Old Dominion Athletic Conference Swimming Features Fast Early Season Swims

By Nelson Helm, Swimming World College Intern

LEXINGTON – A little more than a month into the NCAA Division 3 season, and a handful of Old Dominion Athletic Conference swimming squads have competed. With that being said, some fast swimming is coming out of the state of Virginia.

The ODAC is comprised of four men’s teams—Washington and Lee University, Hampden-Sydney College Greensboro College, and Randolph-Macon College—and nine women’s teams—Washington and Lee, Emory and Henry College, Randolph-Macon, Sweet Briar College, Bridgewater College, Greensboro College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Hollins University and Guilford College.

ODAC Men’s Conference

The ODAC men’s conference is in its first year of establishment. In previous years, Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee have competed in the Blue Grass Mountain Conference. However, with the ODAC Championships and Blue Grass Mountain Conference championship meets falling on the same weekend this year, both teams elected to compete at ODAC’s with their women’s teams.

Washington and Lee Dominates

W&L sophomore Elisabeth Holmes seems to be making a championship push this season. She has not lost an event, relay or individual, in any dual meet this season. She has been an integral part of the team’s five dual meet wins—winning four events in each meet. Holmes is currently ranked in the top-ten in the NCAA in four events. She ranks seventh in the 100 freestyle (54.02), ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:57.34), eighth in the 500 freestyle (5:12.26) and seventh in the 1000 freestyle (10:43.27). Holmes is also the top-ranked freestyler in the ODAC in all distances. She has been the ODAC Swimmer of the Week twice.

The Washington and Lee men’s team has posted a big non-conference win against Mary Washington. After losing to Mary Washington 167.5-94.5 last year, the team narrowly beat Mary Washington 142-120, with the win coming in the final two events. Noah Schammel led a Generals sweep in the 200 IM (2:03.05). The team also won the 200 free relay (1:27.12) for the come from behind win. First year Tommy Thetford is helping Washington and Lee’s resurgence to the national scene. Thetford helped the team win the 200 free relay and second-place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:38.54). Thetford also captured a win in the 50 freestyle (21.27) and a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (47.51)

Randolph-Macon Looks to Keep Building

Randolph-Macon’s men’s program was reinstated in 2010 after a 41-year hiatus. During the 2013-2014 season, 11 new team records fell. The men’s team’s only meet so far was a 149-110 loss to Washington and Lee. Senior Bobby Brajdic leads the team into this season. Brajdic posted wins in the 100 back (53.86), 200 back (1:59.49) and 200 IM (2:01.79) against Washington and Lee.

After a third-place finish at last year’s ODAC championships, the Randolph-Macon women look towards sophomore Emily Plowman to lead the team. Plowman won the 50-freestyle last year in 23.98 to garner All-ODAC First Team accolades. Randolph-Macon’s only dual meet so far was a 154-99 loss at Washington and Lee. Plowman finished third in the 50 (26.32) and second in the 100 backstroke (1:04.63).

Coming Up

Key meets to watch will be when Randolph-Macon hosts non-conference foe Mary Washington, When Washington and Lee travels to Pittsburgh to face non-conference foe Carnegie Mellon and Alleghany, and the Yellow Jacket Invitational, where a Bridgewater, Guilford, Hollins, Notre Dame, Randolph-Macon, Washington and Lee and Hampden-Sydney will all compete.

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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