Previewing the 2014 ODAC Swimming Championships

Generals in Search of Seventh Straight ODAC Crown

FOREST, Va. --- The 2014 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Swimming Championships will take place February 7-9 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, NC.  This marks the third year the championship has been in Greensboro and the first year it will be web streamed live on ODAC.tv.

ODAC.tv will stream the preliminary and final rounds taking place all three days at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The stream will include full HD, multi-camera broadcasts with professional graphics and production, strong announcing and analysis, and swimmer and coach interviews and features throughout the weekend. Be sure to tune into the action on ODAC.tv to catch this year’s ODAC swimming action for just $7.95 per day.

Washington and Lee University captured its sixth-straight and 23nd overall conference crown in the 2013 event. The Generals collected 1,000 total points, followed by Randolph-Macon College with 515 and Bridgewater College with 412. The Generals had three individuals honored, while Bridgewater and Hollins University collected one accolade apiece. Washington and Lee's Caroline Hamp was named the ODAC Swimmer of the Year, while teammates Emma Swabb and Delaney Rolfe were tabbed the ODAC Rookie of the Year and the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year, respectively. Bridgewater's Fran Smith garnered ODAC Coach of the Year honors. Hollins' Michelle Douglas received the Bonnie Kestner Sportsmanship Award.

The following sections break down this year's three-day affair between the ODAC schools by stroke 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     2014 Schedule of Events     2013-14 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

# - ODAC overall record
% - ODAC championship meet record

INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE EVENTS

50-YARD FREESTYLE
2013 Event Champion:
Payton Shirey, Emory & Henry – 23.98 #%
2014 ODAC Top Time: Payton Shirey, Jessica Richardson, Emory & Henry – 24.44
Event Preview: The top two times this year are tied for first at a time of 24.44  Payton Shirey and Jessica Richardson, both from Emory & Henry, remain poised to finish at or near the top with their best time sitting at 24.44. Emily Plowman, a freshman for R-MC, could out touch the Emory and Henry duo as she sits with a top time of 24.48.

100-YARD FREESTYLE
2013 Event Champion:
Payton Shirey, Emory & Henry – 53.04
2014 ODAC Top Time: Michaela Nolte, Emory & Henry – 53.20
Event Preview: Emory and Henry holds the top three spots in this year’s 100-yard freestyle event. Michaela Nolte (53.20) owns the top spot, while Payton Shirey (53.26) and Jessica Richardson (53.67) sit in second and third, respectively. Throw W&L's Meredith Harvey (53.82, fourth) and BC’s Carrie Crowther (54.44, fifth) into the mix and this sprint will be an exciting one.

200-YARD FREESTYLE
2013 Event Champion: Meredith Hardy, Washington and Lee – 1:55.73
2014 ODAC Top Time: Elisabeth Holmes, Washington and Lee – 1:55.55
Event Preview: Washington and Lee maintains the top three spots in the 200-yard free.  W&L freshman Elisabeth Holmes holds the first place spot followed by Meredith Harvey (1:57.69) and Natalie Brendsel (1:57.89). E&H’s Allison Fowler (1:57.97, 4th) could also push for the top spot in this year’s championship.

500-YARD FREESTYLE
2013 Event Champion: Delaney Rolfe, Washington and Lee – 5:12.29
2014 ODAC Top Time: Elisabeth Holmes, Washington and Lee – 5:04.55
Event Preview: The top three times this year are owned by swimmers from W&L and E&H. W&L freshman Elisabeth Holmes (5:04.55) owns the best time on the season, which is 15 and 17 seconds faster than the second and third place marks. The second and third spots are owned by Taylor Guardalabene of E&H (5:20.70) and Monica Flocken of W&L (5:22.90), respectively. Add to the mix W&L’s Sydney Gay (5:24.41) and Greensboro’s Marissa Martinez (5:27.95) into this race, and this finish could be tight.

1650-YARD FREESTYLE
2013 Event Champion: Lauren Frizzell, Emory & Henry – 18:00.52
2014 ODAC Top Time: Elisabeth Holmes, Washington and Lee – 17:40.86
Event Preview: Washington and Lee's Elisabeth Holmes stakes claim to the top time in the 1650-free race with a time of 17:40.86 – 20 seconds faster than the winning 2013 ODAC Championship time. W&L’s Sydney Gay sits in second with a time of 18:29.47, while Sweet Briar freshman Mollie Smith (19:13.00) holds the third top time in the ODAC for the year. E&H’s Nicole Powell (19:17.68) and Bridgewater’s Michelle Caron (19:30.68) are also in the mix for the top nod.

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY EVENTS

200-YARD IM
2013 Event Champion:
Emma Swabb, Washington and Lee- 2:09.93
2014 ODAC Top Time: Allison Fowler, Emory & Henry – 2:11.69
Event Preview: Washington and Lee owns seven of the top 10 times this year in the 200-yard IM. However, E&H’s Allison Fowler holds down the top spot with a time of 2:11.69, while 2013 ODAC Champion Emma Swabb sits in second with a time of 2:12.75.  W&L’s Elisabeth Holmes has the third best time (2:14.44).  Greensboro and Randolph-Macon also have swimmers who will make this an exciting race.

400-YARD IM
2013 Event Champion: Emma Swabb, Washington and Lee – 4:40.25
2014 ODAC Top Time: Allison Fowler, Emory & Henry – 4:38.27
Event Preview: Emory & Henry and W&L hold the top 6 spots in the 400-yard IM this season.  The Wasps' Allison Fowler (4:38.27) and Elizabeth Kleveno (4:42.00) own the league’s top two times, while the Generals’ Lauren Kasoff (4:43.09) and Emma Swabb (4:44.50) sit at third and fourth, respectively. Freshman Haylee Radermann (4:49.80) of W&L is also in the mix for a medal.

INDIVIDUAL BACKSTROKE EVENTS

100-YARD BACKSTROKE
2013 Event Champion:
Stephanie Foster, Washington and Lee – 1:00.26
2014 ODAC Top Time: Stephanie Foster, Washington and Lee – 59.81
Event Preview: Washington and Lee and Emory and Henry occupy the top 5 slots heading into the weekend.  W&L’s Stephanie Foster (59.81) sits comfortably in the top spot.  Teammates Emily Rollo (1:01.07, fourth) and Caroline Hamp (1:01.70, fifth) deepen a strong field of backstroke swimmers.  The Wasps’ Elizabeth Kleveno (1:00.25) occupies the second spot, while teammate Jessica Richardson (1:00.64, third) will also push for top billing.

200-YARD BACKSTROKE
2013 Event Champion: Stephanie Foster, Washington and Lee – 2:11.33
2014 ODAC Top Time: Elizabeth Kleveno, Emory & Henry – 2:09.21
Event Preview: The field looks quite different in the 200-yard backstroke this year as opposed to last as four out of the top five spots are held by freshman. The Wasps’ Elizabeth Kleveno (2:09.21) holds the top seed, while the Generals’ Emily Rollo (2:11.23) and the Vixens’ Megan Monahan (2:11.35) round out the top three times. W&L junior Caroline Hamp (2:12.86) and E&H freshman Jordan Greenburg  (2:14.53) will also make this race an event you will not want to miss.

INDIVIDUAL BUTTERFLY EVENTS

100-YARD BUTTERFLY
2013 Event Champion:
Caroline Hamp, Washington and Lee – 58.52 %
2014 ODAC Top Time: Marisa Martinez, Greensboro – 59.44
Event Preview: W&L’s Caroline Hamp won the race last year and is currently seeded third. This year, the top four spots are separated by two seconds. Greensboro’s Marisa Martinez (59.44) and E&H’s Taylor Guardalabene (59.84, second) will add to the intensity.  A host of other strong swimmers from Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon, and Emory and Henry will add a competitive edge in this race.

200-YARD BUTTERFLY
2013 Event Champion: Brittany Ross, Washington and Lee – 2:10.71
2014 ODAC Top Time: Lauren Kasoff, Washington and Lee – 2:11.65
Event Preview: W&L’s Brittany Ross touched first the past three years and now the field is open for someone else to take the top spot. The Generals’ Lauren Kasoff (2:11.65, first) and Meredith Murphy (2:12.22, second) are considered to be the favorites this season.  Don’t forget about E&H’s Allison Fowler (2:13.09, third) and Greensboro’s Marisa Martinez (2:13.32, fourth). 

INDIVIDUAL BREASTSTROKE EVENTS 

100-YARD BREASTSTROKE
2013 Event Champion:
Hannah Melkun, Washington and Lee – 1:07.84
2014 ODAC Top Time: Michaela Nolte, Emory & Henry – 1:06.74
Event Preview:
Washington and Lee holds six of the top 10 times, which sets this race up to be a thriller.  E&H’s Michaela Nolte (1:06.74) currently owns the top spot by a wide margin, but places two through six are held by swimmers from W&L and only one second separates that group.  Hannah Melkun (1:11.77) leads that contingent.

200-YARD BREASTSTROKE
2013 Event Winner:
Hannah Melkun, Washington and Lee – 2:27.23
2014 ODAC Top Time: Michaela Nolte, Emory & Henry – 2:25.83
Event Preview:  The 200-yard breaststroke has four different schools holding down a spot in the top 10 this year.  Washington and Lee occupies five of the top 10 slots. However, Emory and Henry claims the #1 position with Michaela Nolte (2:25.83), who is five seconds faster than second place Meredith Murphy (2:30.68) from W&L.  Elizabeth Kleveno sits third at 2:31.62. The Generals’ Mary Gabe (2:34.52), Hannah Melkun (2:35.32) and Emma Swabb (2:36.30) and Bridgewater’s Emily Townsend (2:38.88) all add a competitive edge to this race.

RELAY BREAKDOWN - ALL DISTANCES AND DISCIPLINES

200-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2013 Event Champion:
Washington and Lee – 1:37.15 %
2014 ODAC Top Times: E&H – 1:36.96 #; W&L – 1:41.01; RMC – 1:42.40

400-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2013 Event Champion:
Washington and Lee – 3:35.64
2014 ODAC Top Times: E&H – 3:34.01; W&L – 3:36.01; R-MC – 3:45.47

800-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2013 Event Champion:
Washington and Lee – 7:52.87
2014 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 7:54.11; E&H – 7:55.82; R-MC – 8:32.91

200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
2013 Event Champion:
Washington and Lee – 1:48.11 #%
2014 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 1:49.27; E&H – 1:49.57; R-MC – 1:55.09

400-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
2013 Event Champion:
Washington and Lee – 3:59.99
2014 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 4:00.85; E&H – 4:03.02; R-MC – 4:13.45