FOREST, Va. --- The 2021 ODAC Swimming Championships are set for a new location and a new format as league teams go in search of the first conference championship trophies awarded this season.
For the first time in conference history, the ODAC championships will be competed at the Liberty Natatorium on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Conference swimmers will compete over two days on Friday, March 5, and Sunday, March 7, in a timed finals format. Competition is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET both days.
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While most league teams are eligible to compete in the championships, a few squads will be missing from this season's field due to campus pandemic management protocols. Guilford College, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, and Washington and Lee University will not compete this season.
The Generals' omission means ODAC fans will see new teams hoist league trophies. W&L has won an ODAC-record 30 championships including each of the past 13 dating back to 2007. Washington and Lee has won all six men's titles since men's swimming became an official ODAC championship sport in 2015.
RELATED: 2021 ODAC Swimming Championship "Psych" Sheet
ODAC fans should expect to see a competitive two days of competition featuring strong and deep squads led by the University of Lynchburg and Roanoke College. Of the 15 ODAC championship and meet records set during last season's men's competition, 10 featured Roanoke swimmers with each set to return.
That list begins with Connor Kinkema. The 2019 ODAC Rookie of the Meet established new conference overall and championships records in three events last season -- 400-yard IM (4:04.57), 100-yard breaststroke (0:56.38), and 200-yard breaststroke (2:02.09). Ben Tate etched his name in both record books in the 500-yard freestyle (4:26.80), while Josh Rauch did the same in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:23.58).
Roanoke also won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2020 behind a trio of returners in Nick McGrath, Xavier Williams, and Brian Grimmett. The Maroons will undoubtedly look to Williams as well as Richie Evans, Davis Wheeler, and a handful of others to register points this weekend.
Lynchburg features several strong competitors, including last season's ODAC Rookie of the Meet, Parker Hayungs. Among his highlight performances was a second place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (4:41.62). He along with teammates Kevin Bennett, Landon Ellis, and Chris Jennings will be expected to make an impact.
Also be on the look out for Bridgewater College first-year Cullen Beach. He owns the league's best time in the 100-yard backstroke at 0:51.10.
On the women's side of the ledger, each event is guaranteed to feature a new champion by the end of Sunday. Roanoke's Kimberly Large has had an excellent campaign and enters the weekend with three ODAC best times in the 50-yard (0:24.42) and 100-yard (0:54.51) freestyles and the 100-yard butterfly (0:59.06). Several others will challenge for event victories including Maddie Andrews, Grace Fountain, Hannah Petty, Maria Vinson, and Julia Volz.
Lynchburg's Delaney Kennedy, Claire Galloway, and Karolena Stecker enter with league-best times in four events. Kennedy is #1 in the 400-yard IM (4:46.55) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:30.60). Galloway tops the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.16) list, while Stecker leads the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.32) backstroke field.
RELATED: 2020 ODAC Swimming Championship Results | All-Time Women's Championships | All-Time Men's Championships
Listed below is a quick snapshot of each event, giving a glimpse of what could unfold (2020-21 times from official psych sheet). Each day will be streamed LIVE by the ODAC on the ODAC Sports Network at www.odacsn.com.
Be sure to follow along with results from the championship. Once each event is completed and verified, the results will be posted MeetMobile, which can be accessed via its app on your smartphone or other mobile device.
For more information, visit the ODAC Swimming Championships Website or visit the websites of any of the participating schools. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.
* ODAC Championship Record # ODAC Overall Record