Two New Programs Add to ODAC Swimming Depth

FOREST, Va. --- Two new programs are set to join the ODAC for the 2011-12 swimming season, but Washington and Lee University remains a constant atop the ODAC Swimming Preseason Poll.  The Generals are favored to win their 22nd overall ODAC swimming title after collecting eight first place votes on the way to 64 poll points in the annual coaches' survey.  Randolph-Macon College received the remaining top nod and 57 total tallies.  Sweet Briar College rounds out the top three with 50 points.

The 2011-12 season brings about several firsts for the conference landscape.  With the addition of Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University (former the College of Notre Dame) to the ODAC as associate members for swimming, the conference members will enjoy the first ODAC-only swimming championship experience.  Previously, The Pride and Gators swam with league teams in a dual championship format --- teams competed in both the Atlantic States Swimming Championships in addition to the ODAC Swimming Championships --- using two separate scoring systems.

For the second straight year, the conference will be taking its championship meet to a new facility.  The Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C., will serve as hosts of the ODAC's nine swimming schools from February 10-12.  In 2010-11, the annual year-ending meet was held in Christiansburg, Va., at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

Washington and Lee corralled its fourth straight ODAC/Atlantic States Swimming Championships title in 2011, securing a 202-point victory over Randolph-Macon (927-725).  The Generals welcome back 13 of their 17 All-ODAC swimmers from a season-ago, including six first team selections.  Senior Jocelyn Cassada and junior Brittany Ross lead the charge after each won a pair of individual events in 2011.  Cassada claimed the 100 (59.71) and 200-yard (2:09.33) backstroke events, while Ross secured wins in the 100 (59.85) and 200-yard (2:12.20) butterfly disciplines.  Both were also members of the Generals' winning 200 (1:50.90) and 400-yard (4:00.70) medley relay teams, along with fellow all-conference holdovers in senior Dana Fredericks and junior Izzy Brassfield.  

New head coach Brent Kintzer also enjoys a rich returning corps as he prepares for his first season guiding Randolph-Macon.  ODAC Swimmer of the Year, senior Sarah Almond, and ODAC Rookie of the Year, sophomore Tracilyn Babington, spearhead a list of nine returning all-conference student-athletes, including each of four first team choices.  Almond won three individual events (50 free - 24.59; 100 free - 53.08; 200 free - 1:57.24) and was a member of three victorious relay squads (200 free - 1:39.11; 800 free - 7:58.04; 400 free - 3:36.63), while Babington captured two individual titles (100 breaststroke - 1:06.60; 200 breaststroke - 2:24.21) and a pair relay wins (200 free, 400 free).

Sweet Briar College and Bridgewater College also welcome back an all-conference swimmer each.  Sophomore Marian Huber will lead the Vixens after placing fifth in the 400-yard IM (5:09.09) and 100-yard breastroke (1:13.27) and eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:40.71).  She was also a part of the third place 200 (2:00.89) and 400-yard (4:21.20) medley relay teams.

The Eagles will look to sophomore Carrie Crowther after earning a spot on the second team.  She competed in seven events at the 2011 championships, including the 50 (8th - 25:51) and 100-yard freestyles (56.75 - 6th), 100-yard backstroke (1:04.02 - 4th) and four relays (400 medley - 4:28.12, 4th; 200 free - 1:48.59, 4th; 800 free - 8:44.52, 4th; 400 free - 3:56.90, 4th).

Listed below is the 2011-12 ODAC Swimming Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools’ websites, 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 by clicking HERE.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter by clicking HERE.

2011-12 ODAC SWIMMING PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes