W&L's Jocelyn Cassada looks to become a repeat champion as she shoulders the league's seasonal top time.  Teammates Katie Salvati, Caroline Hamp, Andrea Seffens and Joan Hudak deepen a strong field of backstroke swimmers.  Shannon Berry (NDMU), Emily Maltby (R-MC), Chloe Day (SBC), Jessi Duffy (NDMU) and Shannon Myers (BC) also will push for the top nod at this weekend’s championship event. 

200-YARD BACKSTROKE
2011 Event Champion: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington and Lee – 2:09.33
2012 ODAC Top Time: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington and Lee – 2:10.89
Event Preview: Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon and Sweet Briar all hold places in the top five spots.  Jocelyn Cassada captured the crown last year and heads into the weekend with the top mark again.  Katie Salvai and Caroline Hamp occupy the second and third spots (2:13.03 and 2:15.41, respectively.)  Be sure to keep an eye out for Randolph-Macon’s Emily Maltby, Sweet Briar’s Chloe Day and Bridgewater’s Laura Shultz.   

INDIVIDUAL BUTTERFLY EVENTS

100-YARD BUTTERFLY
2011 Event Champion: Brittany Ross, Washington and Lee – 59.85
2012 ODAC Top Time: Caroline Hamp, Washington and Lee – 59.23
Event Preview: Swimmers have improved their times in this event this season.  Caroline Hamp’s time of 59.23 is already better than the event winner’s time in 2011 (Brittany Ross, W&L, 59.85), which proves this race will be exciting. Ross is not too far behind Hamp with a time of 1:00.87.  Emma Phillips from Greensboro and a host of other strong swimmers from Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon and Bridgewater will make this an event you will not want to miss.

200-YARD BUTTERFLY
2011 Event Champion: Brittany Ross, Washington and Lee - 2:12.20
2012 ODAC Top Time: Brittany Ross, Washington and Lee - 2:13.79
Event Preview: Washington and Lee’s Brittany Ross touched first last year and also holds the league’s top mark this season.  The Generals’ Lauren Kasoff and Delaney Rolfe can also be considered among the favorites (2:18.12 and 2:18.68, respectively).  Greensboro’s Emma Phillips and Randolph-Macon’s Lizzy Buckley are also making some noise in the 200-yard butterfly.  Other swimmers from BC, HU, NDMU, and SBC will also contend for the champion mark this weekend. 

INDIVIDUAL BREASTSTROKE EVENTS 

100-YARD BREASTSTROKE
2011 Event Champion:  Tracilyn Babington, Randolph-Macon - 1:06.60 2012 ODAC Top Time: Dana Fredericks, Washington and Lee - 1:08.97
Event Preview: Washington and Lee's Dana Fredericks and Randolph-Macon’s Tracilyn Babington will vie for the top spot in this year’s championship.  Babington captured the crown in 2011 in a time of 1:06.60, but Fredericks’ owns the top mark this season.  Babington sits close in second with a time of 1:09.68.  Other Washington and Lee and Randolph-Macon swimmers --- including Hannah Melkun (W&L – 1:10.72) and Kellianne Mullin  (R-MC – 1:10.83) --- along with Greensboro’s Emma Phillips, Dani Horne and Nicole Craver will all add a competitive edge to this event. 

200-YARD BREASTSTROKE
2011 Event Winner: Tracilyn Babington, Randolph-Macon – 2:24.21
2012 ODAC Top Time: Emma Phillips, Greensboro – 2:29.64
Event Preview:  Four swimmers enter the weekend with better times than 2011 champion Tracilyn Babington (R-MC - 2:34.29).  Greensboro’s Emma Phillips is locked in the first position with a time of 2:29.64.  Hannah Melkun (W&L – 2:31.87), Dana Fredericks (W&L – 2:32.20) and Kellianne Mullin (R-MC – 2:33.65) sit in the second, third and fourth spots, respectively.  Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon and Sweet Briar have several other swimmers in the mix.  Add in some Bridgewater swimmers (Jeni Zeiler – 2:47.10 and Jennifer Lutz – 2:50.27) and a Notre Dame of Maryland athlete (Faith Jones – 2:43.78) and this event will not be one you want to miss.

RELAY BREAKDOWN - ALL DISTANCES AND DISCIPLINES

200-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Randolph-Macon - 1:39.11
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 1:30.28; R-MC - 1:41.56; BC - 1:43.79

400-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Randolph-Macon – 3:36.63
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 3:39.87; R-MC – 3:42.18; BC – 3:56.86

800-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Randolph-Macon – 7:58.04
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L - 8:00.22; R-MC - 8:11.70; BC – 8:50.14

200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Washington and Lee - 1:50.90
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L - 1:51.87; R-MC - 1:55.65; BC – 1:59.93

400-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Washington and Lee – 4:00.70
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 4:03.06; R-MC – 4:12.80; BC – 4:22.44