ODAC Swimming Focusing on Thanksgiving Break

By Nelson Helm, Swimming World College Intern

LEXINGTON – With Thanksgiving break coming up for most schools, only five Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) swimming schools are competing this week. Washington and Lee will compete in the Franklin & Marshall Invitational, Notre Dame of Md. will swim Goucher, Greensboro will compete against Guilford and Ferrum, and Randolph-Macon will dual Marymount.

Last Week

Washington and Lee was the only men’s team to compete last week. Randolph-Macon and Hampden Sydney rescheduled their meet until Jan. 28. The Generals posted a 1-1 record for the weekend, defeating Allegheny, 178-81, and falling to Carnegie Mellon, 213-75. The team posted three event wins on the weekend with freshman Noah Schammel winning the 100 fly (53.46) and classmate Tommy Thetford winning the 50 and 100 free (21.38/47.44).

Emory & Henry posted wins against Ferrum and King (Tenn.). The Wasps defeated Ferrum, 165-35, and King, 146-51. Emory & Henry freshman Holly Roth touched first in the 200-meter free and the 400-meter free (2:17.99/4:53.89), while sophomore Michaela Nolte won the 100-meter fly (1:09.09) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:18.46). Nolte’s times are team records. The 200-meter medley relay and 200-meter freestyle relay (2:07.90/1:54.35) also set team records.

The Washington and Lee women’s team also posted a 1-1 record on the weekend, defeating Allegheny, 212-48, and losing to Carnegie Mellon, 153-109. Sophomore Elisabeth Holmes won three individual events, while freshman Kira Tomenchok placed first in two events. Holmes won the 100, 500 and 1000 (54.16/5:15.38/10:50.01) while Tomenchok won the 100 and 200 backstroke (58.75/2:07.83).

In a tri-meet with three ODAC schools competing, Bridgewater came out on top of Sweet Briar and Greensboro. Bridgewater defeated Sweet Briar, 114-118, and Greensboro, 170-78. Bridgewater picked up three victories from junior Emily Townsend. Townsend won the 50-meter free (29.48), 200-meter breaststroke (2:59.94) and 100-meter fly (1:13.35). Townsend also helped the team to a first-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle relay (2:01.91). For Sweet Briar, sophomores Megan Monahan and Mollie Smith picked up wins in multiple events. Monahan won the 800-meter freestyle (10:25.11) and 100 back (1:14.01) while Smith won the 200 and 400-meter freestyles (2:22.23/4:58.18).

Hollins competed in its first dual meet of the season against Ferrum last week. The team lost 111-90. Junior Claire Webber picked up wins in the 100 free (1:00.84) and 100 breaststroke (1:16.95). She also placed second in the 50 free (27.52).

Notre Dame of Md. competed in a tri-meet last week. The team defeated New Rochelle, 119-97, and John Jay, 124-118. The team was led by junior Emily Jordan, who won three events. Jordan won the 100 breaststroke (1:16.15), 200 breaststroke (2:42.42) and 200 IM (2:27.67).

Notre Dame of Md.

The Gators will look towards senior Jessi Duffy to score crucial points in their meet against Goucher. Last week, Duffy won the 100 backstroke (1:08.47), 100 freestyle (1:01.49) and 500 freestyle (5:57.73), helping the team defeat John Jay and New Rochelle.

Greensboro

On the men’s side, Greensboro should see senior Eddie Kirby scoring major points against Ferrum. Kirby posted first-place finishes in the 200 IM (2:20.90) and 100 back (1:09.69) in a dual meet against Gallaudet this season. His performances garnered him ODAC Swimmer of the Week for the week prior to Nov. 3.

On the women’s side, the team will look towards junior Erin Gard to pick up event wins. In the tri-meet against Bridgewater and Sweet Briar last week, Gard placed second in the 800-meter freestyle (10:26.02) and first in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:26.46).

Guilford

The Quakers will need freshman Isabel Gutierrez to win events if the team wants to win their meet against Ferrum and Greensboro. Gutierrez placed third in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:28.04) and fourth in the 200-meter freestyle (2:29.75) in a tri-meet against Sweet Briar and Emory & Henry.

Washington and Lee

The Generals will rely on sophomore Andrew Botelho to lead the team at the Franklin & Marshall Invitational. Botelho has the second-ranked times in the ODAC in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes (55.41/2:02.48). Botelho is also strong in the 200 freestyle (1:45.46) and will be a factor in all relays.

On the women’s side, the team will look towards freshman Katie Gardner and senior Caroline Hamp to win events at the invitational. Gardner has the top times in the ODAC in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes (1:08.70/2:31.95). Hamp will help score points in the 100 butterfly and 100 back. Hamp leads the ODAC in the 100 fly (59.68) and is second in the 100 back (1:02.19). They will also be a vital part to the 200 and 400 medley relays.

Swimmers of the Week

The ODAC named Washington and Lee sophomore Elisabeth Holmes and freshman Tommy Thetford this week’s Swimmers of the Week based off of their performances during the week of Nov. 11-16.

Nelson Helm is a sophomore distance freestyle specialist at Washington & Lee. Helm has trained with Carter Center Aquatics as well as the Stonegate Swim Club.

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