Records Fall as Curtains Close on ODAC Season

Photo Courtesy: Brian Laubscher

By Nelson Helm, Swimming World Intern

Last weekend at ODAC Championships, conference records were blown away in each individual event on the men’s side, while 11 ODAC records were shattered on the women’s side. Washington and Lee women and men reigned at the 2015 ODAC Championships.

In the inaugural season of the men’s conference, Washington and Lee distanced itself from Randolph-Macon from the beginning, scoring 1,024 points to Randolph-Macon’s 815.

Hampden-Sydney recorded 297 points, while Greensboro College finished fourth with 214 points. On the women’s side, Washington and Lee put up 936 points to Emory and Henry’s 728. Randolph-Macon was third with 527 points.

Swimmers of the Meet

In a meet stacked with NCAA ‘B’ Cuts and new ODAC Records, four swimmers distinguished themselves from the rest as swimmers of the meet. Washington and Lee sophomore Emily Rollo won three events- the 200 back (2:02.35), the 200 IM (2:06.61) and the 400 IM (4:36.16) to garner ODAC Swimmer of the Year.

On the men’s side, Randolph-Macon senior Bobby Bradjic came away victorious in three events, achieving NCAA ‘B’ cuts in all. Brajdic won the 100 back (50.77), 200 back (1:50.06) and the 200 IM (1:51.55) to earn the men’s ODAC Swimmer of the Year honor.

Rookie of the Year honors went to a pair of Washington and Lee first years, Kira Tomenchok and Tommy Thetford. Tomenchok won two events and placed second in another to help Washington and Lee take the team title. She won the 100 back (56.77) and fly (57.47) in NCAA ‘B’ cut times, while also setting new ODAC Records.

Tomenchok placed second in the 200 back (2:04.46) behind Rollo, achieving the NCAA ‘B’ cut in the process. Thetford won three events, gaining an NCAA ‘B’ cut in one of them. He won the 50 (20.47), 100 (45.90), and 200 free (1:43.62) en route to Rookie of the Year Honors.

Big Swims At ODACs

Other winners included Emory and Henry’s Michaela Nolte, Jessica Richardson, Taylor Guardalabene and Allison Fowler, Randolph-Macon’s Ivan Fadeyev and Robert Redenz and Washington and Lee’s Elisabeth Holmes, Thomas Caldwell, Trent Babcock, Brennan Haley and Noah Schammel.

Nolte won the 50 free (24.07) and the 100 and 200 breaststroke (1:05.23/2:22.07). She grabbed ‘B’ cuts in both breaststroke events while also setting new ODAC records in both of the events. Richardson touched first in the 100 freestyle in 52.74, while Gaurdalabene won the 1650 in 18:10.22. Fowler crushed the 200 fly in a new meet record 2:06.61, which was also an NCAA ‘B’ cut.

Fadeyev won the men’s 400 IM in a NCAA ‘B’ cut, 4:05.61, while Robert Redenz blazed to a win in the 100 breaststroke in 58.24.

Holmes won the 200 and 500 freestyles, touching in 1:53.14 and 5:09.40. Her 200 freestyle was a new ODAC record and an NCAA ‘B’ cut. Caldwell won the 500 and 1650 freestyles in 4:43.75 and 16:33.81, both new ODAC records.

Babcock was victorious the 200 breaststroke in 2:07.13. Haley dominated in the 100 fly with a 49.72, a NCAA ‘B’ cut. Haley also collected ‘B’ cuts in the 100 and 200 back. Schammel scorched to the wall in the 200 fly with a 1:53.84, a NCAA ‘B’ cut.

Emory and Henry won three of the five women’s relays, the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 400 medley relay. The Wasps touched in 1:36.44, 3:30.20 and 3:53.33 respectively.

Their wins cleared the old ODAC records and their victory in the 400 free relay was a NCAA ‘B’ cut. Washington and Lee won the other two relays, willing their way to the wall in 7:45.24 in the 800 free relay and a 1:46.11 in the 200 medley relay.

Washington and Lee claimed four of the five relays on the men’s side, achieving NCAA ‘B’ cuts in the 200 (1:32.53) and 400 (3:24.14) medley relays. The Generals also took gold in the 200 (1:23.39) and 400 (3:05.09) free relays. The 400 free relay was the most suspenseful of the five, with the Generals out touching Randolph-Macon by .03 with a monster anchor leg from Thetford. Randolph-Macon won the 800 free relay in 6:58.96.

Swimmers who achieved NCAA ‘B’ cuts will now play the waiting game to see if they have made Nationals. It is likely that Washington and Lee swimmers Emily Rollo and Tommy Thetford will be extended invitations to the meet. Rollo’s 200 back time and Thetford’s 50 free times are both in the top 15 of their respective events heading into last chance meets.

Congrats on a terrific weekend of speed in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, where they’re making a habit out of rewriting the records.

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