GREENSBORO, N.C. --- Washington and Lee University swimmers Tommy Thetford and Emily Rollo highlighted a very productive weekend for ODAC competitors at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, as the Generals' duo collected a trio of All-American honors apiece. Thetford added to his bounty with a pair of national titles, winning crowns in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle events.
Recap - First Two Days
Rollo and Thetford were joined by the remaining five ODAC athletes participating in the final two days of action at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C. W&L saw Elle Chancey and Cassidy Fuller join Rollo and Thetford in individual evrents, while Elisabeth Holmes and Jordan Watson participated in a pair of Generals' relays. Emory & Henry College standout and current ODAC Swimmer of the Year, Michaela Nolte, took to the water in both breaststroke events.
Records started to fall when Rollo pushed off the wall in the 100-yard backstroke as she finished sixth for her second All-American honor of the meet with an ODAC and W&L record time of 0:55.37. She previously earned an Honorable Mention All-American accolade on Wednesday in the 200-yard IM.
Rollo improved upon her placing in Saturday's 200-yard backstroke, yet again setting conference and school standards. She stopped the watches in 1:59.21 to finish fifth overall and secure her third All-American laurel.
Thetford, already a two-time All-American from his second place finish in the 50-yard freestyle on Wednesday and his title in the 200-yard freestyle on Thursday, made good use of an off-day on Friday to win his second event on Saturday. After qualfying first in the prelminaries, Thetford touched the pad in 0:43.41 to claim the 100-yard freestyle title, setting new ODAC and W&L records in the process.
E&H's Nolte twice fell just short of qualifying for the finals in the breaststroke events, earning alternate status in both. On Friday in the 100-yard breaststroke, she finished 18th in the prelims at 1:04.49, two places short of a finals' entry. She bettered that by one Saturday, posting a time of 2:20.75 to slot 17th after the prelims.
The Generals' Fuller and Chancey competed in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard freestyle over the final two days, respectively. Fuller chimed in 31st in 2:08.58 in the 200-fly, while Chancey secured a 41st-place finish with a time of 0:52.57.
W&L's 800-yard and 400-yard freestyle relay teams also saw action. The 800-yard squad of Chancey, Watson, Fuller, and Holmes set new conference and school records with an 18th-place time of 7:39.44. The 400-yard team of Rollo, Chancey, Fuller, and Holmes finished 24th in 3:31.36.
For more on the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, visit the host championship website. For more information on ODAC swimming, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, 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.