Emory & Henry Jumps into Second Slot, One Vote Clear of Randolph-Macon

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University picked up eight first place votes and 64 total points on the way to topping the 2013-14 ODAC Swimming Coaches Poll.  Emory & Henry College received the remaining top nod towards 54 tallies to move the Wasps into the second position, five positions higher than in the 2012-13 coaches survey.  E&H is just one point clear of Randolph-Macon College (53 points) in third.

Washington and Lee claimed its sixth straight and 23rd overall ODAC swimming crown in 2013, racking up an even 1,000 points over three days at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.  The Generals earned top prize in 15 of the 18 competed events, including victories in 10 individual disciplines and each of five relays.  Junior Caroline Hamp and sophomore Emma Swabb are back in 2013-14 after securing ODAC Swimmer of the Year and ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades, respectively.  Hamp won the 100-yard butterfly in meet record time (58.52) and was a part of a pair of relay wins.  Swabb captured the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medley titles while also taking part in two relay triumphs.

W&L returns 12-of-18 all-conference swimmers from last season, including seven All-ODAC First Team Honorees.  Joining Hamp and Swabb on the first team are seniors Meredith Hardy (1st in 200-free) and Lauren Kasoff (2nd in 400-IM and 200-fly), as well as junior Hannah Melkun (1st in 100 and 200-breaststroke) and sophomores Stephanie Foster (1st in 100 and 200-back) and Meredith Murphy (2nd in 100-fly).  Each of three All-ODAC Second Team Generals are back, including junior Mary Gabe (3rd in 200-breaststroke) and sophomores Lizz Platt (3rd in 200-back) and Sarah Schaffer (3rd in 50, 100 and 200-free).  Junior Sydney Gay (5th in 1650-free) and sophomore Grace Duncan (5th in 200-back) were All-ODAC Third Team selections in 2012-13.

Emory & Henry built momentum throughout the regular season that culminated in a strong showing at the ODAC Championships that saw the Wasps win three events.  That helped E&H to a fourth place showing in the team standings, just four points short of third-place Bridgewater College and a 333-point improvement from the 2012 conference meet.  Three all-conference Wasps are back in the fold, led by first team sophomores Taylor Guardalabene (2nd in 200-IM) and Payton Shirey.  Shirey posted two of E&H's wins, tapping first in the 100-yard freestyle and setting new meet and conference records in the 50-yard freestyle (23.98).  E&H also features third team sophomore Nicole Powell (5th in 200-fly).

Randolph-Macon has all but two of its 10 all-conference swimmers in tow for 2013-14, including junior first team choice Emily Maltby (2nd in 100-back).  She's joined by a trio of second teamers in classmates Emily Clary (4th in 1650-free) and Kristen Trexler (3rd in 100-fly) and sophomore Rachel Leigh (4th in 100-back).  The Yellow Jackets also enjoy the return of four third team athletes in senior Elizabeth Plowman (5th in 100-back), juniors Katie Houle (5th in 200-breaststroke) and Jordan McConnell (6th in 400-IM) and sophomore May McNeil (6th in 100-fly).

Bridgewater, Hollins University and Notre Dame of Maryland University each return one all-conference performer from a season ago.  The Eagles will look to senior Carrie Crowther (4th in 200-free) following a second team selection last year.  BC took another step forward with its program last year, climbing from a four-year stay in fourth in the team standings to capture bronze in 2013 behind reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Fran Smith.

Hollins also features the return of a second team choice as sophomore Claire Webber (3rd in 100-breastroke) looks to build on a strong rookie campaign that included a pair of top-four finishes.  Notre Dame will be looking for the same type of leadership from junior Jessie Duffy (6th in 100-back), who earned third team accolades last year.

Greensboro College and Sweet Briar College sandwiched sixth-place Notre Dame in the ODAC meet team standings, but only 22 points separated the two squads.  The Pride will look to swimmers like sophomore Erin Gard after she set a new program standard in the 1,650-yard freestyle (19:06.22) last year.  The Vixens have several experienced swimmers back in the pool, including multiple point winner, sophomore Lydia Fleck (12th in 200-free).  Guilford College looks to climb the ODAC ladder in 2013-14.  Back to help that effort is senior Kendra Medina, who set the school record in the 100-yard backstroke (1:10.47) during the second day of competition.

Listed below is the 2013-14 ODAC Swimming Coaches 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 and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.

2013-14 ODAC SWIMMING COACHES POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes