Teams Ready for Three-Day Event: Ready, Set, Swim
FOREST, Va. --- A great deal of parity
amongst the ODAC schools will be showcased this weekend at the 2012
ODAC Swimming Championships. The event is scheduled to run
from February 10-12 at the new Greensboro Aquatic Center in
Greensboro, NC.
This year's championship marks the first solely under the ODAC
banner. Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland
University (formerly College of Notre Dame) became associate
members of the conference this past fall and opened their first
season competing as conference institutions against league
opponents. The addition of Greensboro and Notre Dame allowed
for the dissolution of the Atlantic States Swimming Championships,
which was previously competed in conjunction with the ODAC Swimming
Championships.
Washington and Lee University captured its fourth-straight and
21st overall conference crown in the 2011 championship. The
Generals collected 927 total points, followed by Randolph-Macon
with 725 and Sweet Briar with 470. The Yellow Jackets had
three individuals honored, while the Generals collected two
accolades. R-MC’s Sarah Almond was tabbed the Swimmer
of the Year, while Tracilyn Babington was selected as the Rookie of
the Year. The Yellow Jacket’s Head Coach Ben Delia
earned his first-ever ODAC Coach of the Year award. The
Generals’ Delaney Rolfe earned the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance
Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, while Kelly Mae
Ross received the Bonnie Kestner Sportsmanship Award.
The following sections break down this year's three-day affair
between the ODAC schools by discipline 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 2012 Schedule of Events
2011-12 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
INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE EVENTS
50-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon
– 24.59
2012 ODAC Top Time: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon
- 24.31
Event Preview: This year's top time owner, Sarah
Almond (R-MC), remains poised to finish at or near the top with her
best time sitting at 24.31. A host of new performers could
easily vie for the event title, including Washington and
Lee’s Izzy Brassfield, Meredith Hardy and Dana Fredericks,
Randolph-Macon's Lizzy Buckley, Greensboro’s Dani Horne and
Bridgewater’s Annalee Gallagher.
100-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon
– 53.08
2012 ODAC Top Time: Sarah Almond, Randolph-Macon
– 53.08
Event Preview: Washington and Lee and
Randolph-Macon hold the top spots in this year's 100-yard freestyle
event. Sarah Almond (R-MC) and Meredith Hardy (W&L) own
the top two times (53.08 and 54.31, respectively.) Throw
Jocelyn Cassada (W&L), Kelsey Bagley-Hall (R-MC), Elizabeth
Buckley (R-MC), and Rachel Sandoval (BC) into the mix and this
sprint will be an exciting one.
200-YARD
FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Sarah
Almond, Randolph-Macon – 1:57.24
2012 ODAC Top Time: Meredith Hardy, Washington
and Lee - 1:56.94
Event Preview: Randolph-Macon maintains two of
the top three spots in the 200-yard free, but Washington and
Lee’s Meredith Hardy possesses the top time. R-MC's
Sarah Almond and Lizzy Buckley hold the second and third top times
(1:57.85 and 1:58.67, respectively). The Generals’
Delaney Rolfe and the Yellow Jackets’ Rebecca Stevenson could
also push for the top spot.
500-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Rebecca
Stevenson, Randolph-Macon - 5:13.75
2012 ODAC Top Time: Delaney Rolfe, Washington and
Lee - 5:18.23
Event Preview: Washington and Lee boasts three of
the top five times in the 500-yard free. Rebecca Stevenson
and Lizzy Buckley are the only two R-MC swimmers in the top five
this year. The Generals’ Delaney Rolfe holds the top
spot with a mark of 5:18.23. Add in several other Washington
and Lee swimmers and Hollins’ Margaret Dwyer and this race
will be exciting.
1650-YARD FREESTYLE
2011 Event Champion: Ann
McCampbell, Washington and Lee - 18:03.05
2012 ODAC Top Time: Joan Hudak, Washington and
Lee - 18:34.02
Event Preview: Washington and Lee’s Joan
Hudak stakes claim to the top time in the 1650-free race with a
time of 18:34.02. Teammates Kelly Ross, Sydney Gay and
Colleen Moore should add firepower to Washington and Lee.
Randolph-Macon’s Rebecca Stevenson and Elizabeth Plowman
could also push for the top spot, as well as Michelle Caron from
Bridgewater.
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY EVENTS
200-YARD IM
2011 Event Champion: Emma Phillips, Greensboro -
2:11.39
2012 ODAC Top Time: Emma Phillips, Greensboro -
2:14.32
Event Preview: Greensboro’s Emma Phillips
won the 200-yard IM in 2011 and she also owns the top spot this
season heading into the championship weekend.
Washington and Lee owns four of the top five spots.
Lauren Kasoff is clipping at Phillips' heels with a time 2:15.76,
about 1.5 seconds faster than teammate Katie Salvati (2:17.31).
W&L's Caroline Hamp, Brittany Ross, Hannah Melkun and Mary Gabe
will all compete for first prize. Don’t forget about
Randolph-Macon’s Brianna Lovell and Kellianne
Mullin.
400-YARD IM
2011 Event Champion: Emma Phillips, Greensboro -
4:39.16
2012 ODAC Top Time: Lauren Kasoff, Washington and
Lee - 4:44.01
Event Preview: Four schools (W&L, GC, R-MC
and BC) have a top 10 spot in the 400-yard IM. Greensboro's
Emma Phillips won the event last year, but has some competition to
contend with this season. The Generals’ Lauren Kasoff
and Katie Salvati own the league’s top two times (4:44.01 and
4:48.61, respectively) and Phillips has the third best time
(4:50.86). Others to keep an eye out for are W&L's Hannah
Melkun, Kate Feeser, Rachel Mensch and Colleen Moore. The
Yellow Jacket’s Brianna Lovell and Jordan McConnell, along
with Bridgewater’s Laura Shultz, could also compete.
INDIVIDUAL BACKSTROKE EVENTS
100-YARD BACKSTROKE
2011 Event Champion: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington
and Lee – 59.71
2012 ODAC Top Time: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington
and Lee - 1:00.17
Event Preview: Washington and Lee, Notre Dame,
Randolph-Macon, Sweet Briar and Bridgewater all have swimmers who
are in the top 10 heading into the championship weekend.
W&L's Jocelyn Cassada looks to become a repeat champion as she
shoulders the league's seasonal top time. Teammates Katie
Salvati, Caroline Hamp, Andrea Seffens and Joan Hudak deepen a
strong field of backstroke swimmers. Shannon Berry (NDMU),
Emily Maltby (R-MC), Chloe Day (SBC), Jessi Duffy (NDMU) and
Shannon Myers (BC) also will push for the top nod at this
weekend’s championship event.
200-YARD BACKSTROKE
2011 Event Champion: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington
and Lee – 2:09.33
2012 ODAC Top Time: Jocelyn Cassada, Washington
and Lee – 2:10.89
Event Preview: Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon
and Sweet Briar all hold places in the top five spots.
Jocelyn Cassada captured the crown last year and heads into the
weekend with the top mark again. Katie Salvai and Caroline
Hamp occupy the second and third spots (2:13.03 and 2:15.41,
respectively.) Be sure to keep an eye out for
Randolph-Macon’s Emily Maltby, Sweet Briar’s Chloe Day
and Bridgewater’s Laura Shultz.
INDIVIDUAL BUTTERFLY EVENTS
100-YARD BUTTERFLY
2011 Event Champion: Brittany Ross, Washington and
Lee – 59.85
2012 ODAC Top Time: Caroline Hamp, Washington and
Lee – 59.23
Event Preview: Swimmers have improved their times
in this event this season. Caroline Hamp’s time of
59.23 is already better than the event winner’s time in 2011
(Brittany Ross, W&L, 59.85), which proves this race will be
exciting. Ross is not too far behind Hamp with a time of
1:00.87. Emma Phillips from Greensboro and a host of other
strong swimmers from Washington and Lee, Randolph-Macon and
Bridgewater will make this an event you will not want to miss.
200-YARD BUTTERFLY
2011 Event Champion: Brittany
Ross, Washington and Lee - 2:12.20
2012 ODAC Top Time: Brittany Ross, Washington and
Lee - 2:13.79
Event Preview: Washington and Lee’s
Brittany Ross touched first last year and also holds the
league’s top mark this season. The Generals’
Lauren Kasoff and Delaney Rolfe can also be considered among the
favorites (2:18.12 and 2:18.68, respectively).
Greensboro’s Emma Phillips and Randolph-Macon’s Lizzy
Buckley are also making some noise in the 200-yard butterfly.
Other swimmers from BC, HU, NDMU, and SBC will also contend for the
champion mark this weekend.
INDIVIDUAL BREASTSTROKE EVENTS
100-YARD BREASTSTROKE
2011 Event Champion: Tracilyn Babington,
Randolph-Macon - 1:06.60 2012 ODAC Top Time: Dana
Fredericks, Washington and Lee - 1:08.97
Event Preview: Washington and Lee's Dana
Fredericks and Randolph-Macon’s Tracilyn Babington will vie
for the top spot in this year’s championship. Babington
captured the crown in 2011 in a time of 1:06.60, but
Fredericks’ owns the top mark this season. Babington
sits close in second with a time of 1:09.68. Other Washington
and Lee and Randolph-Macon swimmers --- including Hannah Melkun
(W&L – 1:10.72) and Kellianne Mullin (R-MC –
1:10.83) --- along with Greensboro’s Emma Phillips, Dani
Horne and Nicole Craver will all add a competitive edge to this
event.
200-YARD
BREASTSTROKE
2011 Event Winner: Tracilyn Babington,
Randolph-Macon – 2:24.21
2012 ODAC Top Time: Emma Phillips, Greensboro
– 2:29.64
Event Preview: Four swimmers enter the
weekend with better times than 2011 champion Tracilyn Babington
(R-MC - 2:34.29). Greensboro’s Emma Phillips is locked
in the first position with a time of 2:29.64. Hannah Melkun
(W&L – 2:31.87), Dana Fredericks (W&L –
2:32.20) and Kellianne Mullin (R-MC – 2:33.65) sit in the
second, third and fourth spots, respectively. Washington and
Lee, Randolph-Macon and Sweet Briar have several other swimmers in
the mix. Add in some Bridgewater swimmers (Jeni Zeiler
– 2:47.10 and Jennifer Lutz – 2:50.27) and a Notre Dame
of Maryland athlete (Faith Jones – 2:43.78) and this event
will not be one you want to miss.
RELAY BREAKDOWN - ALL DISTANCES AND DISCIPLINES
200-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Randolph-Macon - 1:39.11
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 1:30.28;
R-MC - 1:41.56; BC - 1:43.79
400-YARD
FREESTYLE RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Randolph-Macon –
3:36.63
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 3:39.87;
R-MC – 3:42.18; BC – 3:56.86
800-YARD
FREESTYLE RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Randolph-Macon –
7:58.04
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L - 8:00.22; R-MC -
8:11.70; BC – 8:50.14
200-YARD MEDLEY
RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Washington and Lee -
1:50.90
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L - 1:51.87; R-MC -
1:55.65; BC – 1:59.93
400-YARD MEDLEY
RELAY
2011 Event Champion: Washington and Lee –
4:00.70
2012 ODAC Top Times: W&L – 4:03.06;
R-MC – 4:12.80; BC – 4:22.44